What happens if it rains? The rules at every open-air venue.
Last checked: 2 November 2026, against the organiser's own information.
Every venue handles rain differently. Here is what each organiser says, with a link to the source.
The Arena never cancels in advance; in bad weather it can push the start back by up to 150 minutes. If the show is stopped before the end of the first act, you can buy a ticket for another performance this season (chosen by the Arena) for €2.50. If it is stopped after the first act, you get 30% off another performance. There is no refund once the show has started. After 15 August the replacement also applies to next year's festival.
„Fondazione Arena di Verona può posticipare fino a 150 minuti l’orario d’inizio della rappresentazione.“
Your seat is under the roof, but wind and rain can blow in from the open sides. The opera warns that evenings can be cool, rainy, humid or hot, and that temperatures can change a lot during a show. Bring a jacket, a blanket and an umbrella.
„open on three sides, allowing visitors to enjoy performances complemented by the elements“
The festival plays in the rain whenever it can and only decides shortly before the start. From one hour before, announcements keep you informed. If the show is cancelled or stops before 90 minutes, only some tickets move indoors. The so-called house tickets in categories 1plus, 1 and 2, plus Premium and Lounge, then let you see a semi-staged version in the Festspielhaus. Semi-staged means the singers still act out their roles, but without the huge lake set. These house tickets are not refunded. Categories 1 and 1plus then sit in the stalls, category 2, Premium and Lounge in the balcony. Seats next to each other outside may be separated inside. Lake tickets in categories 3 to 8 are valid outdoors only. If the performance lasts less than 60 minutes, you get your money back or can swap to another evening if seats are available.
„Karten der Kategorie 3 bis 8 gelten ausschließlich für die Seebühne.“
The canopy keeps rain off from above, but the sides are open. The company strongly recommends weather-appropriate clothing and layers for the cooler evenings.
„canopied open-air auditorium“
Neither the stage nor the seating has a roof, and the show goes on in almost any weather. Opera Australia only cancels for electrical storms within 10 km or extremely high winds or rain, and never before 7.30pm. The start may be delayed and the show may pause for up to 50 minutes. Umbrellas are allowed on site but not during the performance; ponchos are sold at the venue.
„The venue, audience seating, and the stage are completely uncovered.“
In bad weather the festival never cancels a performance before its scheduled start. The start can be delayed by up to 90 minutes. If necessary the festival performs the opera with piano accompaniment only. You only get a refund if the performance is cancelled before it starts. If it is stopped after the start, there is no refund.
„la rappresentazione non è mai cancellata prima dell'orario di inizio previsto“
The Opera in the Quarry is played in the open air, even in bad weather. Festival management only decides on a cancellation at the start, on site. It can also delay the start or interrupt the show. The organiser names no indoor backup venue. If a show is cancelled before 45 minutes have been played, return your ticket where you bought it to get the ticket price back, minus postage. If you stay at home because of a bad forecast and the show goes ahead, you get no refund.
„Eine Absage kann erst zu Beginn der Vorstellung erfolgen und ausschließlich von der Festivalleitung vor Ort ausgesprochen werden.“
Rain does not stop the show, because the stage and seats are under the canopy. Only the walk across the bridge to the castle is uncovered. You may bring an umbrella, but you have to keep it with you because there is no cloakroom.
„The performances are held in the main, covered courtyard.“
If a performance is cancelled for weather before it starts, you can return your tickets. If it is interrupted briefly, it then continues as a concert performance, which means singers and orchestra finish the music without staging or acting. In a thunderstorm or heavy rain, the stage and grandstand are cleared.
„Sollte eine Vorstellung wetterbedingt kurz unterbrochen werden, so wird sie anschließend konzertant beendet.“
Two hours before each performance the festival decides whether it plays outdoors in the Rittersaal or indoors in the Festspielhaus CCH. You can see the decision on the festival homepage and by a flag on the castle tower, and hear it on +49 7321 327 4220. If the flag is flying, the show is outdoors. The festival also moves indoors if the forecast is below 17 °C for the end of the show. If a Rittersaal performance has to be stopped, there is no refund.
