Munich Opera Festival
The annual summer festival of the Bavarian State Opera at the National Theatre and Prinzregententheater
2026
About Munich Opera Festival
Munich Opera Festival — edition 2026
The 2026 Opera Festival runs from June 18 to July 31, 2026, following the major anniversary year of 2025 (150 years of Opera Festival). The focus is on two festival premieres and the continuation of the new Munich Ring des Nibelungen by Tobias Kratzer and Vladimir Jurowski.
The opening will be the premiere of Richard Wagner's "Die Walküre" on June 25, 2026, at the National Theatre – the next step in the tetralogy after the highly acclaimed "Rheingold." Direction: Tobias Kratzer. Musical direction: Vladimir Jurowski. On July 4, "Die Walküre" will be broadcast free of charge to Max-Joseph-Platz as "Opera for All", starting at 5 PM.
At the Prinzregententheater, Georg Friedrich Handel's "Alcina" will premiere as a festival production. Direction: Johanna Wehner. Musical direction: Stefano Montanari.
In addition, there will be the traditional recitals with Diana Damrau, Jonas Kaufmann, and Christian Gerhaher, numerous repertoire performances, and concerts by the Bavarian State Orchestra, as well as performances by the Bavarian State Ballet.
Highlights Munich Opera Festival 2026
- Festival premiere "Die Walküre" (Wagner) — Directed by Tobias Kratzer, conducted by Jurowski
- Festival premiere "Alcina" (Handel) — Directed by Johanna Wehner
- "Opera for All" on July 4, 2026, at Max-Joseph-Platz (free admission)
- Recitals with Diana Damrau, Jonas Kaufmann, and Christian Gerhaher
- Six weeks of festival programming with opera, ballet, and concerts
Programme Munich Opera Festival 2026
Festival Premieres 2026
- June 25, 2026 — "Die Walküre" (Wagner) · National Theatre · Direction: Tobias Kratzer · Musical Direction: Vladimir Jurowski · Further performances include 06/28, 07/04 ("Opera for All"), 07/11, 07/18, 07/26.
- "Alcina" (Handel) — Festival Premiere · Prinzregententheater · Direction: Johanna Wehner · Musical Direction: Stefano Montanari
Recitals and Concerts
- Diana Damrau — Recital
- Jonas Kaufmann — Recital
- Christian Gerhaher — Recital
- Further recitals will be announced on the official festival website
- Concerts by the Bavarian State Orchestra
Opera for All
- Saturday, July 4, 2026 — Free broadcast of "Die Walküre" to Max-Joseph-Platz, starting at 5 PM
Ballet and Repertoire
Performances by the Bavarian State Ballet and repertoire productions from the 2025/26 season complement the festival program. The complete overview will be published on the Bavarian State Opera website.
Prices Munich Opera Festival 2026
Premiere tickets range from approximately €40 to €365 depending on seating. Recitals start from around €20. "Opera for All" on July 4 is free (Max-Joseph-Platz). Tickets available via the Bavarian State Opera.
Practical information — Munich Opera Festival
Getting There
National Theatre at Max-Joseph-Platz (U-Bahn Marienplatz or Odeonsplatz, S-Bahn Marienplatz, 5 minutes walk each). Prinzregententheater on tram line 18 (stop Prinzregententheater) or U4/U5 Max-Weber-Platz. Cuvilliés-Theater in the Residenz, entrance Residenzstraße.
Tickets
Tickets usually go on sale in February/March. Festival highlights are often sold out months in advance. Remaining tickets are available at the box office on the day of the performance.
Opera for All
Live broadcast to Max-Joseph-Platz, usually starting around 5 PM. Free admission, seating is on a "first come, first served" basis.
150 Years of Festival Tradition
The Munich Opera Festival is the most prestigious classical festival in Southern Germany and, alongside Salzburg, Bayreuth, and Aix-en-Provence, one of the four most important opera festivals in Europe. Its roots date back to 1875, when Wagner performances at the Royal Court and National Theatre established the "Festive Summer." In 2025, the Bavarian State Opera celebrated the 150th anniversary of this tradition with a festival week at the National Theatre.
Four Venues in Munich
Every summer, the festival takes over several stages in the Bavarian capital:
- National Theatre at Max-Joseph-Platz – main stage for major premieres (Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, Strauss)
- Prinzregententheater – home to Baroque and chamber opera works
- Cuvilliés-Theater – Rococo gem for Mozart and Baroque pieces
- Max-Joseph-Platz – venue for "Opera for All," the free live broadcast
Artists and Program
The program always includes at least two festival premieres, a selection of the season's best productions, five to seven recitals by international singers (Diana Damrau, Jonas Kaufmann, Christian Gerhaher, Julia Kleiter, Gerald Finley, among others), ballet performances by the Bavarian State Ballet, and special concerts by the Bavarian State Orchestra. The General Music Director since 2021 is Vladimir Jurowski.
"Opera for All" — Free Classics at Max-Joseph-Platz
A festival tradition is "Opera for All": a selected opera performance is broadcast live on a large screen at Max-Joseph-Platz. Thousands of spectators gather there on a Saturday evening with free admission – one of the most beautiful Munich summer evenings.
Munich — Capital of Classical Music in Bavaria
Beyond the festival period, the Bavarian State Opera is one of the largest opera houses in Germany. Munich, the capital of the state of Bavaria, complements a unique classical summer program with the Munich Philharmonic, the University of Music, and numerous summer festivals.
Where it takes place Munich Opera Festival
Munich Opera Festival at a glance
History of Munich Opera Festival
Edition 2025 Jun 2025Festivals similar to Munich Opera Festival
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