All venues · Savonlinna, Finland · 3 July to 31 July 2027
Savonlinna Opera Festival 2027. Dates and tickets.
The 2027 programme has 22 evenings, from 3 July to 31 July. Performances usually start at 19:00. Tickets cost from €69.9.
Roofed with open sides means: In summer a large fabric canopy covers the stage and all seats in the courtyard, so you stay dry when it rains, but the air in the courtyard is as cool or warm as the evening outside.
- 2027 season
- 3 July to 31 July 2027 source
- Evenings
- 22
- Usual start
- 19:00 source
- Prices
- Tickets start at €69.90, plus an order fee from €1.50 and 0.65% of the order value. source
- Capacity
- The courtyard seats a little over 2,100 people. The festival gives two different figures on its own website, 2,114 and 2,264 seats. source
- Roof
- Roofed, open sides: In summer a large fabric canopy covers the stage and all seats in the courtyard, so you stay dry when it rains, but the air in the courtyard is as cool or warm as the evening outside.
- Doors
- The festival suggests arriving about an hour before curtain-up. Security checks all bags before the pontoon bridge to the castle. The auditorium opens 30 minutes before the start, and latecomers have to wait until the interval. source
- If it rains
- Rain does not stop the show, because the stage and seats are under the canopy. source
Last checked: 2 November 2026, against the organiser's own information.
Your evening on Saturday, 17 July 2027 · Andrea Chénier
Choose another eveningCalendar 2027
When does Savonlinna Opera Festival play in 2027? Tap an evening and the times at the top roll to that evening.
Source: operafestival.fi
Prices
Where are the best seats at Savonlinna Opera Festival? Every area with seat, view and 2027 price.
Prices are for a regular evening. Opening nights, premieres and galas cost more.
A seat in the festival's own box, with a private entrance to the castle.. The festival describes the view of the stage as good. At the interval you get sparkling wine and local snacks, and an expert introduces the opera before the show.
2027 price: –
Tickets
How much are tickets for Savonlinna Opera Festival? Directly from the organiser, plus a bed nearby.
Links to packages, hotels and tours go to partners. You pay the same price as buying from them directly.
Tickets start at €69.90, plus an order fee from €1.50 and 0.65% of the order value. Prices change with seat category, production and demand, and the festival does not publish a top price. Students and children aged 16 and under get 25% off regular tickets.
The festival sells tickets through Lippu.fi and at the festival office in Savonlinna. Wheelchair spaces (there are three) can only be booked through the festival office. Tickets are non-refundable. Pot-luck tickets for 2027 go on sale later: you pay less and are given a good seat on the day.
Organiser's box officeIt is late when the performance ends. A room nearby saves a night-time journey.
Is Savonlinna Opera Festival worth it?
Savonlinna is worth it if you want opera inside a genuine medieval castle and don't mind a long trip into the Finnish summer. Because the courtyard is covered, you don't need to worry about a washed-out evening. For a child's first opera The Magic Flute is the best pick, but remember it is sung in Finnish.
Before you go
What should I know before an evening in Savonlinna?
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.“
In the organiser's words sourceThe festival suggests arriving about an hour before curtain-up. Security checks all bags before the pontoon bridge to the castle. The auditorium opens 30 minutes before the start, and latecomers have to wait until the interval.
From the UK, fly to Helsinki first. From there Savonlinna is about an hour by plane, or about four hours by train, bus or car. Savonlinna's small airport is about 13 km from town, and the festival recommends a taxi. From the railway station in the centre it is a 15-minute walk to the castle.
All performances start at 7pm and last between two and a half and just over three hours. Afterwards everyone leaves over the same bridge back into town, which takes longer than at an ordinary theatre. Hotels in the centre are within walking distance.
You cannot drive up to the castle because it stands on an island. There are several car parks in the centre, for example on Punkaharjuntie, at Malminranta, on Tottinkatu and Koulukatu, plus a multi-storey at the passenger harbour. Riihisaari car park has two spaces for visitors with reduced mobility.
There is no dress code. The courtyard can get chilly in the evening, so bring a warm layer. On hot days it gets warm inside because there is no air conditioning. Paths in the castle are uneven stone, so sturdy shoes beat heels.
The festival gives a recommended minimum age for each opera. The Magic Flute is suitable from 5, The Barber of Seville from 10, and Andrea Chénier and Carmen from 12. The Magic Flute is sung in Finnish. Children aged 16 and under get 25% off.
You cannot bring outside food into the castle, but your own plastic water bottle is fine. Glass bottles, alcohol, knives and aerosol sprays are banned, and large bags such as suitcases must be left at the security check. You can pre-order interval drinks and snacks from the castle restaurants.
Frequently asked questions about Savonlinna Opera Festival
Is the Savonlinna opera covered?
Yes, a fabric canopy covers the stage and seats in the castle courtyard, so performances go ahead in the rain, though the air stays as cool as outside.
What should I wear to the Savonlinna Opera Festival?
There is no dress code, so wear what feels comfortable. Bring a warm layer for the cool courtyard and sturdy shoes for the uneven stone floors.
Are there surtitles at Savonlinna?
Yes, every opera has Finnish and English surtitles, although the festival notes they may not be fully visible from every seat.
What time should I arrive at Olavinlinna?
Aim for about an hour before the 7pm start. There is a bag check before the bridge and more than 2,000 people use the same route; latecomers wait until the interval.
Can I buy tickets on the day?
Usually yes. The festival says tickets are often still available on the day at the festival office and, from 6pm, at the Tallisaari ticket point in front of the castle.
Venues nearby
Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg in the palace courtyardKammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg in the palace courtyard is about 1,360 kilometres away as the crow flies.
Eutin Festival (Eutiner Festspiele)Eutin Festival (Eutiner Festspiele) is about 1,370 kilometres away as the crow flies.
Schwerin Castle Festival in the castle courtyardSchwerin Castle Festival in the castle courtyard is about 1,380 kilometres away as the crow flies.