The Staatsoper Unter den Linden invites you to its Open Day on 12 September 2026

Press release of 3 September 2026

To mark the start of the new season, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden will open its doors on Saturday, 12 September 2026, from 12 noon. With free admission, visitors can look forward to a varied programme featuring the Staatskapelle Berlin, the Staatsoper Chorus, singers from the ensemble and the International Opera Studio, guest soloists, members of the Orchestra Academy, the Staatsballett Berlin and the Junge Staatsoper. Numerous other ensembles, departments and technical teams at the opera house will offer insights into their work and invite visitors to get involved.

In the Grand Hall, the day begins at 12.00 pm with a welcome address by Artistic Director Elisabeth Sobotka. Afterwards, the audience can attend a public orchestral rehearsal of Gaspare Spontini’s La Vestale, the season’s first premiere. Under the baton of Carlo Rizzi, the Staatskapelle Berlin, the Staatsoper Chorus and vocal soloists, including Sonya Yoncheva and David Butt Philip, will be rehearsing for the premiere on 26 September. In addition, dancers from the Berlin State Ballet will offer a glimpse into their work with excerpts from Giselle. Backstage tours of the opera house will allow guests a look behind the scenes. In the Apollosaal, an opera café with a costume exhibition invites visitors to linger.

The State Opera’s rehearsal centre, with its inner courtyard, is also opening its doors: at ‘Conduct me!’, guests of all ages can conduct members of the orchestra and get to know different groups of instruments at the instrument carousel. In the rehearsal rooms and workshops, the stage technology, lighting, costume, make-up, props and repertoire tailoring teams offer insights into their work and invite visitors to have a go. Contributions from the International Opera Studio, the Orchestra Academy, the Children’s Opera House and the Children’s, Youth and Apollo Choirs round off the programme, as do hands-on activities organised by the Young State Opera for children and families.

The first revivals of the season – Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila – are already scheduled for 5 and 6 September. On 8 and 9 September, the Staatskapelle Berlin opens its 2026/27 concert season with Symphoniekonzert conducted by Christian Thielemann and featuring Rudolf Buchbinder on the piano. The programme includes works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Anton Bruckner.

Rigoletto

Saturday, 5 September 2026 at 7.30 pm | Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Further performances on 11, 17, 19, 23 and 25 September 2026

Click here to visit the event page.
 

Samson et Dalila

Sunday, 6 September 2026 at 6.00 pm | Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Further performances on 10 and 13 September 2026

Click here to visit the event page.
 

Symphoniekonzert I

Tuesday, 8 September 2026 at 8.00 pm | Berlin Philharmonie
Wednesday, 9 September 2026 at 7.00 pm | Staatsoper Unter den Linden

Click here to visit the event page.
 

Tag der offenen Tür

Saturday, 12 September 2026, from 12.00 pm | Staatsoper Unter den Linden

You can find the full programme here.
 

Please send requests for press tickets, stating the nature of your editorial assignment, to pressoffice@staatsoper-berlin.de.

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden would like to thank the Friends and Patrons of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, the Board of Trustees of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and its main partner, BMW, for their support.