Blending passion, storytelling, and unforgettable music, Indianapolis Opera’s 52nd season invites audiences to experience a deeply human art form. This season features a vibrant mix of concerts and beloved stage works, opening with the 9th Annual Opera in the Park concert at MacAllister Amphitheater in Garfield Park in September and continuing with Verdi’s beloved romance La Traviata at The Tarkington in November. A new holiday tradition returns in December with IO’s Voices of Christmas concert at the Basile Opera Center, and then the opera returns to The Tobias Theatre in May with Mitch Leigh’s hit musical Man of La Mancha, which marks the 10th Anniversary of General Director David Craig Starkey’s tenure. Grab your tickets for a season of immersive & transcendent storytelling! 
Opera in the Park
September 11, 2026 | 7 PM | Gates Open 6 PM
​MacAllister Amphitheater at Garfield Park
Tickets: FREE | Donations Requested

In partnership with Friends of Garfield Park, our Artistic 52nd Season begins with our 9th annual Opera in the Park concert at MacAllister Amphitheater at Garfield Park, presented in celebration of America250 and in honor of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11. This FREE concert features an Indiana-centric line-up of music celebrities, with concert hosts, opera super-star Angela Brown and Maestro Alfred Savia, alongside the Resident Artists of Indianapolis Opera and special guest performers like the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra. Guests are treated to an evening of beautiful music and captivating performances while enjoying the spacious park and picnicking with friends and family!
​​
​Donations are encouraged & necessary to continue making events like Opera in the Park possible.
La Traviata
November 13 and 14, 2026 | 7:30 PM
November 15, 2026 | 3:00 PM
The Tarkington
Tickets: $42-102
 
If you love Moulin Rouge & Pretty Woman of Pop Culture, you’ll love seeing the beloved opera that inspired them! From composer Giuseppe Verdi, La Traviata follows the story of Violetta, a high-class Parisian courtesan, and her passionate love affair with Alfredo, a young nobleman. Societal pressure, unfortunate misunderstandings, and unforgiving illness weigh heavily on their romance, as they each navigate their feelings for one another. Based on a work by Alexandre Du- mas, the vivid story of La Traviata is inspired by real events and rings with relevance for today. Filled with brilliant tunes, like the famous “Brindisi” and “Sempre libera,” this is one of the greatest operas of all time!
Voices of Christmas
December 20, 2026 | 2 PM and 5 PM
The Basile Opera Center
Tickets: Adults $45, Children $25

Celebrate the magic of the season with Voices of Christmas, an enchanting concert filled with music, joy, and holiday spirit, star- ring the Indianapolis Opera Chorus, guest artists, and a special appearance from an Indianapolis Youth Orchestra string quartet. Just 75-minutes long, this concert is a perfect length and features beautiful & clever choral arrangements of holiday favorites, a classic carols sing-a-long, and highlights from The Messiah and Amahl and the Night Visitors. After the concert, patrons are invited to join us for a “Cookies & Cocoa” reception with complimentary hot chocolate and treats for all to enjoy!
Man of La Mancha​
April 30 and May 1, 2027 | 7: 30 PM
May 2, 2027 | 3 PM
The Tobia Theatre at Newfields
Tickets: $42 - $102
​
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of David Craig Starkey’s directorship debut with IO, Man of La Mancha is a play within a play, based on Don Quixote by Miquel de Cervantes. This cherished Broadway show debuted in 1965 and won 5 Tony awards, featuring a story about a prisoner-playwright who performs his own work for his fellow prisoners as he awaits his audience with the terrifying Spanish Inquisition. The main character, Don Quixote, believes he is a knight-errant and embarks on a chivalrous journey with his squire, Sancho, at his side. The seemingly deranged Quixote transforms the world around him into something fantastic: windmills become giants to slay, an old inn is a castle, and a prostitute is his lovely lady, Dulcinea. As he reflects upon is quest, he sings the famous “Impossible Dream.”
SPECIAL EVENTS
Lobster Palooza 2026
Supporting Music Education in Our City
July 11, 2026 |  6 PM
​The Basile Opera Center

​Our Last BIG "Lobster!" In July 2026, to kick off our 52nd Season and honor the influential legacies of the James Family’s & Larry Bird’s leadership, the Opera will host our 16th annual Lobster Palooza celebration “back home again” at the Basile Opera Center, the permanent home of Indianapolis Opera! Join us to celebrate summer, connect with friends, and make new memories in the heart of the historic Meridian-Kessler neighborhood. Featuring thrilling carnival entertainment, live opera singing, valet parking, an open bar, and a delicious lobster (or beef tenderloin) dinner, this fun-filled summer event will be an evening to remember!
Opera Cabaret Dinner Series
August 2026 | October 2026 | January 2027 | June 2027

Throughout the season, Indianapolis Opera will be collaborating with restaurant venues across the city to bring you themed dinners featuring delicious food & cocktails and live performances from the company’s leading singers. These intimate ‘dinner & a show’ experiences take place everywhere from sports bars to country clubs, all at varying pricing, with musical programs featuring everything from opera to Broadway.  Whether you are a seasoned music & theater enthusiast or simply looking for a delightful night out, these magical evenings are curated for everyone to enjoy!
Metopolitan Opera Laffont Competition:
Indiana District
October 24, 2026 | 11 AM
Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center | Tickets $25
​
The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Com- petition has been a defining step in the careers of our greatest opera stars. Presented by the newly-formed Indiana Classical Voice and hosted by Indianapolis Opera each year, the Indiana District of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2026 in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center on the University of In- dianapolis campus. The state of Indiana has produced more winners than any other state in the country - last year the Indiana District named three winners, including baritone Robert Wente, who went on to win the Grand Finals in New York City. Join us and witness the future of opera! The Indiana District competition takes a full afternoon, followed by a break for judge deliberation.
Libiamo!
A Renaissance of Taste & Tempo
March 20, 2027 | 5 PM
The Basile Opera Center  

​The “best new event in Indy!” In honor of over 50 years of opera tradition in our great city, Indianapolis Opera, in partnership with the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana, brings back an all-new fundraising event celebrating music, design, & culinary artistry in the heart of midtown at the historic Basile Opera Center. Join us for a curated night of gourmet Italian cuisine, fine wine & spirits, glamorous fashion, and transcendent live opera singing amid a gallery of Ferrari sports cars, Ducati motorcycles, and Vespas!