General Terms and Conditions

1.1 These General Terms and Conditions (hereinafter referred to as “GTC”) govern the legal relationship between the Staatsbetrieb Sächsische Staatstheater – Staatsoper Dresden und Staatsschauspiel Dresden, exclusively for the Staatsoper Dresden (Semperoper) division – hereinafter referred to as “Staatsoper Dresden” – and its visitors. These GTC shall be deemed to have been agreed upon with the purchase of a ticket, the conclusion of a subscription, or admission to an event of the Staatsoper Dresden. 

1.2 These GTC also apply in principle to third-party events held on the premises of the Staatsoper Dresden and to joint events organized by the Staatsoper Dresden with other partners. Where applicable, the terms and conditions of third parties shall apply in addition/instead.

1.3 For subscribers/Abonnents, the special terms and conditions, which are available on the website at https://www.semperoper.de/ihr-besuch/abonnements.html, among other places, apply in addition. 

1.4 For groups of 20 or more people, the sales conditions for groups apply in addition. These are available on the website at https://www.semperoper.de/gruppenservice, among other places.

2.1 The box office is open at the times published separately. These are available on the Staatsoper Dresden website (https://www.semperoper.de), among other places.

2.2 The Semperoper venue and the box office are usually open one hour before the start of an event. The Semper Zwei venue and the box office are usually open 30 minutes before the start of an event.

3.1 Depending on the type and location of the event, different seating plans, price categories, and seat groups apply to events at the Staatsoper Dresden. Special prices and, where applicable, surcharges may apply to selected events (e.g., guest performances, festivals, premieres, special concerts, special events, special casts). 

3.2 The current admission and subscription prices, admission prices for special promotions, and conditions for discounts can be found/requested at the Staatsoper Dresden visitor service, on the Staatsoper Dresden website (https://www.semperoper.de), and in Staatsoper Dresden publications. 

3.3 Program booklets, theater glasses, and other services are not included in the ticket price.

3.4 Severely disabled persons with a degree of disability of 80 percent or more will receive a reduced-price ticket upon presentation of their severely disabled person's pass, subject to ticket availability. If the severely disabled person's pass also includes proof of entitlement to bring an accompanying person, the same price advantage applies to the accompanying person. 

3.5 Schoolchildren, trainees, volunteers in federal voluntary service and social year programs, and students up to the age of 30 can purchase remaining tickets at a reduced price at the Semperoper box office 30 minutes before the start of the performance upon presentation of valid proof (e.g., student ID), provided that a sufficient number of tickets are still available. Individual performances may be excluded from this rule. 

3.6 Children and young people up to and including the age of 16 (for ticket prices ZU2 to ZU8 up to the age of 18) receive a reduced ticket subject to availability. Individual performances may be excluded from this rule. For ticket prices ZU2 to ZU8, students, federal volunteers, volunteers in their social year, and trainees (up to 30 years of age) also receive a reduced ticket in advance sales, subject to availability.

3.7 All of the above discounts are generally granted for performances at the Semperoper with an admission price of €12.00 or more for seat groups 1 to 6. 

3.8 Discounts are only valid in conjunction with the relevant proof and are non-transferable. Retrospective discounts are not possible. The relevant proof must be presented upon admission. If this cannot be provided, there is no entitlement to the discount and the difference to the normal price must be paid. There is no general entitlement to the above discounts. 

3.8 The Staatsoper Dresden is not liable for prices that may be charged by third parties for tickets for events at the Staatsoper Dresden. 

3.9 Due to the architectural conditions or staging, the view of the stage may be restricted from some seats in the auditorium of the Semperoper. This does not entitle the ticket holder to a refund or a discount.

4.1 Advance ticket sales are handled by the Sales and Service Department of the Staatsoper Dresden, usually one season in advance. The program, start times, and cast are subject to change. The Staatsoper Dresden accepts no responsibility for information provided by third parties in publications (e.g., press, online media). The Staatsoper Dresden reserves the right to limit the number of tickets sold per person. 

4.2 In response to an order by telephone, written, or email order, the Staatsoper Dresden will submit a limited-time offer in writing or by email in the order in which it is received, depending on ticket availability, stating the date of the event, title of the work, seat group, seats, and prices. The offer is accepted upon full payment for the tickets offered. If this does not happen within the period specified in the offer, the offer expires and the Staatsoper Dresden is free to dispose of the tickets and seats offered as it sees fit. 

4.3 If the purchase price for a ticket is not paid in full, there is no entitlement to admission to the respective event. This also applies in the event of debit returns after the ticket purchase and payment. The Staatsoper Dresden is entitled to demand full payment of the purchase price before admission. This applies regardless of whether the ticket holder purchased the ticket from the Staatsoper Dresden themselves. 

