Metropolitan Opera in New York: 2026/2027 Season

What You Need to Know About the Metropolitan Opera in New York

• The Metropolitan Opera refers to both the prestigious New York opera house and its venue. The Metropolitan Opera occupies one of the buildings at Lincoln Center, on the border between Midtown and the Upper West Side.
• The Metropolitan Opera was founded in 1883 by a group of wealthy businessmen who dreamed of having their own opera house. The historic venue was located at the corner of Broadway and 39th Street, between Bryant Park and the Empire State Building. But the space soon proved too cramped, and the company decided to find a new location. This happened in 1966 with the construction of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
• New York’s opera house is undoubtedly the most prestigious opera in the United States and one of the finest in the world. It has hosted the world premiere of 32 works, including Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West. Add to that the American premieres of many classical operas, from Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde to Boris Godunov’s Turandot and Arabella.
• The Metropolitan Opera presents over 200 performances each season, drawing more than 800,000 spectators. The opera season runs from late September through late May or early June, depending on the year.
• One last thing to know: don’t confuse the Metropolitan Opera with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These two institutions are independent and have nothing to do with each other. The confusion is even stronger because both the Metropolitan Opera and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are commonly referred to as “the Met.” So be specific when talking to a New Yorker if you’re referring only to the Met.

Book Your Tickets for the Metropolitan Opera in New York

• Good news: CNEWYORK gives you access to all Metropolitan Opera tickets for every performance of the 2026/2027 season and all ticket categories.
• To book your tickets, send us a message through our contact form with your travel dates and the show(s) you’d like to see. We’ll get back to you quickly with a payment link to confirm your tickets. You’ll receive a confirmation as soon as payment is processed.
• The CNEWYORK advantage: all Metropolitan Opera tickets booked on our CNEWYORK site are free to cancel up to 4 days before the performance, for any reason. A unique free guarantee!

2026/2027 Season Program at the Metropolitan Opera in New York

The 2025/2026 Metropolitan Opera season launches on September 21, 2025 with The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. The final two performances of the season take place on June 6, 2026, with La Traviata at 1 p.m. and Turandot at 8 p.m. One last packed day! Here’s the complete 2025/2026 season program:

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

• On the eve of World War II, two young Jewish cousins from New York create a new comic book superhero. This contemporary opera, inspired by Michael Chabon’s novel, is a new creation by the Metropolitan Opera. This piece will open the 2025/2026 season!
• Dates: September 21 – October 11, 2025.

Turandot

• Turandot is a monumental opera written by Giacomo Puccini in 1926. Turandot is a Chinese princess of deadly beauty. She attracts many suitors to Beijing who, to marry her, must solve three riddles posed by the princess. But if they fail, the competitors are beheaded!
• Dates: September 23, 2025 – June 6, 2026.

Don Giovanni

• Another major opera, this time by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself! The story takes place in Seville in the 16th century. You’ll follow Don Giovanni, an inveterate seducer who conquers one woman after another. But this could well lead to his downfall…
• Dates: September 24 – November 22, 2025.

La Sonnambula

• This opera is by Vincenzo Bellini. The story is literally a sleepwalker’s tale! The opera tells the story of Amina, a young village girl accused of infidelity while sleepwalking. The piece is best known as a magnificent example of Italian bel canto.
• Dates: October 6 – November 1, 2025.

La Fille du Régiment

• This opera was created in 1840 by Gaetano Donizetti for the Opéra-Comique in Paris. La Fille du Régiment tells the story of Marie, an orphan taken in by a French military regiment. Marie is now the regiment’s mascot!
• Dates: October 17 – November 12, 2025.

La Bohème

• La Bohème is one of Giacomo Puccini’s masterpieces. Dive into 19th-century Paris and discover the lives and loves of struggling young artists. A life of bohemia!
• Dates: October 21, 2025 – May 2, 2026.

Carmen

• Do we need to introduce Carmen, one of the world’s most famous operas? This opera by French composer Georges Bizet tells the story of a seductive bohemian woman living in Seville in the early 19th century. This year’s version at the Metropolitan Opera breaks with tradition by transposing the story to today…
• Dates: October 28, 2025 – January 23, 2026.

