FAQ

This year, Opening Night will take place in Oosterpark in Amsterdam, on the large field on the west side of the park. The nearest entrance to the park is at the Beukenweg/Oosterpark intersection, directly opposite the main entrance to OLVG.

View the exact location on Google Maps.

We ask everyone to come on foot, by bicycle or by public transport. Oosterpark is easy to reach by public transport. If travelling by metro, get off at Wibautstraat station, a five-minute walk away. By tram (lines 1, 3, 19 or 25) or bus (line 37), you can reach the park via nearby stops such as Beukenweg, Mauritskade or Wibautstraat.

There will be no additional parking near the concert site, and we ask you not to park in the surrounding neighbourhoods. If you can only come by car, you can park at Q-Park Oostpoort. To make sure of a parking space, please reserve one in advance via the Q-Park website.

Please note: roadworks are taking place around Oosterpark. We therefore recommend planning your journey well in advance, for example via the public transport information website 9292.nl.

The concert is free to attend, no ticket is required.

In short:

• 6.45–7.30 p.m. – During the pre-concert performance, the Jazz Focus big band from Amsterdam East, conducted by Lorenzo Mignacca, and the Nederlands Jeugd Strijkorkest, conducted by Carel den Hertog, join forces with alumni of Concertgebouworkest Young in works by composers such as Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Gershwin and Dvořák.
• 8.15–9.45 p.m. – Concert by the Concertgebouworkest, conducted by Han-Na Chang.

Expect a summery open-air atmosphere, surprising musical encounters, food and drinks from food trucks, and a unique evening surrounded by greenery in Oosterpark. Everything is free to attend.

Read more on the concert details page

This year, Han-Na Chang will conduct the Concertgebouworkest during Opening Night in Oosterpark in Amsterdam East. Read more about Han-Na Chang.

Opening Night 2026 by the Concertgebouworkest is an open-air evening full of music, dance and encounters. From 8.15 p.m., the orchestra will perform the following programme:

• Mikhail Glinka – Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila
• Gioachino Rossini – Overture to William Tell
• Claude Debussy – Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
• Bernd Richard Deutsch – Balera
• Georges Bizet – music from Carmen
• Johann Strauss Jr – Éljen a Magyar! (polka)
• Richard Wagner – Overture to Tannhäuser (Dresden version)

There are a few picnic benches at the front near the stage. There is also plenty of space on the grass, so feel free to bring a blanket or a low chair. Please bear in mind that other visitors may be standing, which could limit your view if you are seated. Arrive early and join us in celebrating the start of the new season.

The audience area is on grass, where the ground may be uneven. If you have limited mobility, please bear this in mind. A limited number of picnic benches will be available.

Yes, wheelchair-accessible spaces are available. Please note that the rest of the audience area is on grass, where the ground may be uneven.

There are a number of disabled parking spaces nearby. You can find an overview on theCity of Amsterdam’s website.

Yes, AVROTROS will broadcast Opening Night live from Oosterpark on Dutch national radio channel NPO Klassiek. The concert will be televised on Sunday 13 September at 6.15 p.m. and 11.45 p.m. on NPO 2.

Oosterpark and the concert site are open throughout the day. The food trucks will open from 5 p.m.

Our concert will go ahead as planned. Please dress accordingly and bring a poncho or raincoat just in case. The concert area is grass, so sturdy shoes are a good idea. Best to avoid heels. Keep an eye on our website for the latest updates.

In case of rain, we kindly ask you not to use umbrellas during the concert and the support programme, as they may block the view of other visitors.

Yes, of course! You’re welcome to take photos and videos. If you’d like to share them on social media, please use the hashtag #openingnight and tag us at @concertgebouworkest.

Absolutely! From 5 p.m., you can enjoy a wide range of food and drinks.

We expect the following food trucks to be present:

• Tigris en Eufraat
• Vita Friet
• Coroni
• Rayleigh & Ramsay
• Baramaribo
• Holy Moly Pizza
• Churros
• Yemayá's Vegan Corner
• Koken met Babel
• Moes
• Caffe Racer

In addition, Hotel Arena in Oosterpark is offering a special three-course menu for Opening Night at Restaurant PARK for €29.50, to be enjoyed before the concert.

