NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — Never attended an opera performance? Well, with the Mamdani administration’s latest initiative, you may now have the chance.
On Thursday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij announced a new initiative called, “Opera For All,” aimed at bringing free opera tickets to New Yorkers.
The city, in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera the Met will release 10,000 tickets in a lottery every month starting this September for the 2026-27 season.
With the launch, Mamdani said this art form is “meant to be seen by everyone,” not only “reserved to those who can afford it.”
“Every New Yorker should have the opportunity to sit in these seats, hear these voices and experience this stage, no matter what’s in their bank account,” Mamdani said.
To get tickets, you can enter the lottery at on.nyc.gov/opera or through the Met Opera app. The lottery is open to anyone who has not purchased a Met Opera ticket since 2019.
Tickets will be available in every section of the house, including the standing room.
This season’s performances include “Macbeth,” “Lincoln in the Bardo” and “La Bohème.”
This announcement builds on Mamdani’s aim to make arts and culture more accessible. This past summer, Mamdani provided free and low-cost Broadway tickets and off-Broadway tickets to high schoolers in partnership with the Theater Development Fund.
The Met plans to continue “Opera For All” in all future seasons.
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