Palais Garnier to celebrate 150th anniversary in 2025

The Opéra national de Paris will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Palais Garnier in 2025. The landmark building, designed by architect Charles Garnier and commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III, was originally inaugurated on January 5, 1875.

To mark the milestone, an Anniversary Gala is scheduled for January 24, 2025. The event will feature artists from the Paris Opera, including musicians, chorus members, ballet stars, and guest performers such as Lea Desandre and Juan Diego Flórez. The gala, directed by Victoria Sitjà, will be broadcast on French television and organized by AROP to raise funds for the opera's activities.

Throughout 2025, the celebrations will continue with various concerts and exhibitions. This includes a special anniversary exhibition in autumn 2025, developed in collaboration with the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, aimed at exploring the building's historical significance and its role as a cultural emblem.