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Get ready for your visit to the ballet!
See our FAQs about buying tickets, attending the ballet, and more.
covid-19 POLICIES FOR THE 2023 SEASON
Updated December 1, 2022: SF Ballet cares about the health and safety of our audiences, artists, and staff. In adherence with requirements contained in federal, state, and local health orders, the War Memorial Opera House does not require patrons to wear masks while in the venue. However, the Opera House and San Francisco Ballet strongly encourage mask-wearing by all patrons to protect themselves and others. We also encourage anyone to stay home if they aren’t feeling well or are experiencing COVID symptoms. https://sfwarmemorial.org/covid-information. SF Ballet will continue to work with the city and performance venues to update our policies based on their recommendations.
For events and/or performances outside of the War Memorial Opera House, SF Ballet will update patrons on COVID protocols via email and here on the Safety page.
TICKETS
All tickets for our 2023 Season are on sale now. View our 2023 Season here.
To explore Season Ticket options and save up to 30%, visit 2023 Season Tickets.
You may select specific seats online—you can even see the view from different seating sections before you make your choice. If you have questions about specific seating locations or need accessible seating, we can help. Please contact Ticket Services at 415-865-2000.
Repertory Season Discounts
Season Tickets
Purchase Season Tickets and save up to 30% off the regular ticket price.
Rush Tickets
Rush tickets are not available for Nutcracker. During the Repertory Season, full-time college students, US military personnel, and seniors (65 and older) can purchase tickets for that day's performance for $30, subject to availability.
To purchase tickets at this special Rush price, call Ticket Services at 415–865–2000 on the day of the performance you wish to attend. Tickets for Tuesday evening through Saturday matinee performances go on sale by phone that day at 10 AM and must be purchased and picked up no later than 1 hour before the performance begins. Must present proof of Senior, Student, or Military status when you pick up tickets if not already registered for our Rush program.
THE LIST
Do you love seeing amazing dance at amazing prices? Looking for last-minute live entertainment options? Then you should be on The List! Sign up and we will keep you in-the-know about exclusive weekly offers just for List members (think tickets for $29 and $49!). Visit The List.
We hold your Will Call tickets at the SF Ballet Box Office located in the Main Lobby of the War Memorial Opera House (301 Van Ness Avenue at Grove Street) where performances take place. The Ballet Box Office is open only on performance days, starting four hours before the performance. We suggest arriving at least 45 minutes prior to the performance because the lines can get long and you want to be in your seat before the lights dim. Parking, traffic, and transportation delays are unpredictable, so plan to arrive early as latecomers will not be seated until intermission during Repertory Season.
If you haven't received your tickets or if you misplaced them, you can print your tickets at home. Simply login to your account, select the Tickets & Performances tab and reprint your tickets. Please note, reprinting your tickets will invalidate any previous versions. Or, call Ticket Services at 415-865-2000 and we'll have your tickets waiting for you at the Box Office in the Opera House.
Standing-room-only tickets are $10, available in person on the day of the performance at the Ballet Box Office in the Opera House. Cash is preferred.
Nutcracker is most magical for children ages 5 and up. Please note that we do not allow children under 3, including babes in arms. We encourage you to see our helpful tips on Taking Kids to the Ballet.
Repertory Season performances, including story ballets, are often more than two-and-a-half hours long and are best for children ages 8 and up. Please note that we do not allow children under 5, including babes in arms.
Please keep in mind that Repertory Season performances may not be appropriate for younger children, even the story ballets, as they are often more than 2 ½ hours long.
Everyone entering the Opera House, regardless of age, must have a ticket, and children must occupy their own seat next to an accompanying adult. No lap sitting.
Consider selecting an aisle seat when bringing your children in case a quick exit is needed for an unavoidable visit to the restroom, or for a talkative or restless child. Please be aware that if you leave your seat, it is unlikely that you will be able to return to it while the performance is in progress.
If your child does need a break during a performance, or you cannot return to your seat, we encourage you to visit our Family Viewing Area in the North Dress Circle Lounge. This comfortable space features a monitor to watch the performance along with children’s books and quiet activities such as an opportunity to write letters to dancers. It is available during all Nutcracker performances and for some weekend performances of the story ballets.
