The Metropolitan Opera is coming to the Kingdom with a five-year winter residency at the Royal Diriyah Opera House.

Set to launch in tandem with the opening of the much-anticipated opening of the Kingdom's first dedicated Royal Diriyah Opera House in 2028, the Met will bring a full opera production and a series of concerts to Riyadh each winter. Each winter season will see a unique three-week programme designed to showcase both international production and operatic excellence and emerging Saudi talent.

The partnership between the Saudi Music Commission, the Royal Diriyah Opera House, and the Met underscores the country’s ambition to put itself firmly on the global cultural map. Alongside world-class performances, the residency will provide training opportunities for Saudi singers, musicians, and theatre professionals, ensuring local talent stands centre stage.

Designed by Norwegian firm Snøhetta, the Royal Diriyah Opera House draws inspiration from traditional Najd architecture and houses a spectacular 20,000-seat auditorium. It sits at the heart of Diriyah, just minutes from Riyadh, which is being reimagined as a cultural and lifestyle destination with luxury hotels—including Anantara Diriyah, Armani Hotel Diriyah, and LXR Hotels & Resorts—as well as dining, shopping, and entertainment experiences.

For the Met, the residency is a bold step into new territory; for Riyadh, it’s another sign of the city’s rapid transformation into a global arts and tourism hub.

met-opera