La Scala Season 2026/2027: the Ambrosiana, Dinner and Opera in One Evening
Guide updated September 2026. We refresh it every year when La Scala announces the new programme.
Milan has a quiet ritual that locals know well. First, an afternoon among the masterpieces of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana; then an unhurried dinner in the historic centre; finally, the curtain rising at the Piermarini theatre. The three places sit a short walk apart and, together, they tell four centuries of the city’s culture. For this reason we wrote a guide that follows the La Scala season through to the end of 2027: the final shows of 2025/2026, the new 2026/2027 programme, and the links with what you can see at the Ambrosiana.
Ristorante Al Mercante stands at Via Cesare Cantù 7, a few steps from Piazza Pio XI. In addition, Piazza della Scala is about ten minutes away on foot, via Cordusio and the Galleria. As a result, the evening is easy: museum, table and theatre, with no taxi needed.
End of the 2025/2026 La Scala season
The 2025/2026 La Scala season closes with a busy autumn. First, Verdi’s La traviata returns from 19 September to 15 October; then Gounod’s Faust follows from 20 October to 8 November. As for ballet, Giselle takes the stage from 1 to 23 October. Finally, from 7 to 21 November, a Balanchine and Bausch double bill brings Stravinsky’s music to the stage.
The symphonic programme also offers key dates. For example, Riccardo Chailly conducts Verdi’s Messa da Requiem (28–30 October) and, similarly, Bruckner’s Ninth from 16 to 20 November. In addition, pianist Rudolf Buchbinder (4 October) and tenor Benjamin Bernheim (22 November) give recitals. You can find the full calendar on La Scala’s 2025/2026 season page.
The new La Scala season 2026/2027: from Otello to Paquita
On 7 December 2026 the new La Scala season opens with Verdi’s Otello, which runs until 5 January 2027. Myung-Whun Chung conducts, while Damiano Michieletto directs. Besides, the theatre holds a preview for under-30s on 4 December. The programme includes thirteen operas, three of them new to Milan, and seven ballet programmes. It also celebrates the centenary of Maurice Béjart’s birth and the bicentenary of Beethoven’s death.
| Dates | Title | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Dec 2026 – 5 Jan 2027 | Otello (Verdi) | Opera, season opening |
| 17 Dec 2026 – 16 Jan 2027 | The Nutcracker | Ballet |
| 22 Jan – 7 Feb 2027 | Les Pêcheurs de perles (Bizet) | Opera |
| 3 – 28 Feb 2027 | Don Giovanni (Mozart) | Opera |
| 16 Feb – 7 Mar 2027 | La bohème (Puccini) | Opera |
| 3 – 16 Mar 2027 | Giselle | Ballet |
| 30 Mar – 16 Apr 2027 | Anna Bolena (Donizetti) | Opera |
| 17 – 30 Apr 2027 | The Rake’s Progress (Stravinsky) | Opera |
| 4 – 22 May 2027 | Macbeth (Verdi) | Opera |
| 7 – 9 May 2027 | Gala Fracci | Ballet |
| 23 May – 14 Jun 2027 | Don Quichotte (Massenet) | Opera |
| 15 Jun – 1 Jul 2027 | I puritani (Bellini) | Opera |
| 26 Jun – 13 Jul 2027 | Nixon in China (Adams) | Opera |
| 2 – 29 Oct 2027 | Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini) | Opera |
| 26 Oct – 16 Nov 2027 | Dido and Æneas (Purcell) | Opera |
| 5 – 24 Nov 2027 | Paquita | Ballet |
However, dates, times and casts can change, so always check the official 2026/2027 calendar before you book.
Two productions deserve a special mention for lovers of classic Milan. Above all, La bohème returns in Franco Zeffirelli’s historic staging, which many Milanese have seen more than once and still find moving. In May, meanwhile, Macbeth brings Verdi back to the stage that shaped his career, with Chung on the podium and Barrie Kosky as director.
Pairing the Ambrosiana with the La Scala season
Cardinal Federico Borromeo founded the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in 1609. Today it is one of the best places to prepare for a night at the opera, not only because it is close by, but especially because of its collections.
For instance, the Pinacoteca houses Leonardo da Vinci’s Portrait of a Musician: a young man holding a sheet of music, and the only male portrait on panel that scholars credit to Leonardo. Therefore it makes the ideal start before a symphony concert or a recital. Likewise, the Codex Atlanticus, which the library shows in rotation in the Sala Federiciana, gathers Leonardo’s studies of machines and mechanisms, including a mechanical drum. In addition, Caravaggio’s Basket of Fruit and Raphael’s cartoon for the School of Athens complete a visit of about two hours.
The document collections also speak of opera. In spring 2026, for example, the exhibition The Charm of Autographs showed a letter by Giuseppe Verdi alongside papers by Galileo and Napoleon. It is, in fact, a fitting prelude for anyone who plans to see Otello or Macbeth during the La Scala season.
Finally, until 29 September 2026 you can visit Hidden Ambrosiana: from West to East (Pinacoteca, rooms 2 and 3, entry included in the ticket). Now in its third edition, the exhibition brings rarely seen works out of storage: pre-Columbian bowls from Peru, Capodimonte porcelain and Japanese scrolls. Paired with a late-September La traviata, it therefore makes an afternoon of discovery before a Verdi classic. Moreover, its journey towards the East anticipates the exoticism of Les Pêcheurs de perles in January. The Ambrosiana publishes new exhibitions on its official exhibitions page.
How to plan the evening
The Pinacoteca opens from 10am to 6pm and closes on Wednesdays; so, if your performance falls on a Wednesday, plan your visit for another day. For an evening show, the easiest plan works like this: first, enter the Ambrosiana around 3.30pm; next, enjoy an aperitivo at our cocktail bar; then sit down for dinner between 6.30 and 7pm. That way you still have time for coffee and a relaxed walk to the theatre. For Sunday matinées, instead, simply reverse it: lunch before the show, the Pinacoteca afterwards.
Our kitchen serves Milanese and Italian classics, from the daily menu to the bottles on our wine list. If you already have tickets, tell us when you book, so that we can pace the service and you reach your seat on time. You will find all the details on our pre-theatre dinner near La Scala page.
During the opening weeks in early December, the centre fills up fast. Consequently, we recommend booking well ahead, and the same applies to weekends during La bohème and to the Gala Fracci dates.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Ristorante Al Mercante from La Scala?
About seven minutes on foot, through Cordusio and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is just a few steps away.
What time should I have dinner before an opera at La Scala?
For evening performances we suggest sitting down between 6.30 and 7pm. However, start times vary by production, so always check your ticket.
Is the Ambrosiana open every day?
No, the Pinacoteca closes on Wednesdays. On other days it opens from 10am to 6pm.
When does La Scala’s 2026/2027 season begin?
On 7 December 2026 with Verdi’s Otello, conducted by Myung-Whun Chung.
Book your evening
Art, music and fine food in the heart of Milan, all within a short walk. Book your table or call us on +39 02 8052198. For more ideas, see our guides to the restaurant near the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and to a romantic dinner in Milan.
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