„Die Entscheidung, ob die Veranstaltungen OUTDOOR oder INDOOR stattfinden können, finden Sie hier jeweils 2 Stunden vor Beginn der Veranstaltung.“
The performance goes ahead in any weather. In light drizzle the team stretches a cover over the orchestra and keeps playing in the courtyard. In heavier rain the show moves to the Babenbergerhalle, a hall about 200 metres away on the town hall square, and this can happen even during the performance. The decision is often made only up to half an hour before the start, so always go to the courtyard first. Your ticket is also valid in the hall.
„Bei Regen kann die Veranstaltung auch kurzfristig in die Babenbergerhalle verlegt werden. Ihre Karten behalten auch indoor ihre Gültigkeit!“
Performances take place in principle in any weather, and there is no roof over the seating. If the weather looks uncertain, bring warm clothes and rain protection, but no umbrella, because umbrellas are not allowed on the stand. If the weather does not allow an 8 pm start, the team waits for up to one hour. A cancellation is only announced on site. Tickets cannot be returned.
„Die Vorstellungen der Oper BURG GARS finden grundsätzlich bei jeder Witterung statt.“
The festival never cancels a performance in advance. If it rains, the start can be delayed by up to 120 minutes. If the performance is cancelled before it begins, you get your money back or swap your ticket for a later performance of the same opera. Once the performance has started, there is no refund, even if rain stops it.
„Gli spettacoli non vengono mai annullati preventivamente“
The concerts go ahead in any weather, and there is no roof over the seats. So bring a rain jacket. Please do not open an umbrella, because it blocks the view of the people behind you. The organisers do not hand out plastic rain ponchos.
„Die Veranstaltung findet bei jeder Witterung statt.“
The festival tries to play outdoors even when the weather is uncertain. It may delay the start by up to 30 minutes or pause the show and carry on afterwards. You get your money back, minus postage, if the performance is cancelled before it starts or lasts less than 60 minutes.
„Die Vorstellungen finden im Freien statt. Auch bei unbeständiger bzw. ungünstiger Witterung sind wir bemüht, Freiluftaufführungen abzuhalten.“
The courtyard has a roof, so performances continue in light rain. Seats at the edges can still catch a few drops. If bad weather means less than 20 minutes are performed, you get your money back.
„Nádvoří je kryto zastřešením, program se proto za mírného deště nepřerušuje.“
Performances take place in the open courtyard. If it rains, good rain ponchos are sold in the palace park, and umbrellas are not allowed at the seats. The organiser does not publish a rule for interruptions. If an event is cancelled altogether, you get the ticket price back on presenting the original ticket.
„Sollte es am Veranstaltungsabend regnen, muss Ihr Konzerterlebnis trotzdem nicht ins Wasser fallen!“
The Staatsoper says nothing about what happens if it rains. In 2024 the event went ahead in rainy weather, but only a few people came. Bring a rain jacket to be safe.
The concert goes ahead in the rain as long as everyone is safe. It may start late or pause for a while, though. Long umbrellas are not allowed, so pack a rain jacket or a poncho.
„Solange die Sicherheit der Gäste und Mitwirkenden gewährt ist, werden die Vorstellungen auch bei Regen und schlechter Witterung gespielt.“
In ordinary rain the concert usually carries on, as long as the musicians on stage stay dry. If a thunderstorm comes, an announcement warns you, and you should shelter in cars, buses, trams or buildings, never under trees. In 2026 the first evening concert paused twice for a few minutes because of rain.
„Solange es nur regnet und die Musiker*innen auf der Bühne nicht nass werden, kann in der Regel das Konzert weitergeführt werden.“
Grafenegg tries to play at the Wolkenturm even when the weather is uncertain. The decision is made about three hours before the concert and announced on a phone line (+43 2735 5500), on the website and by text message if you gave your mobile number when booking. If the concert moves indoors, tickets in categories 1 to 6 get a fixed seat in the Auditorium, the concert hall on the grounds. Categories 7 and 8 then give access to a video screening in the smaller Rudolf Buchbinder Hall, or a refund if the concert was not played at least to the halfway point or the interval. Umbrellas are banned at the Wolkenturm, and free ponchos are handed out in the rain. The rules say nothing about lawn tickets in the rain.
