The Vienna Opera Summer returns on July 1, 2026, with Carmen.

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Twelve Opera Performances

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Spectacular Stage Setting

International Star Cast

Vienna Chamber Orchestra

Open-Air
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Selected Gastronomy

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The 3rd Vienna Opera Summer presents Georges Bizet's “Carmen”

From July 1 to 18, 2026, the opera arena at Heumarkt will be transformed into a stage full of passion, music, and drama: experience Georges Bizet's world-famous masterpiece “Carmen.”
As in La Traviata 2025, the composer of the opera, Georges Bizet himself, guides us through the evening, recounting the plot and revealing exciting details about the creation of his only successful opera. Immerse yourself in the story of the seductive Carmen, who captivates all men and changes the life of the shy soldier Don José forever. Between love, jealousy, freedom, and betrayal, a gripping drama unfolds, culminating in a fatal finale. An opera full of rousing melodies, burning emotions, and great passion.
Dates & Tickets
The Vienna Opera Summer presents Georges Bizet's “Carmen” From July 1 to 18, 2026, the Opera Arena at Heumarkt will be transformed into a stage full of passion, music, and drama: experience Georges Bizet's world-famous masterpiece “Carmen.” As with La Traviata in 2025, the opera's composer, Georges Bizet himself, will guide you through the evening, narrating the plot and revealing exciting details about the creation of his only successful opera. Immerse yourself in the story of the seductive Carmen, who captivates all men and changes the life of the shy soldier Don José forever. Between love, jealousy, freedom, and betrayal, a gripping drama unfolds, culminating in a fatal finale. An opera full of stirring melodies, burning emotions, and great passion. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

CARMEN 2026

The Vienna Opera Summer returns on July 1, 2026, with the open-air cultural highlight of the summer: CARMEN by Georges Bizet.

Be sure to secure one of the coveted tickets for your preferred date.

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The Vienna Opera Summer presents Georges Bizet's “Carmen” From July 1 to 18, 2026, the Opera Arena at Heumarkt will be transformed into a stage full of passion, music, and drama: experience Georges Bizet's world-famous masterpiece “Carmen.” As with La Traviata in 2025, the opera's composer, Georges Bizet himself, will guide you through the evening, narrating the plot and revealing exciting details about the creation of his only successful opera. Immerse yourself in the story of the seductive Carmen, who captivates all men and changes the life of the shy soldier Don José forever. Between love, jealousy, freedom, and betrayal, a gripping drama unfolds, culminating in a fatal finale. An opera full of stirring melodies, burning emotions, and great passion. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Take a look back at La Traviata at the 2nd Vienna Opera Summer 2025

Review of La Traviata

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The Vienna Opera Summer: an opera festival for Viennese and international visitors

The event was originally initiated by the "Friends of the Vienna Opera Summer" association and its artistic director Joji Hattori. With the vision of keeping Vienna vibrant as a cultural metropolis even during the summer months, the Vienna Opera Summer stands for accessibility without sacrificing artistic excellence.
We are creating a festival that aims to capture the hearts of both Viennese residents and international visitors by presenting the world's most beautiful and significant operas without too much avant-gardism.
Dates & Tickets
This summer, we are performing in the very center of the city, the newly created OPERNARENA AM HEUMARKT, with the beautiful side façade of the Wiener Konzerthaus as an atmospheric stage backdrop, accompanied by impressive light projections. For our second season, from July 1 to 19, 2025, we have chosen one of the most famous Italian operas of all time, La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, for you. In our version, there is the ghost of the composer, played by Oscar actor Karl Markovics, who will tell the background to the story of Violetta, the beautiful, terminally ill courtesan with the noblest soul, between the fantastically beautiful melodies. In this way, we create an easy-to-understand opera experience that will delight both connoisseurs and newcomers alike, while the music sounds true to the original.
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Vienna Opera Summer 2025: La Traviata

EXPERIENCE VERDI’S "LA TRAVIATA" UNDER THE OPEN SKY, AT THE OPERA ARENA AT HEUMARKT
The Vienna Opera Summer is a cultural open-air spectacle that transforms Vienna's Heumarkt into a unique open-air opera arena. From July 1 to 19, international opera stars, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra and the Philharmonia Chorus perform a total of 12 shows on an open-air stage created by Manfred Waba. Presented by artistic director & conductor Joji Hattori, directed by Dominik Am Zehnhoff-Söns and with Oscar-winning actor Karl Markovics as narrator between the musical numbers.
Enjoy top-class opera in the open air - a unique opera experience not to be missed.
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This was the premiere of the 2nd Vienna Opera Summer with La Traviata

Watch the VIDEO
The Vienna Opera Summer presents Georges Bizet's “Carmen” From July 1 to 18, 2026, the Opera Arena at Heumarkt will be transformed into a stage full of passion, music, and drama: experience Georges Bizet's world-famous masterpiece “Carmen.” As with La Traviata in 2025, the opera's composer, Georges Bizet himself, will guide you through the evening, narrating the plot and revealing exciting details about the creation of his only successful opera. Immerse yourself in the story of the seductive Carmen, who captivates all men and changes the life of the shy soldier Don José forever. Between love, jealousy, freedom, and betrayal, a gripping drama unfolds, culminating in a fatal finale. An opera full of stirring melodies, burning emotions, and great passion. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
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The opera arena at Heumarkt

A new location for the Vienna Opera Summer

Following the tremendous success of its debut season with Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Belvedere, the Vienna Opera Summer has relocated. Starting in 2025, the Vienna Ice Skating Club's square will be transformed into the city's most spectacular open-air stage, created by renowned stage designer Manfred Waba, beginning on July 1.

