Teatro La Fenice's magnificent 2025-2026 opera season transforms Venice's historic island into the cultural heartbeat of Europe from November 2025 through October 2026. Rising from the ashes of destruction not once but twice, this legendary opera house presents eleven extraordinary operas, four ballet performances, and a spectacular symphony season that celebrates Venice's unmatched artistic heritage. Set in the enchanting San Marco district on Campo San Fantin, just steps from the island city's famous canals and bridges, La Fenice offers opera lovers an unparalleled experience where Mozart's La clemenza di Tito, Verdi's Simon Boccanegra and La traviata, Wagner's Lohengrin, and Bizet's Carmen come alive in Italy's most storied operatic venue.
The season showcases Venice's unique position as an island cultural capital where centuries of operatic tradition meet contemporary innovation in a setting accessible only by water or winding pedestrian pathways.
The Phoenix Rises: La Fenice's Legendary History
Teatro La Fenice, meaning "The Phoenix Theatre," earned its name through extraordinary resilience, rising from devastating fires three times throughout its history. The opera house was built between 1790 and 1792 after the city's leading Teatro San Benedetto burned in 1774, establishing itself as Venice's premier operatic venue. Located in the Sestiere of San Marco on Campo San Fantin, the theater sits on a small island surrounded by the canals Rio della Veste, Rio de la Verona, and Rio de l'Barcaroli, embodying Venice's unique island geography.
The first major fire struck on December 13, 1836, during preparations for Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, likely caused by a faulty stove. The flames consumed everything except the facade and glass roof, but Austrian authorities commissioned Giovanni Battista Meduna and his brother Tommaso to rebuild the theater in less than a year. La Fenice reopened in December 1837 with Giuseppe Lillo's Rosmunda in Ravenna, demonstrating the phoenix's mythical ability to rise swiftly from ashes.
Tragedy struck again on January 29, 1996, when arson destroyed the interior, leaving only exterior walls standing. The irony was profound, as the theater was installing new fire protection systems at the time. Venetians rallied with the motto "Where it was, how it was," rejecting modern redesigns in favor of faithful restoration. After eight years of meticulous reconstruction, La Fenice reopened in November 2004, inaugurating the tradition of the Venice New Year's Concert to celebrate its rebirth.
Throughout the 19th century, La Fenice became one of the most famous and renowned landmarks in Italian theater history, hosting premieres of works by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi that shaped the bel canto era. The theater's intimate connection with Giuseppe Verdi proved particularly significant, as several of his masterpieces premiered on this very stage, cementing Venice's reputation as an island capital of operatic innovation.
La Clemenza di Tito: Opening Night Splendor
The 2025-2026 season opens with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's La clemenza di Tito from November 20 to 30, 2025, in a new production by Paul Curran with musical direction by acclaimed conductor Ivor Bolton. This opera seria premiered in Prague on September 6, 1791, just months before Mozart's death, composed for Emperor Leopold II's coronation as King of Bohemia.
The libretto by Caterino Mazzolà revises Metastasio's celebrated text, one of the 18th century's most admired theatrical works praised even by Voltaire. After its premiere, La clemenza di Tito became one of Mozart's greatest international successes, triumphantly received in Vienna in 1794 and becoming the first Mozart opera staged in London in 1806.
The production features stage design and costumes by Gary McCann, with an exceptional cast including Daniel Behle in the title role, Cecilia Molinari making her debut as Sesto, Nicolò Balducci debuting as Annio, and Francesca Aspromonte interpreting Servilia for the first time. Five performances will take place at Teatro La Fenice on November 20, 23, 25, 27, and 30, 2025.
Verdi's Venetian Masterpieces
The season celebrates Giuseppe Verdi with two operas specifically written for Venice, honoring the profound connection between the composer and La Fenice. Simon Boccanegra runs from January 23 to February 14, 2026, in a new production directed by Luca Micheletti with musical direction by Renato Palumbo.
Commissioned by La Fenice in spring 1856, Simon Boccanegra premiered on March 12, 1857, with a libretto by Murano-born Francesco Maria Piave, who simultaneously served as the theater's director. The premiere proved unsuccessful, comparable to La traviata's initial reception. Unlike Traviata, however, Boccanegra required substantial revision before achieving success at La Scala in 1881.
