20th edition of “Staatsoper für alle” on 23–24 May 2026 on Bebelplatz. Live broadcast of “Nabucco” and an open air concert with Christian Thielemann and the Staatskapelle Berlin – free admission thanks to BMW.

The Staatsoper Unter den Linden and BMW invite the public to a special Pentecost weekend on 23 and 24 May 2026. This year’s “Staatsoper für alle” marks its 20th edition – two decades of one of Berlin’s largest and most beloved open‑air classical music events. At one of the city’s most beautiful and historically significant squares, Bebelplatz, Berliners and visitors from around the world are once again invited to experience opera and concerts outdoors, free of charge thanks to BMW.

The programme opens on Saturday, 23 May at 6.00pm with a live broadcast of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Nabucco” from the Staatsoper onto the adjacent Bebelplatz. Centering on the fate of two peoples and the actions of its title character, the opera features the famous chorus “Va, pensiero”. The production, created by the acclaimed opera, theatre and film director Emma Dante, premiered at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in 2024. The cast includes Igor Golovatenko, Lidia Fridman, Tareq Nazmi, Elena Maximova, Andrés Moreno García, Clara Nadeshdin, Junho Hwang and Hanseong Yun; the Staatskapelle Berlin will perform under the baton of Francesco Lanzillotta, accompanied by the Staatsopernchor. Verdi’s “Nabucco” will be presented in a top‑flight cast and is free to attend.

On Sunday, 24 May at 1.00pm Bebelplatz will be transformed into a large open‑air concert stage: the Staatskapelle Berlin, led by General Music Director Christian Thielemann, and BMW invite audiences to the BMW Classicsconcert as part of “Staatsoper für alle”. The programme features works by Ludwig van Beethoven – the Overture to Coriolan, Op. 62; Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 (“Pastoral”); and the Overture to Egmont, Op. 84.

As a prelude, the Staatsoper’s children’s opera orchestra and youth choir will perform at 11.30am under the direction of Giuseppe Mentuccia. The performance will feature singers from the Staatsoper Unter den Linden’s international opera studio, including Sonja Herranen, Sandra Laagus, Serafina Starke, Junho Hwang and Irakli Pkhaladze, with music by Jacques Offenbach, Charles Gounod and Jules Massenet.

“Staatsoper für alle” takes place under the patronage of the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, and will be moderated by journalist and presenter Petra Gute. As in previous years, the opera performance at the Staatsoper will be accompanied by a red‑carpet event, with numerous prominent guests expected.

The large‑scale event “Staatsoper für alle” is a cornerstone of the long‑standing partnership between the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and BMW. Over two decades it has become a fixed highlight of Berlin’s cultural calendar, giving tens of thousands of people each year easy access to high‑quality opera and concert experiences.

Staatsoper für alle 2026
Saturday, 23 May 2026, 6.00pm, Bebelplatz
Live broadcast of Verdi’s “Nabucco”

Conductor: Francesco Lanzillotta
Production: Emma Dante
Cast includes: Igor Golovatenko, Lidia Fridman, Tareq Nazmi, Elena Maximova, Andrés Moreno García, Clara Nadeshdin, Junho Hwang, Hanseong Yun Staatskapelle Berlin; Staatsopernchor

Sunday, 24 May, 11.30am, Bebelplatz
Pre‑programme: Children’s Opera Orchestra of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Conductor: Giuseppe Mentuccia
Soloists: Sonja Herranen, Sandra Laagus, Serafina Starke, Junho Hwang, Irakli Pkhaladze Youth Choir of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden; Children’s Opera Orchestra Music by Jacques Offenbach, Charles Gounod and Jules Massenet

Sunday, 24 May, 1.00pm, Bebelplatz
BMW Classics concert with the Staatskapelle Berlin
Conductor: Christian Thielemann
Programme: Ludwig van Beethoven – Overture to Coriolan, Op. 62; Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 (“Pastoral”); Overture to Egmont, Op. 84 Staatskapelle Berlin

Admission to “Staatsoper für alle” is free.

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