„Karten in den Kategorien 1 – 6 für das Abendkonzert haben einen automatisch zugewiesenen Sitzplatz im Auditorium auf der Karte.“
The organisers have several bad-weather plans. In 2024 the regional broadcaster NH Nieuws reported that in rain, music is played only on the main stage. In rain and strong wind, no ensemble plays and only the solo stars of the evening perform. In 2024 the plan was for music to sound over the canal whatever the weather. Bring a rain jacket, as there is no shelter on the quays.
The Vienna Philharmonic's website gives no bad-weather rule and no backup date. On the day, check the orchestra's website shortly before you set off to see whether the concert is on.
The festival has set 25 July 2027 as the rain date for the operetta gala. If it rains too hard on 24 July, the gala is likely to move to the following evening. The gala page does not explain the refund rules in detail.
„Esőnapok: JÚLIUS 25.“
The Waldbühne has no roof over the audience, only the stage is covered. The venue does not promise that every concert goes ahead whatever the weather. It announces changes or a cancellation on its website and social media. Long umbrellas are banned, so bring a rain poncho or a small folding umbrella.
„Should there be any changes to the schedule or even a cancellation of the event, we will inform our visitors via our website“
The organisers do not publish a rain policy. Rain is very rare in Lisbon in July.
Concerts at the amphitheatre are generally not cancelled for rain. On the lawn, umbrellas are allowed only before the concert, so bring a rain jacket.
„Concerts at the Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay are generally not cancelled in case of rain.“
The festival never cancels a performance in advance because of the weather. If it rains, the start can be delayed by up to 120 minutes before the festival decides to cancel. Once the performance has begun, there is no refund, even if rain stops it. These were the 2026 rules.
„In caso di maltempo lo spettacolo non viene mai annullato preventivamente.“
source · Festival della Valle d'Itria, Palazzo Ducale, Martina Franca
The festival does not publish a specific rain rule. Its official FAQ only says that you get your money back if a concert is cancelled or postponed. Rain is rare in Granada in June and July.
„En caso de que el evento se cancele o se posponga, se le reembolsará el precio de su entrada.“
Concerts go ahead in the rain unless there are severe weather warnings or lightning. Seats are uncovered, and reserved seats are non-refundable.
If it rains, the orchestra plays inside the palace theatre and the music is relayed live to the courtyard, because the valuable instruments must stay dry. The singers carry on outside on stage. If the show is called off because of the weather, you can swap your ticket for another date, donate its value or ask for a refund. At the latest two hours before the start, the weather line on +49 33931 721 14 and the website tell you whether the show goes ahead.
„Sollte es regnen, muss das Orchester aus dem Schlosstheater live zugespielt werden, da die kostbaren Orchesterinstrumente keinerlei Feuchtigkeit vertragen.“
source · Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg in the palace courtyard
The concert goes ahead in the rain. In bad weather the orchestra may pause briefly or shorten the programme. Any cancellation because of the weather is only decided on site on the day itself. Umbrellas are not allowed, so bring a rain jacket instead.
„Die Veranstaltung findet grundsätzlich auch bei Regen statt.“
The festival rarely cancels for bad weather, and it always decides at the last moment. Umbrellas are banned in the park because they block other people's view and are dangerous on the stand, so bring a rain jacket instead. If the festival cancels a concert, you can swap your ticket for another date or get a refund.
„En cas d’intempéries, les décisions d’annulation sont rares et se font toujours au dernier moment.“
Ravinia performs rain or shine and ticket sales are final. With a lawn ticket you are outdoors in the rain, so pack a rain jacket.
„Ravinia presents performances rain or shine, and ticket sales are final.“
The theatre has not yet published what happens to the courtyard concert if it rains. It is best to ask when you buy your ticket.
All concerts happen rain or shine. With a lawn ticket you cannot shelter in the Shed, and there are no refunds for bad weather.
„The Shed is ticketed separately from the Lawn and is not a rain shelter for guests with Lawn tickets.“