Teatro alla Scala 2026

Teatro alla Scala: the home of Italian opera

Since it opened on 3 August 1778, the Teatro alla Scala has stood at the very centre of Italian musical life. Designed by Giuseppe Piermarini and built on the site of the church of Santa Maria alla Scala — from which it takes its name — the neoclassical theatre replaced an earlier ducal house lost to fire. Its gilded, tiered auditorium and celebrated acoustics have made it a pilgrimage for opera lovers ever since.

La Scala’s stage has given the world some of opera’s greatest premieres, from Verdi’s “Nabucco”, “Otello” and “Falstaff” to Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” and “Turandot”, alongside masterpieces by Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini. Its resident orchestra, chorus and ballet rank among the finest anywhere, and the discerning audience of the loggione — the upper gallery — is famous in its own right.

What to expect at La Scala

The season traditionally opens on 7 December, the feast of Milan’s patron Sant’Ambrogio, in one of the most glamorous nights of the cultural calendar, and runs through opera, ballet and symphonic concerts across the year. The horseshoe auditorium seats about 2,030 beneath a great chandelier; arriving early to explore the foyers and the adjoining Museo Teatrale alla Scala is part of the experience.

Auditorium and seating

The horseshoe auditorium rises from the platea (stalls) through six levels: four tiers of palchi (boxes) and, above them, the first and second gallery — the loggione, home of the theatre’s famously demanding connoisseurs. Renovations in 1907 and again in 2004 brought the hall to its present capacity of about 2,030.

Sightlines from the side boxes and the upper galleries vary considerably, so the seating plan of the performance you choose is the reference — not a general plan of the house.

Teatro alla Scala — Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Teatro alla Scala? The theatre is in the heart of Milan on Piazza della Scala, beside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and a short walk from the Duomo.

How do I get there? By Metro: Montenapoleone (M3) is about 120 m away, Duomo (M1/M3) a five-minute walk and Cordusio (M1) close by. Tram 1 stops on Via Manzoni, beside the theatre.

What kind of performances are staged here? La Scala presents opera, ballet and symphonic concerts throughout its season. Programmes and dates change through the year, so it is worth checking what is on for your visit.

When does the opera season begin? On 7 December each year, Milan’s feast of Sant’Ambrogio — the opening night is a fixture of the Italian cultural calendar.

Can La Scala be visited outside performances? The adjoining Museo Teatrale alla Scala gives access to the theatre’s collections and, schedule permitting, views into the auditorium.

How many spectators does the hall hold? About 2,030 after the 2004 restoration, across stalls, four tiers of boxes and two galleries.