Anyone (of any age) creating a disturbance will be asked to leave the auditorium and these tickets will not be refunded.
Full-length ballets are evening-length works typically with three acts. Some full-length works are called story ballets because they follow a narrative and are often based on classic tales from literature or opera such as Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Romeo & Juliet. Some full-length ballets like Jewels and Shostakovich Trilogy are abstract.
A triple-bill ballet program has something for everyone, featuring a selection of three or four unrelated short works that make up an evening of entertainment. The individual works may be based on a story, or they may be more abstract—the works may be classical or contemporary. A triple-bill program can be an excellent introduction to ballet, providing a variety of complementary dances, choreographers, and styles.
TICKET EXCHANGE
If you need to exchange your tickets, please call Ticket and Patron Services at 415-865-2000.
Subscription tickets may be exchanged with no fee with 24 hours advance notice. Individual ticket buyers may exchange for a $20 exchange fee with 24 hours advanced notice. Exchanges on the day of the scheduled performance incur a $25 day-of-performance fee.
Exchanges within 2 hours of the performance are not allowed. If you are unable to exchange your tickets within two hours of the performance, call Ticket Services before the performance begins to return tickets for a tax-deductible donation.
Please note, exchanges may result in a difference in availability and ticket price. If the exchanged tickets result in a higher price the difference will need to be paid to complete the exchange. We are unable to refund the difference in cost if the exchange results in a lower price in compliance with SF Ballet’s No Refund policy.
Restrictions apply.
Tickets are non-refundable. You may donate your tickets as a tax-deductible donation by calling Ticket Services before the performance.
IN THE OPERA HOUSE
Transportation, traffic, and parking can be unpredictable, so make your outing stress-free by allowing extra time to assure an early arrival at the Opera House. If your tickets are at Will Call, it’s best to be at the Box Office at least 45 minutes early because the lines to pick up the tickets can be long.
We sympathize with you, but for the sake of the performers and other audience members, there is no late seating while a work is in progress during the Repertory Season. Latecomers will be asked to stand until an appropriate break in the action—which might be at intermission. For Nutcracker, late seating is at the discretion of management.
Transportation, traffic, and parking are unpredictable, so allow extra time. Make your outing stress-free by arriving early to visit a favorite shop or restaurant, or enjoy dinner and drinks in the Opera House.
You should wear whatever you like and what makes you comfortable. You will see some people in gowns and you’ll see others in jeans. If you are looking for an opportunity to wear that new cocktail dress or suit, do it. If you prefer to dress more casually, then, by all means, come as you are. However, we do ask that if you choose to wear a hat, please remove it once indoors.
Opera glasses are available to be rented for $5 in the North coat check. Cash only, please.
Yes. Seats on the left side of the theater are odd-numbered and seats on the right side are even-numbered, with a few exceptions. Seats in the center section of Grand Tier Center and Balcony Circle are numbered consecutively from seats 101–114. Center Boxes are consecutively numbered 1–8, with three seats in the first row, three seats in the second row, and two seats in the third row.
Don’t worry. Simply show your ticket to your usher and they will help you find your seat. Or, view our Seating Charts.
Drinks purchased inside the Opera House may be brought inside the auditorium.
The War Memorial Opera House, where SF Ballet performances take place, is located at 301 Van Ness Avenue at Grove Street in the Civic Center neighborhood. The Opera House is within walking distance of MUNI, BART, and other transit systems.
Yes. The Opera House has accessible seating on the Orchestra and Dress Circle levels. Call 415-865-2000 for more information and to purchase accessible seating.
Persons with wheelchairs may enter and exit the Opera House through the front doors (Van Ness Avenue), Taxi Ramp (Grove Street), and Carriage Entrance (north side).
Accessible restrooms are located on all floors except the Orchestra and Balcony levels.
Accessible drinking fountains are located on all floors except the Balcony level.
Yes. Lost & Found is located at the north coat check room on the Main Lobby level of the Opera House. If you realize you’ve left something behind after you’ve left the Opera House, please email wmpac-lostandfound@sfgov.org or call 415-621-6600, 9:00 am–4:00 pm Monday–Friday, except city holidays.