The production features an outstanding cast including Luca Salsi in the title role, Francesco Meli as Gabriele Adorno, Alex Esposito making his debut as Fiesco, and Francesca Dotto debuting as Amelia. Eight performances take place at Teatro La Fenice on January 23, 25, 27, 29, February 1, 10, 12, and 14, 2026.
La traviata returns February 8-17, 2026, in Robert Carsen's historic production that inaugurated La Fenice after its 1996 fire reconstruction. This staging, with scenes and costumes by Patrick Kinmonth, has become a symbol of the Venetian theater and a milestone of La Fenice's repertoire over its twenty-year history. Conducted by Stefano Ranzani, the cast includes Rosa Feola as Violetta, Stefan Pop as Alfredo, and Roberto Frontali as Giorgio Germont, with five performances on February 8, 11, 13, 15, and 17, 2026.
Vivaldi's Venetian Legacy: Ottone in Villa
Continuing La Fenice's exploration of Antonio Vivaldi's operatic works, Ottone in villa receives a new production from March 20 to 29, 2026, at Teatro Malibran. This three-act opera premiered in Vicenza on May 17, 1713, marking Vivaldi's operatic debut when he was already recognized as one of the era's most important instrumental composers.
The commission came from Vicenza's new Teatro delle Grazie, which sought an unprecedented work to rival the older Teatro di Piazza. The libretto by Neapolitan Domenico Lalli adapts Francesco Maria Piccioli's Messalina. Direction by Giovanni Di Cicco and musical direction by Baroque specialist Diego Fasolis bring authenticity to this rarely performed masterpiece.
Principal performers include Margherita Maria Sala in the title role and Michela Antenucci as Tullia. Five performances at Teatro Malibran on March 20, 22, 24, 26, and 29, 2026, showcase this cornerstone of Venetian operatic heritage by the island city's most famous composer.
Wagner's Lohengrin Returns to Venice
Richard Wagner's Lohengrin returns to the Venetian stage after a long absence, with performances from April 12 to 26, 2026. This romantic opera, Wagner's sixth work, premiered in Weimar on August 28, 1850, under Franz Liszt's aegis. The Italian premiere occurred at Bologna's Teatro Comunale on November 1, 1871, marking the first Wagner opera staged in Italy.
Acclaimed director Damiano Michieletto makes his debut with a German title in this international co-production with Rome Opera and Valencia's Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía. Markus Stenz, a German repertoire specialist, conducts an exceptional cast including Brian Jagde in the title role, Chiara Mogini as Ortrud, and Äneas Humm as Der Heerrufer des Königs.
The libretto draws from Wolfram von Eschenbach's medieval German epic Parzival, featuring Lohengrin the swan knight, son of Parsifal and guardian of the Holy Grail. Five performances at Teatro La Fenice on April 12, 15, 19, 22, and 26, 2026, present this monumental work in the intimate island setting.
Carmen's Controversial Passion
Georges Bizet's Carmen returns May 24 to June 3, 2026, in Calixto Bieito's controversial and fascinating production. This masterpiece debuted at Paris's Opéra-Comique on March 3, 1875, three months before Bizet's untimely death. The opera revolutionized the Opéra-Comique tradition with its tale of cigar makers, smugglers, and morally questionable characters engaged in corruption and sensuality.
Bieito's production, featuring set designer Alfons Flores, costume designer Mercè Paloma, and lighting designer Alberto Rodriguez Vega, sets the action in an infamous borderland between Spain and Africa. The staging's rough theatricality unfolds through vital and sometimes shocking snapshots synchronized with the score's crucial moments.
Francesco Ivan Ciampa conducts an impressive international cast including Annalisa Stroppa, Marina Comparato, Jean-François Borras, Stefan Pop, and Serena Gamberoni. Created in co-production with Barcelona's Gran Teatre del Liceu, Turin's Teatro Regio, and Palermo's Teatro Massimo, eight performances take place at Teatro La Fenice on May 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and June 1, 2026.
Rare Donizetti and Contemporary Premieres
Following the success of last season's Anna Bolena, La Fenice presents Gaetano Donizetti's rarely staged Enrico di Borgogna from June 12 to 20, 2026, at Teatro Malibran. This heroic opera premiered at Venice's Teatro Vendramin San Luca on November 14, 1818, marking the first staged opera in Donizetti's prolific catalog.
