Upcoming Opera shows in Europe
As the curtain rises on the 2026/2027 season, Paris, London, and Brussels once again take their place as Europe’s great stages for opera and ballet. From a world premiere at Palais Garnier marking the 120th anniversary of Josephine Baker’s birth, to the finale of two celebrated Ring cycles in Paris and London, and a rare Brussels revival of Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, this new season promises exceptional casts and unforgettable evenings.
Your Guide to the Best Shows in Paris, London, and Brussels
This curated selection brings together the most sought-after productions across Paris, London, and Brussels—where iconic masterpieces meet exceptional casts, and where every evening becomes more than a performance, but a moment to be remembered. Whether it is the emotional intensity of Puccini, the brilliance of Mozart, or the visual poetry of classical ballet, these stages offer an unparalleled journey through music, storytelling, and artistry.
At Carsons Travel Concierge, we go beyond securing tickets—we curate the entire experience, from the best seats in the house to seamless itineraries designed around the cultural highlights of your journey.
Paris – Opera Bastille Tickets
Upcoming Operas and Ballet in Paris
Opera: Black Pearl: meditations for Josephine – Tyshawn Sorey
When & Where: Palais Garnier, 9 – 19 September 2026
What’s the opera about? Marking the 120th anniversary of Josephine Baker’s birth, this world premiere opens the Paris Opera’s new season with a portrait of the Jazz Age icon staged by Peter Sellars. Composer Tyshawn Sorey reimagines some of Baker’s most iconic songs into a hypnotic new score, brought to life by soprano Julia Bullock.
Why you should see it: A striking season opener and a genuine world premiere — an intimate, contemporary tribute to one of the twentieth century’s most magnetic performers, staged in the opulence of Palais Garnier.
Opera: Il Barbiere di Siviglia – Gioachino Rossini
When & Where: Opéra Bastille, 12 September – 5 November 2026
What’s the opera about? Rossini’s beloved comedy follows the resourceful barber Figaro as he helps Count Almaviva win the heart of the spirited Rosina, outwitting her scheming guardian along the way. Sparkling wit and irresistible melody make this one of the most joyful works in the repertoire.
Why you should see it: One of opera’s most effervescent comedies, ideal for a first visit to the Bastille or a lighthearted evening between grander works.
Opera: Hamlet – Ambroise Thomas
When & Where: Opéra Bastille, 18 September – 9 October 2026
What’s the opera about? Thomas’s grand French adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy follows Hamlet’s descent into grief and vengeance after his father’s murder, set to a lush, dramatic score rarely heard outside Paris.
Why you should see it: A true rarity of the French repertoire, offering a fresh and theatrical take on one of literature’s most enduring tragedies.
Opera: Götterdämmerung – Richard Wagner
When & Where: Opéra Bastille, 8 – 18 October 2026, followed by two complete Ring cycles, 6 – 13 November and 15 – 22 November 2026
What’s the opera about? The closing chapter of Calixto Bieito’s Ring of the Nibelung, conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado, brings this multi-year Wagnerian saga to its cataclysmic finale. Tamara Wilson sings Brünnhilde opposite Andreas Schager’s Siegfried, in a cast including Mika Kares, Eve-Maud Hubeaux, and Brian Mulligan.
Why you should see it: The culmination of one of the most talked-about Ring cycles in recent Paris Opera history — an unmissable event for Wagner devotees, accompanied by a dedicated exhibition at Palais Garnier. Given the scale of interest, we can assist in securing hard-to-access tickets to the Ring Festival cycles, including premium seating and tailored evening arrangements.
Opera: La Clémence de Titus – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
When & Where: Palais Garnier, 24 November – 25 December 2026
What’s the opera about? One of Mozart’s final operas, this tale of political conspiracy and imperial mercy follows Emperor Titus as he grapples with betrayal by those closest to him, ultimately choosing clemency over vengeance.
Why you should see it: A refined, late-Mozart meditation on power and forgiveness, staged in the intimate splendour of Palais Garnier over the Christmas period.
Opera: Turandot – Giacomo Puccini
When & Where: Opéra Bastille, 27 November – 27 December 2026
What’s the opera about? Puccini’s final, unfinished masterpiece tells of the icy Princess Turandot, who submits every suitor to deadly riddles until the persistent Prince Calaf dares to answer — and to love her. Grand choruses and the soaring aria “Nessun dorma” make this one of the most spectacular works in the repertoire.
