Born in Tbilisi, in 1984 he entered the Tbilisi Ballet School and in 1987 continued his education at the Moscow Ballet School. In 1992, he joined the Bolshoi Ballet Company. In 1995, he was promoted to principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet. In 2005, he became repetiteur of the Bolshoi Theatre.
In 1995, he was awarded Soul of Dance prize of Ballet magazine (Rising Star nomination) and won second prize at the International Competition of Ballet Dancers in Osaka. In 1997, he won first prize at the International Competition of Ballet Dancers in Moscow and was awarded the title of Merited Artist of the Russian Federation. In 1999, he received Benois de la danse International Dance Association prize for his interpretation of the role of Jean de Brienne (Raymonda) and the Golden Mask National Theatre prize for his performance in Symphony in C and Agon. In 2001, Nikolay Tsiskaridze was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the Russian Federation and the State Prize of Russia. In 2003, he received the Triumph prize, and was again awarded the Golden Mask prize and the State Prize of Russia for his interpretation of classical repertoire. He was also awarded the Order of Honor of the Republic of Georgia. In 2006, he was awarded the Order of Arts and Literature (France).
At the Bolshoi Theatre, he danced the roles of Prince Siegfried, Evil Genius (Swan Lake), Prince Desire, Fairy Carabosse, Blue Bird (The Sleeping Beauty), Count Albrecht (Giselle), Solor, Bronze Idol (La Bayadère), Conrad (Le Corsaire), Jean de Brienne (Raymonda), Nutcracker-Prince (The Nutcracker), Ferkhad (Legend of Love), Lord Wilson / Taor (The Pharaoh’s Daughter), Classical Dancer (The Bright Stream), Hermann (La Dame de Pique), Quasimodo (Notre Dame de Paris), Theseus (Oberon) (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Teacher (The Lesson), roles in ballet Le Spectre de la rose, Symphony in C, Les Sylphides, among many others. At the Mikhailovsky Theatre, he performs the role of Widow Simone in La Fille mal gardée.
In 2013, he was appointed acting rector of the Vaganova Ballet Academy. He is professor of the Department of Methods of Teaching Classical and Duet Dance. In 2014, he was elected rector of the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Since December 2019, he has been acting rector of the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Since December 2017, he has been Member of the Expert Council under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. Since November 2018, he has been a member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for the implementation of state policy in the field of protecting family and children. Since 2004, he has been hosting «Masterpieces of World Music Theatre» program at the Kultura TV channel.