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Where to Find All the World's Opera Houses in Maps & Lists

Updated: September 7, 2026  ·  Published: • architecture • Arts • Music • opera • Theater

Global Directory & Maps to the Most Important Opera Houses Around the World

This global opera house directory features over 100 historic and modern stages across six continents—from iconic anchors like the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala to unique landmarks like the Saigon Opera House and Teatro Colón. Paired with six regional maps, each entry details precise locations, seating capacities, and opening years to trace centuries of performance history and architectural evolution.

Navigate by Region: Europe & North Africa • North America • South & Central America • Middle East, India & Africa • China & East Asia • Australia & New Zealand

EUROPE & NORTH AFRICA

Map of famous opera houses in Europe and North Africa, including venues in Italy, France, UK, Germany, and Spain.

THE HEAVYWEIGHTS

Bavarian State Opera (Nationaltheater)|Munich, DEU | 2,101 seats | 1818 Gran Teatre del Liceu|Barcelona, ESP | 2,292 seats | 1847 Palais Garnier|Paris, FRA | 1,979 seats | 1875 Royal Opera House (Covent Garden)|London, GBR | 2,256 seats | 1858 Teatro Real|Madrid, ESP | 1,748 seats | 1850 Teatro alla Scala|Milan, ITA | 2,030 seats | 1778 Teatro San Carlo|Naples, ITA | 1,379 seats | 1737 Vienna State Opera|Vienna, AUT | 1,709 seats | 1869

IMPERIAL & NATIONAL REPERTOIRE

Bolshoi Theatre (Historic Stage)|Moscow, RUS | 1,740 seats | 1825 Dutch National Opera & Ballet|Amsterdam, NLD | 1,600 seats | 1986 Finnish National Opera|Helsinki, FIN | 1,350 seats | 1993 Grand Theatre and Ballet Theatre of Belarus|Minsk, BLR | 1,200 seats | 1939 Kyiv Opera (National Opera of Ukraine)|Kyiv, UKR | 1,304 seats | 1901 Latvian National Opera|Riga, LVA | 933 seats | 1863 Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre|Vilnius, LTU | 984 seats | 1974 Mariinsky Theatre (Historic Stage)|St. Petersburg, RUS | 1,600 seats | 1860 Prague State Opera|Prague, CZE | 1,041 seats | 1888 Romanian National Opera, Bucharest|Bucharest, ROU | 952 seats | 1953 Royal Swedish Opera|Stockholm, SWE | 1,200 seats | 1898 Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera|Warsaw, POL | 1,841 seats | 1833 Teatro Nacional de São Carlos|Lisbon, PRT | 1,148 seats | 1793

THE ACOUSTIC & PILGRIMAGE MASTERPIECES

Bayreuth Festspielhaus|Bayreuth, DEU | 1,937 seats | 1876 Festspielhaus Bregenz|Bregenz, AUT | 1,656 seats | 1980 Glyndebourne Opera House|Lewes, GBR | 1,200 seats | 1994 Großes Festspielhaus (Salzburg Festival)|Salzburg, AUT | 2,179 seats | 1960 Komische Oper Berlin|Berlin, DEU | 1,190 seats | 1892 Opéra de Monte-Carlo|Monte Carlo, MCO | 524 seats | 1879 Semperoper|Dresden, DEU | 1,300 seats | 1841 Teatro La Fenice|Venice, ITA | 1,126 seats | 1792 The Seebühne (Bregenz Festival)|Bregenz, AUT | 7,000 seats | 1950

THE HUBS OF REGIONAL GRAND OPERA & CIVIC INNOVATION

Graz Opera|Graz, AUT | 1,400 seats | 1899 Scottish Opera - Theatre Royal|Glasgow, GBR | 1,541 seats | 1867 Festival Theatre|Edinburgh, GBR | 1,915 seats | 1994 Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino|Florence, ITA | 1,800 seats | 2011 Teatro dell'Opera di Roma|Rome, ITA | 1,600 seats | 1880 Teatro Massimo|Palermo, ITA | 1,381 seats | 1897 Theater an der Wien|Vienna, AUT | 1,129 seats | 1801 Volksoper Wien|Vienna, AUT | 1,337 seats | 1898