Experience the cultural highlight of the summer in the unique opera arena at Heumarkt - an unrivalled experience!

This summer, we are performing in the very center of the city, the newly created OPERNARENA AM HEUMARKT, with the beautiful side façade of the Wiener Konzerthaus as an atmospheric stage backdrop, accompanied by impressive light projections. For our second season, from July 1 to 19, 2025, we have chosen one of the most famous Italian operas of all time, La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, for you. In our version, there is the ghost of the composer, played by Oscar actor Karl Markovics, who will tell the background to the story of Violetta, the beautiful, terminally ill courtesan with the noblest soul, between the fantastically beautiful melodies. In this way, we create an easy-to-understand opera experience that will delight both connoisseurs and newcomers alike, while the music sounds true to the original.
Photocredit

The opera arena at Heumarkt

A new location for the Vienna Opera Summer

Following the tremendous success of its debut season with Mozart's Don Giovanni at the Belvedere, the Vienna Opera Summer has relocated. Starting in 2025, the Vienna Ice Skating Club's square will be transformed into the city's most spectacular open-air stage, created by renowned stage designer Manfred Waba, beginning on July 1.

Experience the cultural highlight of the summer in the unique opera arena at Heumarkt - an unrivalled experience!

WE CREATE CULTURE FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS!

VIP-Packages
This summer, we are performing in the very center of the city, the newly created OPERNARENA AM HEUMARKT, with the beautiful side façade of the Wiener Konzerthaus as an atmospheric stage backdrop, accompanied by impressive light projections. For our second season, from July 1 to 19, 2025, we have chosen one of the most famous Italian operas of all time, La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, for you. In our version, there is the ghost of the composer, played by Oscar actor Karl Markovics, who will tell the background to the story of Violetta, the beautiful, terminally ill courtesan with the noblest soul, between the fantastically beautiful melodies. In this way, we create an easy-to-understand opera experience that will delight both connoisseurs and newcomers alike, while the music sounds true to the original.

Vienna Opera Summer 2025 - A celebration of the arts in the heart of the capital

After last year's spectacular success, the Vienna Opera Summer is entering its second round and is establishing itself as one of the cultural highlights of the year. From the July 1st to 19th, 2025 transforms the historic Vienna Heumarkt once again into an impressive open-air stage - an opera arena in the open air that is second to none.

Under the artistic direction by Joji Hattori the audience can expect Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece „La Traviata“ in a unique production. Twelve exclusive performances make the festival an incomparable experience for opera lovers and those who want to become one.

The Vienna Opera Summer uses the city's summer theater break to provide a stage for about 100 artists per year a creative collaboration between up-and-coming talents and renowned greats of the opera world.

The listed backdrop of the Vienna Konzerthaus not only forms the magnificent backdrop for the performances, but also symbolizes the harmonious combination of historical heritage and contemporary art.

For the physical well-being a selection of selected gastronomy directly at the opera site, which also makes the evening a special culinary experience.

Spend an unforgettable evening at the Vienna Opera Summer - a cultural highlight in Vienna's unique opera arena on Heumarkt.

Prices

  • VIP-Plus
    VIP-Plus € 269,--
  • VIP
    VIP € 249,--
  • Category A-PLUS € 159,--
  • Category A € 139,--
  • Category B € 119,--
  • Category C € 99,--
  • Category D € 79,--
  • Category E € 59,--
Tickets ab € 59,-

Photocredits

MAGMAG, Shutterstock, Freepik, Flaticon, iStock, Wikipedia, Picasa, Anna Stöcher, Dopedonut, Ricardo Herrgott, Shirley Suarez, Deniz Arslan, Caroline Olava, Stephan Polzer, Yale Duval, Michael Strobl, Praticia Narbon, Jörg Zimmer und Christine Wegscheider, Homolka, Taro Morikawa, Nadine Wuchenauer, Wolfgang Hirt, Johannes Siglär, Marcel Plavec, Andras Illes / Istvan Zsiros, Luisa Zoe, Maria Frodl, C.Stadler/Bwag, Liliana Morsia, Richard Schuster, Marinus Kreit, Nancy Horowitz, Stela McMillan, Markus Morawetz Photography, Moritz Schell, Anastasiia Kvasnovska, Julian Pirker, Markus Sibrawa, WienTourismus / Peter Rigaud, Nico Eder, Lukas Schraml, InterContinental Vienna, Gourmet, Gösser, Andreas Tischler

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