Arabella

• This celebrated opera was composed by Richard Strauss. It tells the story of Arabella, a young woman of good family in early 20th-century Vienna. Her father, a compulsive gambler, has ruined the family. The only way out is to marry Arabella to a wealthy businessman.
• Dates: November 10–29, 2025.

Andrea Chénier

• As the French Revolution rages, poet Andrea Chénier is torn between his loves and his political commitments. This opera set to music by Umberto Giordano premiered in 1896 at La Scala in Milan and was produced the same year in New York.
• Dates: November 24 – December 4, 2025.

Porgy and Bess

• This opera composed by American George Gershwin takes you into the underbelly of the African American community in Charleston. You’ll meet two characters at odds with society: Porgy and Bess. The music is surprising, blending classical opera airs with blues and jazz.
• Dates: December 2, 2025 – January 24, 2026.

The Magic Flute

• This Mozart opera is one of the most well-known operas in the world. Follow Prince Tamino’s wild adventures as he sets out to rescue Princess Pamina, guided only by a magic flute. A great classic reimagined and modernized by the Metropolitan Opera!
• Dates: December 11, 2025 – January 3, 2026.

I Puritani

• I Puritani is an opera composed by Italian Vincenzo Bellini in 1835. The action takes place in England during the 17th century, in the time of Oliver Cromwell. Will political rivalries overcome the passion between Elvira and Arturo, two young people madly in love with each other?
• Dates: December 31, 2025 – January 18, 2026.

Madame Butterfly

• Madame Butterfly is Puccini’s other masterpiece. It tells the tragedy of Cio-Cio San, a 15-year-old geisha who believes she has found true love with an American officer. But when the soldier returns to the United States, he leaves the young woman alone with their child.
• Dates: January 9 – March 28, 2026.

Tristan und Isolde

• Tristan und Isolde is one of Richard Wagner’s world-renowned operas. The German composer takes the famous medieval myth and sets it to music. The opera tells the story of a forbidden love between Tristan, a loyal knight, and Isolde, a princess promised to another man.
• Dates: March 9 – April 2, 2026.

La Traviata

• La Traviata is one of opera’s great classics. This piece was written in 1856 by Italian Giuseppe Verdi, inspired by The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas fils. Violetta Valéry, a Parisian courtesan suffering from tuberculosis, falls in love with young bourgeois Alfredo Germont. A tormented love story!
• Dates: March 20 – June 6, 2026.

Innocence

• This contemporary work was created by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. The story speaks to a mother’s pain when confronted with violence after losing her child. The music blends Scandinavian folk airs with modern vocal techniques.
• Dates: April 6–29, 2026.

Eugene Onegin

• If this opera’s name means nothing to you, know that it’s a work composed by the great Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky based on a novel by Alexander Pushkin. That’s two great names for one opera! Eugene Onegin is an arrogant Russian aristocrat who regrets not having married the young Tatiana.
• Dates: April 20 – May 16, 2026.

El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego

• This opera stands out by telling the story of the return to earth of Mexican artist couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. The music draws inspiration from Mexican airs, creating an unprecedented contemporary work. The sets naturally immerse you in the dreamlike and colorful universe of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
• Dates: May 14 – June 5, 2026.

Practical Information

• Address: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 30 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York.
• Subway: 66 St-Lincoln Center (lines 1 and 2).
• Hours: The opera house doors open 45 minutes before the performance begins. It’s recommended to arrive when doors open to pass through security checks comfortably and discover the interior of the hall.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear to attend an opera at the Metropolitan Opera in New York?

The Metropolitan Opera in New York has no dress code, as long as you’re dressed decently. You can come in your regular clothes. However, some patrons like to dress elegantly for performances. Ladies, you can certainly opt for an evening gown. Gentlemen, feel free to wear a jacket and tie.

Can children attend a performance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York?

Yes, you can attend an opera with your children. The Metropolitan Opera has no minimum age requirement. However, you should know that if your children cry, shout, or disturb the performance in any way, you will be politely but firmly asked to leave the hall. You’ll then watch the rest of the performance from the List Hall, separately.