Staatsoper für alle on 23 and 24 May 2026
Staatsoper für alle is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year—marking two decades of one of Berlin’s largest and most popular open-air classical music events. Once again this year, Berliners and guests from around the world are invited to experience opera and concerts under the open sky with free admission on two consecutive days at one of the city’s most beautiful, atmospheric, and historic squares: Bebelplatz in the heart of the capital. Together with its long-standing partner BMW, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden invites you to a very special Pentecost weekend on May 23 and 24:
The event kicks off on Saturday, May 23, at 6:00 p.m. with a live broadcast of Giuseppe Verdi’s Nabucco from the Staatsoper to the neighboring Bebelplatz. The fate of two peoples and the actions of the eponymous protagonist are at the heart of this opera, which features the famous prisoners’ chorus “Va pensiero.” The production was staged by the renowned opera, theater, and film director Emma Dante—it premiered at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in 2024. Featuring Ariun Ganbaatar, Lidia Fridman, Tareq Nazmi, Elena Maximova, Andrés Moreno García, Clara Nadeshdin, Junho Hwang, and Hanseong Yun, the Staatskapelle Berlin under the baton of Francesco Lanzilotta, and the Staatsopernchor, Verdi’s Nabucco can be experienced free of charge on the big screen with a star-studded cast.
On Sunday, May 24, at 1:00 p.m., Bebelplatz will be transformed into a large open-air concert stage: The Staatskapelle Berlin and its General Music Director Christian Thielemann invite you to an open-air concert. The program features works by Ludwig van Beethoven—the Coriolan Overture, Op. 62; Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 Pastoral; and the Egmont Overture, Op. 84.
As a “prelude,” the State Opera’s Children’s Orchestra and Youth Choir will also perform on Bebelplatz on May 24 at 11:30 a.m. under the direction of Giuseppe Mentuccia. Featuring Sonja Herranen, Sandra Laagus, Serafina Starke, Junho Hwang, and Irakli Pkhaladze, the concert will showcase wonderful young voices from the International Opera Studio of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.
Staatsoper für alle is held under the patronage of Berlin’s Governing Mayor, Kai Wegner, and will be hosted by journalist and presenter Petra Gute. As in previous years, numerous prominent guests are expected to walk the red carpet for the opera performance at the Staatsoper.
The major event Staatsoper für alle is the cornerstone of the long-standing partnership between the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and BMW and has developed over two decades into a fixture on Berlin’s cultural calendar. Each year, it provides tens of thousands of people with accessible entry to artistically outstanding opera and concert experiences.
The Staatsoper extends its heartfelt thanks to the Friends and Supporters of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and its main partners, BMW and the Hilti Foundation, for their support.