Why you should see it: A sumptuous, large-scale production perfect for the festive season, combining drama, romance, and some of opera’s most instantly recognisable music.
Opera: Il Trovatore – Giuseppe Verdi
When & Where: Opéra Bastille, 16 January – 27 February 2027
What’s the opera about? Verdi’s tempestuous tale of love, jealousy, and mistaken identity follows Count Luna and the troubadour Manrico, unaware rivals for the same woman and unknowingly bound by a shared, tragic past. Director Àlex Ollé sets the drama’s extremes—love, hatred, and vengeance—against the backdrop of the First World War.
Why you should see it: One of Verdi’s most popular and dramatically charged scores, packed with unforgettable arias — a compelling choice for anyone new to Italian opera as well as longtime devotees.
Opera: Don Giovanni – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
When & Where: Opéra Bastille, 28 January – 24 June 2027
What’s the opera about? Louisa Proske’s first Paris Opera collaboration relocates Mozart’s tale of seduction and reckoning to a grand hotel, a crossroads of solitary lives where desire and consequence collide through the night. Peter Mattei and Davide Luciano share the title role across the run.
Why you should see it: A striking new production of one of opera’s darkest masterpieces, running across two casts well into the summer — plenty of flexibility for planning a visit around it.
Ballet: Rituels
When & Where: Opéra Bastille, 2 December 2026 – 2 January 2027
What’s the ballet about? Three ballets built around the power of gesture and music: Serge Lifar’s neoclassical Suite en blanc, Shahar Binyamini’s new Boléro X set to Ravel’s iconic score, and Pina Bausch’s visceral staging of Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps.
Why you should see it: A physically intense, emotionally charged evening spanning a century of dance history — an ideal choice for those seeking something bolder than the traditional repertoire over the holidays.
London – Opera Tickets at Royal Opera House
Upcoming Operas and Ballet in London
Opera: Don Giovanni – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
When & Where: Royal Opera House, 10 September – 15 October 2026
How long: 3h30, one interval
What’s the opera about? Opening The Royal Opera’s new season, Kasper Holten’s celebrated staging follows the notorious seducer Don Giovanni as his conquests and cruelty finally catch up with him. Es Devlin’s striking sets blur the line between reality and the Don’s unravelling inner world.
Why you should see it: A visually spectacular season opener led by an all-star cast, pairing Mozart’s darkest opera with some of the most arresting stage design in London.
Opera: Alcina – George Frideric Handel
When & Where: Royal Opera House, 15 September – 3 October 2026
How long: 3h50, two intervals
What’s the opera about? On an enchanted island, the sorceress Alcina transforms her discarded lovers into beasts — until Bradamante arrives determined to rescue her husband, setting off a battle of wits between two formidable women.
Why you should see it: Richard Jones’s Olivier Award-winning production returns with much of its original cast, offering firecracker arias and one of Handel’s most magnetic heroines.
Opera: Carmen – Georges Bizet
When & Where: Royal Opera House, 29 October – 21 November 2026
How long: 3h05, one interval
What’s the opera about? Bizet’s fiercely independent Carmen seduces the respectable soldier Don José, only to become the target of his jealousy and obsession as her affections wander elsewhere. Damiano Michieletto’s staging heightens the passion and violence at the heart of the story.
Why you should see it: The second most-performed opera in The Royal Opera’s history, and one of its most sensual and dramatic productions — a perfect introduction to opera for first-time guests.
Opera: The Magic Flute – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
When & Where: Royal Opera House, 13 December 2026 – 17 February 2027
How long: 3h05, one interval
What’s the opera about? David McVicar’s much-loved production follows Prince Tamino’s fantastical quest to rescue Pamina, guided by magic instruments, a trio of mischievous spirits, and the memorable bird-catcher Papageno.
Why you should see it: A warm, family-friendly staging that returns every Christmas season, combining Mozart’s most tuneful score with spectacle well suited to first-time opera guests of any age.
Ballet: Manon – Kenneth MacMillan
When & Where: Royal Opera House, 13 October – 25 November 2026
How long: 2h45, two intervals
What’s the ballet about? MacMillan’s 1974 masterwork follows the courtesan Manon through the decadence and moral decay of eighteenth-century Paris, torn between the security offered by wealthy admirers and her love for the penniless student Des Grieux. Jules Massenet’s score and Nicholas Georgiadis’s opulent designs underscore her tragic descent.