THE MODERN INNOVATORS

Greek National Opera (SNFCC)|Athens, GRC | 1,400 seats | 2017 Opéra Bastille|Paris, FRA | 2,745 seats | 1989 Oslo Opera House|Oslo, NOR | 1,364 seats | 2008 Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía|Valencia, ESP | 1,412 seats | 2005 Royal Danish Opera House|Copenhagen, DNK | 1,700 seats | 2005

THE NORTH AFRICAN STAGES

Meydene Cultural Center|Marrakesh, MAR | 400 seats | 2021 Opéra d'Alger (Boualem Bessaïh)|Algiers, DZA | 1,400 seats | 2016 Théâtre Municipal de Tunis|Tunis, TUN | 1,350 seats | 1902 Théâtre National Mohammed V|Rabat, MAR | 1,500 seats | 1962

Planning an opera tour across Europe’s historic capitals? Explore our full Red Maps European City Maps Collection, or choose the curated Opera Lover Gift Set featuring six essential guides to opera's most iconic music cities.

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NORTH AMERICA

Map highlighting the great opera houses across North America, including major cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

THE HEAVYWEIGHTS

The Metropolitan Opera House|New York, USA | 3,850 seats | 1966

MAJOR CIRCUIT ANCHORS & INCUBATORS

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion|Los Angeles, USA | 3,156 seats | 1964 Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts|Toronto, CAN | 2,071 seats | 2006 John F. Kennedy Ctr for the Performing Arts|Washington, DC, USA | 2,347 seats | 1971 Lyric Opera House of Chicago|Chicago, USA | 3,268 seats | 1929 Queen Elizabeth Theatre|Vancouver, CAN | 2,765 seats | 1959 Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts|Montreal, CAN | 2,996 seats | 1963 The Crosby Theatre|Santa Fe, USA | 2,126 seats | 1998 The Wortham Theater Center|Houston, USA | 2,405 seats | 1987

THE MODERN INNOVATORS

Adrienne Arsht Ctr - Ziff Ballet Opera House|Miami, USA | 2,400 seats | 2006 Marion Oliver McCaw Hall|Seattle, USA | 2,900 seats | 2003 War Memorial Opera House|San Francisco, USA | 3,146 seats | 1932 Winspear Opera House|Dallas, USA | 2,200 seats | 2009

ARCHITECTURAL ICONS & HISTORICAL WONDERS

Detroit Opera House|Detroit, USA | 2,700 seats | 1922 Palacio de Bellas Artes|Mexico City, MEX | 1,590 seats | 1934 Teatro Degollado|Guadalajara, MEX | 1,015 seats | 1866 Teatro Juárez|Guanajuato, MEX | 900 seats | 1903

Attending performances across North America? Explore our United States City Maps Collection to navigate theater districts from New York to San Francisco.

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SOUTH & CENTRAL AMERICA

Map of historic and iconic opera houses in South America and Central America, including venues in Argentina and Brazil.

THE ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS

Teatro Amazonas|Manaus, BRA | 701 seats | 1896 Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro|Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 2,244 seats | 1909 Theatro Municipal de São Paulo|São Paulo, BRA | 1,523 seats | 1911

THE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PIONEERS

Teatro Municipal de Santiago|Santiago, CHL | 1,500 seats | 1857 Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica|San José, CRI | 1,140 seats | 1897 Teatro Solís|Montevideo, URY | 1,250 seats | 1856 Theatro São Pedro|São Paulo, BRA | 636 seats | 1917

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MIDDLE EAST, INDIA & AFRICA

Map showing the location of opera houses and significant performance venues in the Middle East, India, and Africa.

