Arena of Verona: a one-of-a-kind stage for opera, music, and unforgettable emotions

There is a place in Verona unlike any other in the world, a treasure of art, music, and shared emotions: the Arena of Verona. Overlooking Piazza Bra, in the heart of the city, the Arena is a vast open-air theater that welcomes thousands of spectators from around the world every summer. When the sun sets and the lights come on, the amphitheater transforms into a living, contemporary stage, where opera, concerts, and special events create an immersive experience, blending technology, breathtaking sets, and performances under the stars.

Facing the picturesque Piazza Bra, an open-air foyer and the city’s elegant living room, the Verona Arena offers an experience unlike any other in the world: breathtaking shows, innovative productions, and a unique enchantment beneath the night sky. Here, music is not just heard—it is felt, and every event becomes an all-encompassing experience, capable of surprising even those who thought opera was merely history and tradition.

Today, the amphitheater can host up to 11,000 spectators per evening, transforming into a massive open-air theater without parallel: no other Roman monument in the world accommodates such a large and continuous audience. The Arena is a combination of cutting-edge technology, lights, scenic effects, and perfect acoustics, while remaining the beating heart of Italian culture, a symbol of innovation and live performance.

Verona’s amphitheater is a cornerstone of opera and live entertainment. Every summer evening, the Arena di Verona Opera Festival comes alive, one of the most prestigious and historic opera festivals in the world. The 2026 edition, the 103rd, runs from June 12 to September 12, presenting a lineup of major operas, ballets, and concerts with monumental sets.

The 2026 Opera Festival opens on June 12 with a new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata, the world’s most beloved and performed opera. The program continues with the “crystal” Aida directed by Stefano Poda (June 19–July 24) and a visionary Nabucco, also by Poda, on stage from June 26 to September 9. Over the summer, audiences can also enjoy Turandot, La Bohème, and Aida in Franco Zeffirelli’s acclaimed production.

Beyond opera, the Arena is a premier venue for other major events. It is no coincidence that the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation chose it as the site for the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics and the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

The closing ceremony, produced by Filmmaster, takes place on February 22, combining music, art, and sport to celebrate “unity and fellowship among athletes and nations.” The Paralympic opening ceremony on March 6 is presented as “a tribute to Italian culture and the passion of athletes.” At the heart of the spectacle, which transforms the Arena into a beauty shot—a snapshot of elegance—are the universal values of the Paralympic Games: inclusion, determination, respect, and solidarity.

The Arena di Verona’s opera events are built on extraordinary Italian excellence. In the orchestra pit, the Arena Orchestra can exceed 150 musicians for major productions, accompanied by a top-tier choir directed by Roberto Gabbiani and enriched, starting in 2025, by the Children’s Choir. Equally essential is the costume and set department, the creative heart where art and craftsmanship meet to bring iconic costumes and monumental sets to life, thanks to the work of leading professionals in the field.

The journey into the world of the Arena begins long before the performance. From Porta Nuova station, visitors can reach Piazza Bra with a 20-minute walk through the city, or by taxi or bus. Once there, guided tours offer behind-the-scenes access—from set workshops to the costume department, dressing rooms, technical insights into the scenes, and preparations with the performers.

As the sun sets, the Arena transforms, and opera comes alive under the stars. Opera Festival tickets vary by date, production, and seating section, with an option for open tickets for greater flexibility. It is a complete experience, where history, art, and emotion converge in a timeless ritual.

Visitors with disabilities have tailored access options at the Arena. By filling out an online form, they can purchase two tickets (the second for a companion) at the lowest full-price rate available (sixth-tier seating) for the chosen evening. The companion’s seat is sold at a symbolic price of €2.50 in combination with the ticket for the person with a disability.

There are no architectural barriers preventing wheelchair access to the main seating area, though spaces are limited, so early reservation is recommended. Staff guide visitors on accessing the amphitheater from Piazza Bra via the metal ramps at gates 4, 1, and 8. The main seating area has two accessible restrooms.

Accessibility before and after the Paralympics is ensured by the “Arena for All” project, an inclusive platform offering multisensory backstage tours, sensory and cognitive support, and a total of 2,600 seats reserved for people with disabilities. For the 2026 edition, 26 evenings will feature these services. Paths, digital tools like trailers, program books, easy-to-read guides, audio descriptions for the blind and visually impaired, and subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing are all free. All services are available in three languages, Italian, English, and German, with plans to expand offerings in the coming years.

Built between 30 and 42 AD, the Arena of Verona is the best-preserved Roman theater in the world. From the ancient gladiatorial games, through Renaissance jousts and spectacles, to 1820, when restoration and leveling gave the amphitheater its current form.

It was in 1913, with Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, thanks to tenor and entrepreneur Giovanni Zenatello, that the Arena debuted as a temple of grand outdoor opera. Its imposing dimensions (152 x 123 meters) and natural acoustics, preserved over centuries, continue to astonish and captivate every spectator.

Thus, past and present intertwine in a place where art, music, and technology merge, offering emotions that last a lifetime: the Arena of Verona is an experience that transcends time and eras.