Corrado Rovaris conducts a cast including Teresa Iervolino, Giuseppina Bridelli, Dave Monaco, and Omar Montanari, all debuting in their respective roles. The production by Silvia Paoli, created in collaboration with Bergamo's Donizetti Festival, offers five performances on June 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20, 2026.
Salvatore Sciarrino's Venere e Adone receives its Italian premiere June 26 to July 1, 2026, following its Hamburg Staatsoper debut in May 2023. Musical direction by Kent Nagano leads a prestigious cast including Layla Claire, Randall Scotting, and Evan Hughes in Georges Delnon's production. The libretto draws from Giovan Battista Marino's Adonis with additions from John Blow's Venus and Adonis. Five performances at Teatro La Fenice present this contemporary exploration of myth on June 26, 27, 28, 30, and July 1, 2026.
Beloved Classics Complete the Season
Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore returns August 26 to September 1, 2026, at Teatro Malibran in Bepi Morassi's highly successful production. This comic masterpiece premiered at Milan's Teatro alla Canobbiana on May 12, 1832, becoming an immediate classic of 19th-century opera. Francesco Ivan Ciampa conducts four performances on August 26, 28, 30, and September 1, 2026.
Ruggero Leoncavallo's verismo masterpiece Pagliacci receives a new production September 18-26, 2026, at Teatro Malibran. Premiered at Milan's Teatro Dal Verme on May 21, 1892, under Arturo Toscanini's direction, this opera continues captivating audiences worldwide. Daniele Callegari conducts a cast including Gregory Kunde and Selene Zanetti, who debuts as Nedda. Director Andrea Bernard collaborates with Venice's Academy of Fine Arts for scenes and costumes in five performances on September 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26, 2026.
The season concludes with a 20th-century diptych pairing Gian Carlo Menotti's The Telephone with Leonard Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti from October 9 to 14, 2026, at Teatro Goldoni. This marks the Venetian premiere of Bernstein's dark one-act opera, while celebrating the 80th anniversary of Menotti's comic masterpiece. Gianmaria Aliverta directs with Francesco Lanzillotta conducting five performances on October 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14, 2026.
Ballet and Dance Performances
Four exceptional dance performances complement the opera season from February through October 2026. The Nutcracker Suite opens the dance program February 25 to March 1, 2026, in a new version by Canadian choreographer Wayne Eagling performed by the Budapest National Opera's étoiles, prima ballerinas, and corps de ballet. Gábor Hontvári conducts La Fenice Orchestra for five performances at Teatro La Fenice.
The legendary Martha Graham Dance Company returns to Venice after 51 years to celebrate its centennial with performances May 6-10, 2026. The Washington Post-acclaimed company presents three Graham creations: Diversion of Angels (1948), Lamentation (1930), and Chronicle (1936), plus Hope Boykin's new work Imagine set to Leonard Bernstein's music. Five performances at Teatro La Fenice honor this pioneering modern dance company.
The Hamburger Kammerballett, founded in 2022 to support Ukrainian refugee dancers, debuts in Venice October 16-17, 2026, at Teatro Malibran. Artistic director Edvin Revazov presents two John Neumeier choreographies: Hamlet Connotations and Petruška Variations. The program concludes with Dear Son on October 23-24, 2026, a choreographic portrait by Sasha Riva and Simone Repele exploring a family shaken by war's loss.
Symphony Season and New Year's Concerts
The symphony season runs November 28, 2025, through October 31, 2026, featuring internationally renowned conductors at Teatro La Fenice and Teatro Malibran. Ivor Bolton opens with Brahms on November 28-29, 2025, followed by Japanese conductor Kazuki Yamada making his La Fenice debut with Takemitsu and Rachmaninov on December 13-14, 2025.
The crown jewel arrives December 29, 2025, to January 1, 2026, with Michele Mariotti conducting the New Year's Concert featuring soprano Rosa Feola and tenor Jonathan Tetelman. This prestigious event, broadcast live on Rai1, continues the tradition inaugurated after La Fenice's 2004 reopening.
Additional highlights include Gidon Kremer with Kremerata Baltica (February 9, 2026), Riccardo Muti with Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini (October 9, 2025), and renowned conductors Markus Stenz, Kent Nagano, Ton Koopman, and Daniele Callegari leading diverse programs throughout the season.