Why you should see it: One of The Royal Ballet’s signature works and a season opener led by its finest dramatic dancers — a devastating, psychologically rich evening rather than a simple fairy tale.
Ballet: The Nutcracker – Peter Wright
When & Where: Royal Opera House, 3 December 2026 – 16 January 2027
How long: 2h20, one interval
What’s the ballet about? On Christmas Eve, young Clara receives a nutcracker doll from the mysterious Drosselmeyer, and once the household falls asleep, she is swept into a dream of battling mice and a glittering journey to the Kingdom of Sweets. Julia Trevelyan Oman’s period designs and Tchaikovsky’s beloved score make this the quintessential festive ballet.
Why you should see it: This season marks choreographer Peter Wright’s centenary — a fitting occasion to revisit the production that has enchanted Royal Opera House audiences since 1984, and a perfect outing for family visits to London over the festive period.
Brussels – Opera Tickets at La Monnaie
Upcoming Operas in Brussels
Opera: Roméo et Juliette – Charles Gounod
When & Where: La Monnaie, 29 September – 17 October 2026
What’s the opera about? Absent from the Brussels stage since 1959, Gounod’s lyrical retelling of Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers opens La Monnaie’s new season. Director Julia Burbach and conductor Valentina Peleggi — making her La Monnaie debut — bring fresh energy to this evocative score, with Jeanine De Bique as Juliette opposite the experienced Roméo of Ismael Jordi.
Why you should see it: A long-awaited Brussels return for one of French opera’s most romantic scores, led by a strong, largely female creative team in their company debuts.
Opera: Wozzeck – Alban Berg
When & Where: La Monnaie, 8 – 22 November 2026
What’s the opera about? A new production exploring the fractured psyche of the soldier Wozzeck, as isolation and violence blur the line between reality and imagination, sliding inexorably toward tragedy. Music director Alain Altinoglu conducts this century-old work, still strikingly modern.
Why you should see it: A haunting, intense evening of music theatre — Berg’s expressionist masterpiece remains one of the most powerful and relevant works in the operatic canon, staged with a bold new visual concept by director Christophe Coppens.
Opera: La Cenerentola – Gioachino Rossini
When & Where: La Monnaie, 15 – 31 December 2026
What’s the opera about? Rossini’s take on the Cinderella story trades fairy-tale magic for wit and warmth, following the kind-hearted Angelina as she finds love and recognition through intelligence rather than enchantment. Mezzo-soprano Gaëlle Arquez takes the title role.
Why you should see it: A joyful, festive-season choice full of vocal fireworks and charm — equally suited to seasoned opera-goers and those attending for the first time.
Sold out Opera Tickets
With Carsons Travel Concierge, not only can you reserve tickets for these exclusive performances, but we also offer access to sold-out tickets to other performances at iconic venues like Opera Garnier in Paris, Royal Opera House in London, and La Monnaie in Brussels. Dive into the world of opera and ballet with us and enjoy exclusive seats that would otherwise be out of reach. Whether you’re in Brussels, Paris, or London, these performances provide an unforgettable glimpse into the world of opera and ballet.
Take Your Opera Experience to the Next Level
To complete the luxury Carsons experience, we can arrange:
- Chauffeured transfers to and from the opera
- A personal stylist and make-up artist at your hotel before the performance
- VIP seating at Palais Garnier
- Pre-opera cocktails or a private backstage tour
But why stop at just attending? We offer curated private visits that allow you to deep dive into the rich culture of opera. Explore behind the scenes, learn the history, and feel the heartbeat of Royal Opera House with VIP Behind the Scenes Tour.
If you decide to stay overnight in Paris, book with us a top choice hotel – Hotel InterContinental Paris – Le Grand, and enjoy plenty of perks and bonuses, such as:
◊ 100 USD hotel credit
◊ Upgrade whenever possible
◊ Breakfast daily
Nestled in the vibrant Opera district, the InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is a historic gem that combines Parisian elegance with modern luxury. This iconic hotel, just steps away from the Opéra Garnier and close to premier shopping destinations like Galeries Lafayette, offers a sophisticated ambiance with beautifully appointed rooms and suites, many with stunning views of the Eiffel Tower or Opera House. Guests can indulge in the renowned Café de la Paix, known for its classic French cuisine, and enjoy a relaxing moment in the hotel’s serene spa. Ideal for both business and leisure travelers, Le Grand delivers a quintessential Parisian experience with impeccable service and timeless charm.
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