MODERN WONDERS (WORTH THE PILGRIMAGE)

Diriyah Royal Opera House|Riyadh, SAU | 2,000 seats | 2028 Dubai Opera|Dubai, ARE | 2,000 seats | 2016 Katara Opera House|Doha, QAT | 550 seats | 2010 Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre|Mumbai, IND | 2,000 seats | 2023 Royal Opera House Muscat|Muscat, OMN | 1,100 seats | 2011

THE HERITAGE CLASSICS

Cairo Opera House|Cairo, EGY | 1,200 seats | 1988

MUST SEE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES

International Summer Festivals|Baalbek, LBN | 3,800 seats Israeli Opera Summer Festivals|Masada, ISR | 7,500 seats

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: THE DEDICATED LYRIC LANDMARKS

Artscape Theatre Centre (Opera House)|Cape Town, ZAF | 1,487 seats | 1971 South African State Theatre (Opera House)|Pretoria, ZAF | 1,300 seats | 1981

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CHINA & EAST ASIA

Map of modern and classical opera houses in East Asia, focusing on venues across China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

CHINA: THE CROWN JEWELS

China National Opera House|Beijing, CHN | 1,170 seats | 2022 Guangzhou Opera House|Guangzhou, CHN | 1,800 seats | 2010 National Centre for the Performing Arts|Beijing, CHN | 2,207 seats | 2007 Shanghai Grand Opera House|Shanghai, CHN | 2,000 seats | 2025

CHINA: THE GUARDIANS OF HISTORIC TRADITION

Chang'an Grand Theater|Beijing, CHN | 800 seats | 1937 Huguang Guild Hall|Beijing, CHN | 300 seats | 1807 Shanghai Grand Theatre|Shanghai, CHN | 1,631 seats | 1998

CHINA: ARCHITECTURAL WONDERS (WORTH THE PILGRIMAGE)

Changsha Meixihu Int'l Culture & Arts Centre|Changsha, CHN | 1,800 seats | 2017 Harbin Grand Theatre|Harbin, CHN | 1,538 seats | 2015 Wuxi Grand Theatre|Wuxi, CHN | 1,680 seats | 2012 Zhuhai Grand Theater|Zhuhai, CHN | 1,550 seats | 2016

EAST ASIA: THE POWERHOUSES

Daegu Opera House|Daegu, KOR | 1,490 seats | 2003 New National Theatre|Tokyo, JPN | 1,814 seats | 1997 Weiwuying Opera House|Kaohsiung, TWN | 2,236 seats | 2018 Opera Theater at Seoul Arts Center|Seoul, KOR | 2,283 seats | 1993 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan|Tokyo, JPN | 2,303 seats | 1961

EAST ASIA: THE MODERN HUBS

Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay|Singapore, SGP | 1,950 seats | 2002 Istana Budaya|Kuala Lumpur, MYS | 1,412 seats | 1999 National Taichung Theatre|Taichung, TWN | 2,014 seats | 2016 Taman Ismail Marzuki|Jakarta, IDN | 915 seats | 2022

EAST ASIA: HISTORIC CLASSICS

Gedung Kesenian Jakarta|Jakarta, IDN | 475 seats | 1821 Hanoi Opera House|Hanoi, VNM | 598 seats | 1911 National Theatre|Taipei, TWN | 1,526 seats | 1987 Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre|Bangkok, THA | 600 seats | 1933 Saigon Opera House|Ho Chi Minh City, VNM | 468 seats | 1900

For theater correspondence and sharing performance notes with fellow aficionados, discover the Brünnhilde Opera Stationery Set.

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AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Map of the primary lyric landmarks and opera theatres across Australia and New Zealand, including the Sydney Opera House.

THE DEDICATED LYRIC LANDMARKS

Festival Theatre at Adelaide Festival Centre|Adelaide, AUS | 2,000 seats | 1973 State Theatre at Arts Centre Melbourne|Melbourne, AUS | 2,085 seats | 1984 His Majesty's Theatre|Perth, AUS | 1,200 seats | 1904 St James Theatre|Wellington, NZL | 1,550 seats | 1912 Sydney Opera House|Sydney, AUS | 1,507 seats | 1973

THE ELITE STAR-ATTRACTING STAGES

Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre|Auckland, NZL | 2,139 seats | 1990 Lyric Theatre at QPAC|Brisbane, AUS | 2,000 seats | 1985

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Exploring opera and the historic arts districts around the globe? See all the Red Maps to the US & Europe City Guides to plan your next itinerary.

Lineup of Red Maps foldout travel guides featuring US and European cities including Paris, London, Rome, and Los Angeles.

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