Metropolitan Opera — Season Opening Gala (Verdi's Macbeth)

How to get in

The Metropolitan Opera (Met), Lincoln Center, New York

Opening night by invitation/patronage. Direct route: a performance ticket via metopera.org (without the dinner); for the gala and dinner, patron membership or contact with the Met's Development Office. Black tie required.

The turnkey stay

On 22 September 2026, the Metropolitan Opera opens its season with a new production of Verdi's Macbeth staged by Louisa Proske, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin — Lise Davidsen as Lady Macbeth opposite baritone Quinn Kelsey. The Met's opening night remains the most coveted date of the New York autumn season: evening gowns on the Lincoln Center plaza, around the illuminated fountain. Settle in at Columbus Circle, a few minutes' walk from the opera house, and live this premiere on the grand scale, from the JFK tarmac to the final curtain.

Where to stay

• Mandarin Oriental, New York — Perched from the 35th to the 54th floor of the Deutsche Bank Center at Columbus Circle, a few minutes' walk from Lincoln Center up Broadway. Sweeping views over Central Park and the Hudson, a celebrated spa and AAA Five-Diamond distinction: the ideal base camp for opening night.
• The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park — At 50 Central Park South, facing the park, a few minutes by car from Lincoln Center. Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond, with the first La Prairie spa in the United States — perfect for getting ready before the premiere.

Where to dine

• Per Se — Thomas Keller's table, holding three Michelin stars ever since the guide arrived in New York in 2006. On the 4th floor of the Shops at Columbus Circle, overlooking Central Park, a few minutes' walk from the opera house — the grand dinner before or after the curtain.
• Jean-Georges — Jean-Georges Vongerichten's flagship, two Michelin stars, at 1 Central Park West on Columbus Circle. French technique with accents from around the world, a step away from Lincoln Center.

What to experience

• Transfert hélicoptère BLADE vers JFK — Manhattan–JFK in about five minutes of flight time, from the West 30th Street or East 34th Street heliports, with a private lounge and a car on arrival. The landing that sets the tone for the whole stay.
• Visite des coulisses du Metropolitan Opera — About 75 minutes deep inside the Met during the season: set and carpentry workshops, rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms and the stage itself. The best way to take the measure of the machine before watching it perform Macbeth.