Opera at the Circo Massimo - Summer Season
Grand opera under the stars in Rome's oldest performance venue
About Opera at the Circo Massimo
The Rome Opera returns to the Circo Massimo
For the 2026 summer season, the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma moves to a setting of rare beauty: the Circo Massimo. This ancient arena, which hosted chariot races for centuries, returns after over 1,500 years to being a space for major live performances. This move is due to ongoing restoration work at the Baths of Caracalla, the festival's historic home. For one season, opera leaves the thermal ruins for the vast esplanade at the foot of the Palatine and Aventine hills, in the heart of the Municipality of Rome (Province of Rome, Lazio).
A 6,000-seat stage in the heart of Rome
The Circo Massimo setup features an auditorium of approximately 6,000 seats per night, with the stage framed by the silhouettes of Roman hills and ancient monuments. It is an experience that combines the power of live music with the evocative strength of one of the world's most famous archaeological sites: attending an opera here means experiencing Rome in its most authentic dimension, that of open-air popular entertainment that has spanned millennia.
Opera, dance, cinema, and music
The program is intentionally multidisciplinary and designed for a wide audience. The heart of the season is Giuseppe Verdi's Aida, the quintessential Verdi title for monumental spaces, in a new production by the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. Alongside grand opera, there is dance, with the international gala Roberto Bolle and Friends and the ballet Romeo and Juliet by the Ballet Company directed by Eleonora Abbagnato, film-in-concert events with Ridley Scott's Gladiator performed live, and a series of pop and rock concerts featuring names like Riccardo Cocciante, Edoardo Bennato, and Patti Smith.
Why it's worth the trip
- A unique opportunity to see opera at the Circo Massimo, an exceptional event linked to the Caracalla restoration.
- A program ranging from opera to dance, film-in-concert to pop, catering to all tastes.
- Open-air evenings in the monumental center of Rome, between the Palatine, Aventine, and the Forum Boarium.
- The artistic quality of one of Italy's most important opera foundations.
With this season, the Teatro dell'Opera confirms Rome's vocation for combining historical heritage with contemporary culture, transforming a thousand-year-old monument into a great open-air theater every summer.
Opera at the Circo Massimo — edition 2026
The 2026 Summer Season of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma inaugurates a historic interlude: due to ongoing work at the Baths of Caracalla, the summer festival moves to the Circo Massimo, with a setup of about 6,000 seats per night. The program, from June 29 to July 31, alternates opera, dance, film-in-concert, and pop music. The heart of the program is Giuseppe Verdi's Aida in six performances, accompanied by dance galas, Ridley Scott's Gladiator performed live, and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana as the finale. The calendar is completed by three evenings of great pop and rock music. Tickets, from approximately 15 to 170 euros, go on sale starting March 13, 2026.
Programme Opera at the Circo Massimo 2026
June 29 — 9:00 PM
- Francesco. Un santo scomodo — lecture-performance by historian Alessandro Barbero, opening night of the season.
July 3 and 4 — 9:00 PM
- Gladiator in concert — Ridley Scott's film screened with the soundtrack performed live by the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. On stage Lisa Gerrard, voice and co-composer of the original music with Hans Zimmer. Conductor Ludwig Wicki.
July 6 — 9:00 PM
- Riccardo Cocciante in concert.
July 12, 15, 18, 22, 26, and 28 — 9:00 PM
- Aida by Giuseppe Verdi — six performances of the Verdi masterpiece in a new production, with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma conducted by Daniele Callegari. The cast includes, in rotation, Elena Stikhina, Yolanda Auyanet, and Aleksandra Kurzak (Aida), Angela Meade (Amneris), Luciano Ganci (Radamès), Ernesto Petti and Ludovic Tézier (Amonasro), and Alex Esposito (Ramfis).
July 14 — 9:00 PM
- Roberto Bolle and Friends — the famous dance gala with star Roberto Bolle and international ballet stars.
July 20 — 9:00 PM
- Edoardo Bennato in concert, "Quando sarò grande".
July 24 and 25 — 9:00 PM
- Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev — ballet by the Ballet Company of the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma directed by Eleonora Abbagnato, choreography by John Cranko, musical direction by Ido Arad.
July 27 — 9:00 PM
- Patti Smith in concert.
July 31 — 9:30 PM
- Carmina Burana by Carl Orff — closing night conducted by Wayne Marshall with video installation by the Anagoor collective. Soloists Alessandra Marianelli, Thomas Lehman, and Ivan Borodulin.
Highlights Opera at the Circo Massimo 2026
- Verdi's Aida — six performances of the iconic opera for large spaces, in a new production by the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma.
- Roberto Bolle and Friends (July 14) — the most beloved dance gala, with the star and international guests.
- Gladiator in concert (July 3-4) — Ridley Scott's film live with Lisa Gerrard.
- Carmina Burana (July 31) — spectacular finale with video installation by Anagoor.
- Pop and rock concerts — Riccardo Cocciante, Edoardo Bennato, and Patti Smith.
Prices Opera at the Circo Massimo 2026
Practical information — Opera at the Circo Massimo
Location
Performances are held at the Circo Massimo, between the Palatine and Aventine hills, in the center of Rome. Entrance on the Via del Circo Massimo side.
How to get there
Metro: Circo Massimo stop (Line B), a short walk from the performance area. Bus: numerous lines along Via dei Cerchi and Via del Circo Massimo. Train: from Roma Termini station, take Metro B for a few minutes. The historic center has traffic restrictions: public transport is highly recommended.
Tickets
Prices range from approximately 15 to 170 euros depending on the show and seating sector. Sales start on March 13, 2026, on the official website operaroma.it and through authorized ticket networks (TicketOne, Vivaticket). Early booking is recommended for the most popular shows.
Tips
Open-air evening performances: bring a light jacket for the evening. Arrive early for security checks and to find your seat.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Opera at the Circo Massimo
Circo Massimo
Via del Circo Massimo, 00153 Roma