Visiting Teatro La Fenice: Practical Information
Teatro La Fenice occupies a central location in the San Marco district on Campo San Fantin, just minutes from St. Mark's Square. The theater sits on a small island accessible only on foot through Venice's charming streets and bridges or via vaporetto water bus.
The nearest vaporetto stops are Santa Maria del Giglio and San Marco, both within a 5-10 minute walk. From these stops, follow signs through picturesque alleyways and over small bridges to Campo San Fantin. Alternatively, alight at the Rialto Bridge stop for a beautiful 10-15 minute walk through historic neighborhoods.
Tickets for the 2025-2026 season went on sale Thursday, September 11, 2025, exclusively through La Fenice's official website. Performance tickets vary significantly by production and seating location, typically ranging from €50 to over €200 for prime seats. Stalls (platea) provide the closest stage proximity, boxes (palchi) offer private viewing areas, and galleries (gallerie) feature excellent acoustics at more accessible prices.
The theater operates box offices at both Teatro La Fenice and Teatro Malibran from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday, with phone reservations at +39 041 272 2699. Advance booking is essential for popular productions, particularly opening nights and gala performances.
Smart casual to formal attire is recommended for opera and ballet performances, with many attendees dressing elegantly to match the theater's historic grandeur. Performances typically begin at 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM for evening shows, with some Sunday matinees at 3:30 PM or 5:00 PM.
Teatro Malibran: La Fenice's Island Sister
Due to essential stage machinery maintenance at Teatro La Fenice from mid-July through mid-October 2026, several productions take place at Teatro Malibran and one title at Teatro Goldoni. Teatro Malibran, located in the Cannaregio district, has served as La Fenice's sister theater since 1992.
Built on the site of the Marco Polo residence destroyed by fire in 1597, Teatro Malibran was inaugurated during Carnival 1678. The theater underwent complete renovation in the 1990s, creating a modern facility that preserves historic character while meeting contemporary technical standards.
The renovation work at La Fenice, costing approximately two million euros, addresses upper stage machinery damaged during 2019 floods, with completion expected between June and August 2027. This temporary relocation to Teatro Malibran allows La Fenice to maintain its full season while ensuring long-term operational excellence.
Exploring Venice's Island Culture
Teatro La Fenice's location in the heart of Venice places visitors at the epicenter of island cultural treasures. St. Mark's Basilica sits just five minutes away, its Byzantine gold mosaics and architectural splendor representing over a thousand years of Venetian artistic achievement. The adjacent Doge's Palace showcases masterworks by Tintoretto, Veronese, and Titian within rooms where the Venetian Republic governed for centuries.
The Rialto Bridge, Venice's most iconic crossing of the Grand Canal, lies a pleasant 10-minute walk from La Fenice. The surrounding Rialto district buzzes with markets, traditional bacari (wine bars), and authentic Venetian restaurants serving fresh seafood from the lagoon.
Venice's unique island geography creates an urban landscape unlike any other, where water buses replace cars and pedestrian pathways wind through neighborhoods connected by over 400 bridges. The islands of Murano and Burano, accessible by vaporetto, offer excursions to witness legendary glass-blowing craftsmanship and colorful lace-making traditions.
The Venetian lagoon comprises over 100 small islands, creating an archipelago where La Fenice and Venice's historic center represent the cultural heart. This island setting imbues every opera performance with unique character, as audiences arrive by water taxi or walk through centuries-old streets before entering the gilded theater.
Education Programs and Special Performances
La Fenice's Education program presents two family-oriented productions during the 2025-2026 season. Giovanni Sollima's world premiere Piccolo orso e la montagna di ghiaccio (Little Bear and the Ice Mountain) runs January 31 to February 1, 2026, at Teatro Malibran. This new work with libretto by Giancarlo De Cataldo celebrates World Glacier Day and the 2025 International Year for the Conservation of Glaciers.
Pierangelo Valtinoni's Il piccolo principe (The Little Prince) receives performances April 15-18, 2026, at Teatro Malibran. Based on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's beloved story, this opera for children features collaboration between La Fenice and the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice. Both productions include performances reserved for schools and public performances, introducing younger generations to operatic art.