You’re welcome to bring your own food and drinks, but we kindly ask you to observe the following two rules:

• Please dispose of your waste in the designated bins on site.
• Leave glass at home, please bring drinks in plastic, cans or cartons. Glass can pose risks to people and the natural environment.

The concert is expected to finish at around 9:45 p.m.

There is no dress code for the concert. Please dress for the weather and wear suitable shoes, as it may cool down in the evening. As the concert site has uneven ground, we recommend avoiding high heels.

Yes, temporary toilets will be available around the concert site.

Yes, you may. Feel free to bring a blanket or a low stool and find a spot on the grass. Please bear in mind that other visitors may be standing, which could limit your view if you are seated. Arrive early and join us in celebrating the start of the new season.

Pets are not allowed at the concert. Visitors who rely on an assistance dog are, of course, welcome to bring their dog.

We hope that many people from Amsterdam and the surrounding region will be able to enjoy a beautiful summer concert by the Concertgebouworkest. And of course, we hope you will join us too.

At the end of August, we will inform local residents by letter about what the event means for you and how we aim to keep any inconvenience to a minimum.

Please read the letter to residents for more information about the impact on the local area.

The set-up is being carried out in phases, so that we can spread equipment deliveries and vehicle movements across the park. This means not everything has to happen at once, helping to keep the park as accessible and safe as possible during the set-up period.

For the safety of park visitors and the set-up team, part of the work area has been temporarily closed off. This allows us to work safely with large equipment. We are keeping the closures as limited as possible: nearly all through-routes for cyclists and pedestrians will remain open. One route is temporarily closed, which means cyclists and pedestrians will need to make a short diversion of around 100 metres. Most of the large lawn will also remain accessible.

During Opening Night, the large lawn will be open to park visitors, and everyone will be able to enjoy the free concert. After Opening Night, part of the lawn will temporarily be closed off again during the dismantling period. We will reopen it as soon as possible.

No, you don’t need to register. The 7 p.m. communal sing-along rehearsal takes place in the auditorium – simply take a seat if you’d like to join in.

The communal sing-along rehearsal takes place in the auditorium – if you are joining in, you can take your seat there. Please arrive no later than 7 p.m. The rehearsal runs roughly from 7 to 7.30 p.m.

Not to worry – you’re always welcome to join, even if you arrive a little late.

Not at all. You’re welcome to use the rehearsal materials (in Dutch) if you’d like, but you can absolutely take part without any preparation.

If you need sheet music to sing your own part, please bring your own – printed out or on a tablet. You can find the sheet music for the finale here. The lyrics will be displayed on screens during the concert.

No problem! The rehearsal materials include a video called ‘Discover Your Voice’, in which Irene Verburg helps you find the vocal part that suits you best.

Absolutely! This project is open to everyone who loves to sing, with or without experience. There’s nothing you need to be able to do or prepare in advance – enthusiasm is all that’s required.

Dominic Seldis is hosting the event in English. The sing-along rehearsal with Irene Verburg and conductor Iván Fischer, taking place before the concert at 7 p.m., will be in Dutch.

Please allow plenty of time for your journey. In addition to travel time, remember to factor in extra time for parking, getting out of the car and walking to the entrance. Check the parking and travel information on the Ziggo Dome accessibility page in advance.

For this event, only mobile tickets are issued. These are tickets that can only be scanned via your Ticketmaster account on your phone. Tickets cannot be downloaded as a PDF.

Tickets for Classics Live are sold through Ticketmaster. For information on cancellations, please visit the Ticketmaster Help Centre, where you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions as well as contact details for phone and e-mail support.

The online brochure can be found here. Would you like to receive our 2026-27 brochure? Just send an email including your name and address details to klantenservice@concertgebouworkest.nl. We are happy to send you a copy.

You can order your tickets online and via the box office of the Concertgebouw: +31 (0)20 671 83 45 (available daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Entrée and Concert Friends

Anyone under 35 can get up to 75% off many concerts at the Concertgebouw through Entrée, the youth association of the Concertgebouw and the Concertgebouw Orchestra. As a Friend (for music lovers over 35), you receive priority access and a 10% discount on more than 100 concerts and series. You can become a Friend from just €50 a year.

Sprinting

If you are 30 years or under and would like to attend concerts at the last minute, you can purchase sprinting tickets for only €10 (Recital Hall) or €17 (Main Hall). You can read more on the website of the Concertgebouw.

