Opera in the arena · June 12 to September 12, 2026 (103rd festival)
Grand opera inside a nearly 2,000-year-old arena.
Verona's Roman arena has staged opera every summer since 1913, when a production of Aida marked the centenary of Verdi's birth, making this the longest continuously running open-air opera festival on earth, broken only by the world wars. Built around 30 AD for gladiator games, it now seats roughly 15,000 for a performance, a fraction of its original Roman capacity. It's one of Trailwind's Legendary Venues: log a show here in Passport, and On Tour flags it automatically if an artist you follow plays here.
Opera festival, founded: 1913
Where it is visible: Verona, Italy
Book at least four to six weeks ahead for a title production in July or August; Aida and Nabucco sell fastest, and opening night goes first. Early June and September dates sometimes still have seats close to showtime. Stone tiers cool off after 11pm even in a Verona summer, so bring something warm, and there is no automatic refund for rain, just a discounted rebooking if a show stops before the first act ends.
Next time: Arena di Verona, June 12 to September 12, 2027 (103rd festival).
Arena di Verona in 2026 is June 12 to September 12, 2026 (103rd festival).
The following Arena di Verona is June 12 to September 12, 2027 (103rd festival).
See the full culture calendar
Trailwind finds the moment a trip is unusually possible: the right season, a cheap fare, your open dates, and rare skies. Browse by calendar: