Washington National Opera

Happy Juneteenth! Today we honor the history, resilience, and cultural legacy of Black Americans.

As we reflect on the ongoing journey toward freedom and equity, we are grateful for the artists and storytellers whose voices deepen our understanding of the American experience.

Through works like Treemonisha—a landmark American opera by Scott Joplin—opera continues to illuminate stories of hope, empowerment, and community. 🎆🤎🫶🏿🙏🏽

We're loving our new look for Pride Month!

This Pride Month, we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ artists, audiences, staff, volunteers, and supporters who help make our opera community vibrant, creative, and welcoming.

At Washington National Opera, we believe that every voice matters and every story deserves to be heard. We are proud to stand with the LGBTQIA+ community and honor the diversity, authenticity, and self-expression that enrich our art form and our world.

Happy Pride! 🌈

Announcing our 2026/27 season!

We enter our next season as a fully independent company—bold in vision, forward in spirit, and powered by you!

This is not just a season—it’s a movement.

Subscriptions now open with priority seating for renewing WNO friends through June 18.

2026/27 Season Overview

Madama Butterfly
Nov. 7, 13, 18, 20 at 7pm, and 15 at 2pm
DAR Constitution Hall

Nixon in China
Nov. 14, 19 at 7pm, and 21 at 2pm
DAR Constitution Hall

We the People - special concert
Nov. 22, 4pm
DAR Constitution Hall

Odyssey - Holiday Opera
Dec. 18 at 5pm, Dec. 19 at 2pm & 5pm, and Dec. 20 at 2pm & 5pm
Kreeger Theater at the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theate

American Opera Initiative: WOLF | LAMBS
Jan. 15 and 16 at 7pm
WNO Studio

O'Keeffe: Kiss the Sky
Mar. 12, 18, 26 at 7pm, Mar. 14, 21 at 2pm
Harman Hall at Shakespeare Theatre Company

Mozart's Idomeneo: A Trojan Tale
Mar. 20, 25 at 7pm, and Mar. 27 at 2pm
Harman Hall at Shakespeare Theatre Company

La traviata
Apr. 29, Apr. 30, May 1
The Music Center at Strathmore

www.washnatopera.org/subscribe

“This was opera up close and personal, and reflected life as we know it today with a magical touch or two…” Thanks OperaGene for this beautiful review of last week’s American Opera Initiative!

American Opera Initiative's 2026 three 20-Minute Operas: Opera, It's a People Thing-Blog My first descriptive adjective for this Washington National Opera production is exciting.  Imagine the agglomeration: In a large rehearsal room, holding roughly 200 audience members seated on three sides of a square staging area, three new operas by three new composers and three new librett

Wow…American Opera Initiative at WNO Studio was a truly special way to close our 70th anniversary season.

The creative teams behind the new operas created thought-provoking new works in which our Cafritz Young Artists excelled, under the direction of William Long (conductor) and Chloe Treat (director). Respect. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

The Curse of the Magi
by Christopher Dietz & Faiza Alex Manaa

Mickey Dee and the Eclipse
by Dave Ragland & Anita Gonzalez

The Mold and I
by Dan VanHassel & Hannah Nikka Odsinada

You know you’ve made it when The Onion writes about you! 🫣🤣🧅👻🎭

Psst…did you catch our 2026/27 season announcement in The New York Times yesterday? We’re excited and hope you are too!! Subscriptions are now open. 🙌🏽🎶🔥

Washington National Opera Builds a New Chapter After Kennedy Center (Gift Article) The company announced that its next season would include a slate of five full-length operas at houses around the Washington area.

That’s a wrap! We closed out West Side Story with a beautiful and heartfelt performance that was exactly how we would have hoped to end our season.

But wait…we’ve got one more! American Opera Initiative is on Friday, May 22 and the 9pm show still has availability.