AFM Local 802 and the Metropolitan Opera have reached a tentative agreement for a one year contract for the Met Associate Musicians.

With more than 130 members, these musicians are integral to maintaining the Met as a cultural and artistic icon.

In a statement, AFM Local 802 President Dan Point said, “The Associate Musicians of the Metropolitan Opera make up 30-50% of what audiences hear each night when the curtain goes up at the Met, and after more than a decade of absorbing cut after cut to their pay, they have won a contract that recognizes that contribution. This deal is a testament to what these musicians accomplished by standing together behind their committee, signing their names to a petition, and telling management face-to-face that they would not trade permanent concessions for temporary gains. What makes this agreement significant is what these musicians refused to surrender. For nine months, they negotiated with determination, insisting that their agreement put them on a path toward recovery and wage parity with their Met Orchestra colleagues, even with the institution facing an uncertain financial future. Local 802 could not be prouder of what they have won. When musicians stand united, they get results, and that is exactly what happened at the Met Opera.”

The Metropolitan Opera is set to open its 2026-27 season with a new production of “Macbeth.”