The Metropolitan Opera has announced a trio of new initiatives designed to make opera more accessible and inclusive for audiences.

The company said that it would be launching Opening Act, Tuesday Talks, and an expanded Met Under 40 program.

Opening Act will bring opera to the youngest audience members with a new series of interactive family workshops. The program will be designed for children ages 4–8 and their guardians and will explore the fundamentals of theatrical storytelling through movement, play, hands-on activities, and special performances.

The first program will be Donizetti’s “La Fille du Régiment” followed by Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Each program will comprise four hour-long workshops on consecutive Sundays (November 2–23, 2025, and April 12–May 3, 2026) in the Met’s South Lobby and will have one for children ages 4–6, and one for children ages 6–8. The registration fee will be $200 per guardian/child pair and $50 for each additional child.

The company also announced Tuesday Talks, a new series of free, 30-minute pre-performance lectures by leading scholars and Met staff. The talks will focus primarily on the Met’s repertory productions, highlighting key musical moments and situating each work in operatic history. The talks will be in List Hall one hour before the curtain. Here is a list of the dates. 

The company will expand its Under 40 program with more performances and additional seating options ranging from $50 to $110. The initiative features 20 pre-performance parties on select dates—twice as many as in previous seasons. Here is a list of performances. 

Read Related Stories 

• Metropolitan Opera Board & Peter Gelb Tricked by Fake Millionaire, Dip into Endowment As a Result
• Metropolitan Opera Announces Expansion of Laffont Competition