La Fenice's Artistic Leadership
Superintendent and artistic director Nicola Colabianchi leads Fondazione Teatro La Fenice with a commitment to top-quality programming that balances repertoire classics with innovative discoveries. Artistic and organizational manager of dance activities Franco Bolletta curates the ballet and contemporary dance programming. General director Andrea Erri oversees operations, ensuring La Fenice maintains its position among Europe's leading opera houses.
This leadership team presented the 2025-2026 season in June 2025 alongside Venice Councilor Giorgia Pea, emphasizing the theater's central role in the island city's cultural identity. Their vision combines great repertoire works with titles long absent from the Venetian stage, fascinating rediscoveries, and contemporary commissions.
Securing Your Operatic Experience
Don't let this extraordinary season pass without experiencing opera in one of the world's most legendary theaters. With eleven operas, four ballet performances, and a spectacular symphony season, Teatro La Fenice's 2025-2026 program offers something for every music lover.
Book your tickets now through La Fenice's official website at teatrolafenice.it or call the box office at +39 041 272 2699. Popular productions sell out quickly, particularly opening nights and performances featuring international stars. Secure your preferred dates and seating categories while availability remains.
Imagine settling into plush velvet seats as the orchestra tunes, surrounded by gilded boxes and crystal chandeliers in a theater that has witnessed operatic history for over 230 years. Picture Verdi's passionate melodies filling the same hall where they premiered, Mozart's sublime harmonies floating through air thick with tradition, and Wagner's epic soundscapes resonating off walls rebuilt from ashes with loving precision.
This is opera as it was meant to be experienced: intimate, elegant, and profoundly moving in a setting that embodies the art form's grandest traditions. Venice's island location creates an atmosphere impossible to replicate, where arriving by gondola or vaporetto becomes part of the magic, where walking through medieval streets to reach the theater builds anticipation, and where the lagoon's romantic beauty enhances every moment.
Whether you're an opera aficionado seeking rare Donizetti works and contemporary premieres, a Verdi devotee eager to experience his masterpieces where they debuted, or a first-time operagoer ready to be swept away by theatrical splendor, La Fenice welcomes you to its stage. Reserve your place at Teatro La Fenice now and become part of the continuing story of the phoenix that rises eternal on Venice's magical islands.
Verified Information at a Glance
Event Name: Teatro La Fenice Opera Season 2025-2026
Category: Opera Season / Ballet Performances / Symphony Concerts
Season Dates: November 20, 2025, to October 14, 2026
Main Venue: Teatro La Fenice, Campo San Fantin, San Marco, Venice
Additional Venues: Teatro Malibran (Cannaregio district), Teatro Goldoni
Ticket Sales Start Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025
Opera Productions (2025-2026):
- La clemenza di Tito (Mozart): November 20-30, 2025
- Simon Boccanegra (Verdi): January 23-February 14, 2026
- La traviata (Verdi): February 8-17, 2026
- Ottone in villa (Vivaldi): March 20-29, 2026
- Lohengrin (Wagner): April 12-26, 2026
- Carmen (Bizet): May 24-June 3, 2026
- Enrico di Borgogna (Donizetti): June 12-20, 2026
- Venere e Adone (Sciarrino): June 26-July 1, 2026
- L'elisir d'amore (Donizetti): August 26-September 1, 2026
- Pagliacci (Leoncavallo): September 18-26, 2026
- The Telephone & Trouble in Tahiti (Menotti/Bernstein): October 9-14, 2026
Ballet Performances:
- The Nutcracker Suite: February 25-March 1, 2026
- Martha Graham Dance Company: May 6-10, 2026
- Hamburger Kammerballett: October 16-17, 2026
- Dear Son: October 23-24, 2026
Special Events:
- New Year's Concert: December 29, 2025-January 1, 2026
- Symphony Season: November 28, 2025-October 31, 2026
Ticket Prices: From approximately €50 to €200+ depending on production and seating
Box Office: +39 041 272 2699 (9:00 AM-6:00 PM, Monday-Friday)
Email: [email protected]
Getting There: Vaporetto to Santa Maria del Giglio or San Marco stops, then 5-10 minute walk
Official Website: www.teatrolafenice.it[21]
Theater Location: Small island in San Marco district surrounded by canals
Dress Code: Smart casual to formal attire recommended
Performance Times: Typically 7:00-8:00 PM evenings, some 3:30-5:00 PM matinees
Verified Sources: Official Teatro La Fenice website, season press releases, and authorized ticket vendors confirm all programming details