Always low-priced

The concerts in the Essentials series at the Concertgebouw Orchestra are always low-priced and are preceded by an introduction. Following the concert, Entrée, the youth association, organises the free Entrée Café with live music or a DJ.

The Concertgebouw Orchestra’s children's concerts and the Children’s Music Days are also affordably priced.

You can find your credit via your account on our website. In the ordering process you have the option to enter the number and PIN of your credit.

If your credit was issued before 9 November 2021, you can enter the last four digits of the voucher or credit number as a PIN.

If the value of your voucher or credit is higher than the value of your purchase, you can use the remaining amount at a later time.

Your hardcopy tickets will be sent to you within a few days of ordering. If the concert takes place within 5 days of your order, your tickets will be kept at the Concertgebouw box office for you to collect. If you have got a postal address outside the Netherlands, your tickets will be kept for you at the box office regardless of the date you ordered them.

If you opted for e-tickets, you can find your mobile tickets or a PDF with your e-tickets by clicking on the link in your confirmation email or in your account on our website.

Classical music is for all ages. The Concertgebouw Orchestra organises Children’s Music Days for children aged two to four and Children's Concerts for children aged six and up. In addition, the orchestra offers its Essentials concerts, which introduce you to the masterpieces you want to have heard – with a playful introduction by Thomas Vanderveken.

That’s a pity! However, tickets are sometimes released in the week leading up to the concert. We recommend keeping an eye on our website.

For those who would like to gift a Concertgebouw Orchestra concert, a special Concertgebouw Orchestra edition of the Podium Gift Card is available. This edition of the Podium Gift Card is valid for three years from the date of purchase and can be used in whole or in part.

The Concertgebouw Orchestra charges €5 per transaction when ordering online. These charges cover the technical processing of payments and the creation and delivery of (e-)tickets.

When ordering your tickets via the box office of the Concertgebouw, a €7 charge will be applied per transaction.

There won’t be any additional costs when ordering e-tickets. If you prefer to receive hardcopy tickets, we charge an additional €1.50 for sending them by post.

If you make a reservation via the Concertgebouw Line and choose to pay and collect your tickets at the box office, an additional fee of €8.50 applies. If you purchase your tickets at the box office, the Concertgebouw does not charge any additional fees.

With a subscription series, you can select an entire season’s worth of world-class concerts by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

The advantages:

• The best seats in the house, renewable year after year
• A varied programme, selected with care by us
• Up to 20% savings over single-ticket prices
• Enjoy priority booking and a discount when you order tickets for Extra Concerts
• Can’t make one of your chosen concerts? Subscribers can take advantage of our exchange service or receive credit

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact our customer service on +31(0)20 305 1015 (weekdays from 9:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.) or klantenservice@concertgebouworkest.nl. Our customer service staff will be happy to assist you.

Regular concertgoers can expect to receive the brochure for the 2026-27 season around Friday 27 March. The online brochure can be found here.

Are you interested in our brochure, but haven’t received one? Just send an email including your name and address details to klantenservice@concertgebouworkest.nl. We are happy to send you a brochure.

Your subscription will not be renewed automatically. As a subscriber, you will have the opportunity to renew your subscription in March each year. This means you can use the same seats for the same series during the new season.

As soon as tickets for the next season go on sale, you can renew your series using the ‘Renewal’ tab in your account or via the personal link we will email to you.

If you would like to attend a different series or the other half of your current series, you can select your preferred seats as soon as the series sale opens.

As a subscriber, you will receive an annual invitation to the festive presentation of the new season, which will be held at a special venue. We also like to keep you informed about special concerts, for which subscribers sometimes receive early access to tickets, as well as exclusive offers.

When ordering your series online, you can choose to pay directly using iDEAL, a credit card or the Podium Gift Card.

If you order by phone or using the order form, you can also pay by direct debit. In that case, the amount will be deducted from your specified bank account within a few days.

You can find your credit via your account on our website. In the ordering process you have the option to enter the number and PIN of your credit.

If your credit was issued before 9 November 2021, you can enter the last four digits of the voucher or credit number as a PIN.

If the value of your voucher or credit is higher than the value of your purchase, you can use the remaining amount at a later time.

