New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Metropolitan Opera have launched “Opera for All,” a programme offering 70,000 free tickets to New Yorkers during the 2026-27 season. The initiative was announced on September 24 at the Metropolitan Opera House.

The free tickets represent about 10 percent of the Met’s tickets for the season. Beginning this month, the Met will release 10,000 tickets each month through a lottery, entered through the city’s Opera for All website or the Met’s app. Eligible New Yorkers are those who have not purchased a Met ticket since 2019. Seats will be spread across the auditorium, excluding standing room.

“Opera is one of the greatest art forms we have,” Mamdani said. “Every New Yorker should have the opportunity to experience live opera, regardless of income or background.”

The season includes Macbeth, Lincoln in the Bardo and La Boheme. The city will promote the programme through public schools, CUNY, the Housing Authority, libraries and the Department for the Aging. The Met says it intends to continue Opera for All beyond this season.