New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that some 70,000 free tickets to the Metropolitan Opera will be available to New Yorkers as part of a new lottery.
“Never been to the opera before? Now’s your chance. We’re giving away 70,000 free tickets to the @MetOpera at the iconic Lincoln Center. Go to on.nyc.gov/opera to enter the lottery. There’s not a bad seat in the house,” Mamdani wrote on X.
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The mayor’s office said that as part of “Opera for All,” the Met will release 10,000 tickets each month throughout the 2026-27 season, starting this month. That’s about 10% of all tickets for the season.
New Yorkers can enter the lottery online or through the Met’s app. Every New Yorker who has not purchased a ticket since 2019 is eligible for the lottery.
“Opera is one of the greatest art forms we have, and there is no better place to experience it than the Metropolitan Opera House,” Mamdani said. “But art should not be reserved for those who can afford it. Every New Yorker should have the opportunity to sit in these seats, hear these voices and experience this stage, no matter what’s in their bank account.”
“Throughout its storied history, the Met has culturally enriched New York,” said Peter Gelb, the Metropolitan Opera’s general manager. “With this new initiative, we hope to further demonstrate that the Met is a vital part of life in the city.”
Met officials said in a statement that they are committed to continuing this program in future seasons. This season’s performances include “Macbeth,” “Lincoln in the Bardo” and “La Bohème.” Tickets will be available in every section of the house at Lincoln Square, excluding standing room.
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This is not the first time Mamdani announced a lottery to expand access to arts and culture shows. In August, he announced free and low-cost Broadway and off-Broadway tickets for high school students.
The mayor had also announced discounted tickets for various sporting events. In August he announced that city residents will have a chance to purchase discounted tickets to the U.S. Open for Main Draw matches scheduled between Aug. 30 and Sept. 8.
During the FIFA world cup, Mamdani announced a total of 1,000 tickets will be available at $50 for New York City residents.