If you are unable to attend a concert from your series, then you can use our exchange service by contacting our customer service via +31 (0)20 305 10 15 (Mon-Fri, 09:30-12:30) or klantenservice@concertgebouworkest.nl.

You can exchange the concert you cannot attend for one of the other concerts of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra within the same season. If you choose a higher seating category or a more expensive concert, we kindly ask you to pay the difference.

Are you having trouble finding a concert that suits your taste? Then you can opt for a credit instead.

The Concertgebouw Orchestra charges €5 per transaction when ordering online. These charges cover the technical processing of payments and the creation and delivery of (e-)tickets.

When ordering your series through the Concertgebouw Orchestra's customer service department, a € 10 charge will be applied per transaction.

There won’t be any additional costs when ordering e-tickets. If you prefer to receive hardcopy tickets, we charge an additional €1.50 for sending them by post.

If you opted for hardcopy tickets, these are sent to you at the end of May, along with any tickets to additional concerts you may have ordered. Your tickets will also be available in your account on our website.

If you opted for e-tickets, you can find your mobile tickets or a PDF with your e-tickets by clicking on the link in your confirmation email and in your account on our website.

It is certainly possible to give a series subscription as a gift. To do so, please contact our customer service team via +31(0)20 305 10 15 (weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) or klantenservice@concertgebouworkest.nl.

A visit to one of our concerts is always a special evening or afternoon out. Here you can read more about what to expect during your visit.

Most of our concerts require no specific dress code. Please wear what you feel comfortable wearing. Only our Annual Gala has a black tie dress code.

Free concert programma

If you order a ticket, you will receive a free concert programme by email.

Preludium magazine (in Dutch)

In Preludium, you'll find not only concert programmes but also background stories and interviews with conductors, composers, and musicians. As a subscriber, you'll receive Preludium ten times a year as a magazine and/or get access to all concert programmes and articles on preludium.nl.

Want to subscribe? Visit preludium.nl/abo and get a one-year subscription to Preludium for just €59.95 (normally €79).

Yes, there is a guarded cloakroom at The Concertgebouw, which is available for use free of charge during concerts.

Many of our visitors wish to enjoy the music to its fullest through concentrated listening in silence. For this reason, we ask that you arrive on time and refrain from making noise which could cause a nuisance.

Switch your mobile phone to silent, and remember that bright screens can also disturb other listeners’ concentration.

At classical music concerts, the audience normally claps only after an entire work has been performed – even if the work consists of multiple movements.

The Concertgebouw is accessible to everyone. For more information on the special facilities in place to make your visit to our concerts as comfortable as possible, please visit the Concertgebouw's website.

Seats for wheelchair users are held until 24 hours before the start of the concert. These seats can only be booked by calling the box office of the Concertgebouw at 020 671 8345 (available daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). If you prefer to send an email, you can contact the Concertgebouw at kassa@concertgebouw.nl.

If you would like to order a series and use wheelchair-accessible seating, or change your seats to wheelchair-accessible ones during the season, please contact the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s customer service at 020 305 1015 (Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) or send an email to klantenservice@concertgebouworkest.nl.

Officially trained assistance dogs (such as guide dogs for the blind) are permitted in the hall. Pets are not allowed at the Concertgebouw.

For visitors with hearing impairments, the Concertgebouw offers various hearing support systems. More information can be found at the website of the Concertgebouw.

The Concertgebouw Orchestra was founded in 1888. On its 100th anniversary in 1988, the orchestra was granted the honorary title 'Royal'. You can read and watch more about the orchestra’s history under ‘Meet the Orchestra’ on our website.

The Concertgebouw Orchestra gives some 120 concerts a year, about 80 of which are at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In the calendar you can see whether the concert is being given at the Concertgebouw or at another venue in or outside the Netherlands.

The Concertgebouw is located at Concertgebouwplein 10, 1071 LN in Amsterdam. You can find information on how to get to the Concertgebouw by public transport or by car on the Concertgebouw website.

As a Friend, you receive priority booking and discounts on more than 100 concerts and series. You can become a Concert Friend from €50 per annum. Here you can learn more about the Concert Friend membership and sign up to become a Concert Friend.

Preludium is the magazine of The Concertgebouw and the Concertgebouw Orchestra. You can subscribe to Preludium here, giving you access to all concert programme notes, background articles and interviews with conductors, composers and musicians.