Kennedy Center Opera House Information

Kennedy Center Opera House

About the Opera House

The John F. Kennedy Center Opera House hosts many of the world’s renowned opera and dance companies, welcoming on stage some of the most revolutionary artistic events of the last couple of decades. Today, the Opera House continues to hold phenomenal esteem in the community for the exceptional views you can enjoy from nearly all seats plus amenities to make the entire night comfortable and unforgettable. Whether watching a ballet, live show, opera, or concert, guests will feel fully immersed in the room’s classic architectural design and well-thought-out sound system. 

Ticket prices for the Opera House vary greatly based on where you want to sit and on the type of event. The venue offers four primary seating options: the orchestra, box seats, first tier, and second tier. The orchestra and box seats offer the closest seating to the stage, while the tiered seating is elevated above the stage for a more direct view from a distance. 

The Opera House features four lounges for refreshments and comfort, including the African Lounge, Opera House Circles Lounge, Opera House Box Tier, and South Opera Tier Lounge. Some spaces may only be accessible to guests with box tickets. 

While the Kennedy Center does not allow you to bring outside food and drinks inside, you can purchase refreshments from the onsite bar before your showing or during the scheduled intermission. Eating inside the theater is prohibited to prevent noise disturbances, so you should prepare accordingly. 

Kennedy Center Opera House Venue History

The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts officially opened in 1971 after President John F. Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy created a $30 million fundraising campaign in 1962. Two years after the launching of the funding campaign, President Kennedy was assassinated. Following this event, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed an act into law to designate the National Cultural Center as a memorial to President Kennedy. 

The Opera House has hosted many notable events over the last half-century, including George Bernard Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra in 1977 and the world-famous Turandot with a new happy ending in 2024. In the 2003 to 2004 season, the theater temporarily closed down for renovations to expand seating and amenities for guests. Immediately after, the American Ballet Theatre’s 2004 production of Swan Lake aired on PBS.

Today, the center’s mission remains the same as Kennedy’s: to promote contemporary and classical music, dance, opera, and more from the U.S. and abroad. The Kennedy Center hosts over two million visitors annually, attending over 2,200 performances and exhibits. 

More John F. Kennedy Center Opera House information:

Ticket Policies:
Policies and authenticity guarantee regarding tickets from our recommended ticket marketplace.

Seating Chart:
View the standard John F. Kennedy Center Opera House seating map and read about different seating options.

Parking Information:
Information about the Kennedy Center Opera House parking options.