4.4 Tickets that have already been paid for will be sent by regular mail as soon as possible at the request and risk of the purchaser. A shipping fee may be charged for the postal delivery of tickets, vouchers, and programs. If there is insufficient time for shipping (up to 10 days before the performance), the paid tickets will be deposited at the box office under the customer and order number. Tickets that have already been paid for but are not collected during opening hours or at the box office will expire without replacement and without entitlement to a refund of the purchase price.

4.5 Payments on invoice are no longer possible three weeks before the respective performance. In these cases, tickets must be paid for in advance in the online shop by credit card or PayPal or at the box office. 

4.6 Unpaid reserved and uncollected tickets will be offered for sale again at the box office 30 minutes before the start of the performance. 

Gift vouchers can be purchased for events at the Staatsoper Dresden. These vouchers are valid for three years from the end of the year in which the voucher was issued. The respective validity is noted on the vouchers. The vouchers can be redeemed for events at the Semperoper Dresden according to ticket availability at the Semperoper. There is no entitlement to specific performances or seats. Cash payment of vouchers (in full or in part) and extension of the validity period, even for vouchers that have already expired, is not possible. Third-party vouchers (e.g., from other event organizers) cannot be redeemed at the Semperoper.

The online sale of tickets and vouchers is handled by independent service providers, subject to separate or additional terms and conditions where applicable. Discounts in accordance with 3.5 cannot be granted for online bookings. Retrospective discounts are not possible. 

7.1 Tickets and vouchers can be purchased, stored electronically, or printed out on the Staatsoper Dresden website (https://www.semperoper.de) as electronic tickets (“eTickets”). The eTicket will be sent to the purchaser by email with the booking confirmation. Each eTicket entitles the holder to one-time admission to the respective event. It is prohibited to reproduce or alter the eTicket in digital or printed form. A QR code guarantees the authenticity of the ticket and can only be used once.

The eTicket is identified, checked, and validated by a scanner at the entrance. The Staatsoper Dresden is entitled to refuse admission to the event in question to holders of an invalid eTicket, a ticket that has not been paid for in full (see 4.3), or an eTicket whose QR code has already been validated. Purchasers are solely responsible for protecting eTickets from access by third parties, in particular for ensuring that eTickets are not copied and/or passed on to unauthorized third parties or redeemed by them at the Staatsoper Dresden. The provisions in 13.2 of these Terms and Conditions apply. 

7.2 The provisions in section 7.1 and section 5 apply accordingly to vouchers in the form of eTickets.

8.1 The Staatsoper Dresden expressly recommends purchasing tickets for events exclusively through its advance sales channels and affiliated official advance sales outlets or tour operators and partners approved by the Staatsoper Dresden. Purchasing tickets from third parties, especially on internet platforms, always carries a risk (e.g., counterfeiting, additional costs, blocked tickets) for the buyer.     

8.2 The commercial resale of tickets for the Staatsoper Dresden is prohibited, as is the offering of such tickets for commercial resale without the prior written consent of the Staatsoper Dresden. 

8.3 Tour operators and hotels offering visits to performances at the Staatsoper Dresden must contact the Staatsoper Dresden's sales and service department to purchase tickets. 

8.4 The offering or selling of tickets for the Staatsoper Dresden by visitors or third parties on the premises or directly in front of the Staatsoper Dresden, as well as in front of its box office, is strictly prohibited. The Staatsoper Dresden reserves the right to take legal action against persons who violate this prohibition. 

8.5 For each culpable violation of 8.2, 8.3, or 8.4, a contractual penalty amounting to five times the admission price printed on the ticket shall be incurred. The Staatsoper Dresden reserves the right to assert further claims for damages. 

9.1 Admission to events at the Staatsoper Dresden will only be granted upon presentation of a valid, fully paid (see 4.3) original ticket for each participating visitor. The provisions in 13.2 of these terms and conditions apply. If tickets for the Staatsoper Dresden (this applies to both hard tickets and e-tickets) are altered, redesigned, or exchanged for homemade tickets by the visitor, they are not valid. For discounted tickets proof of eligibility for the discount must be presented. If this proof cannot be provided, admission will only be granted if the visitor has paid the difference to the full ticket price at the box office in advance. 

9.2 After the start of an event, for safety reasons and in the interests of the participating artists and other visitors, visitors may only be admitted to the auditorium at a time specified by the opera management in order to ensure that the performance runs smoothly. The instructions of the admission staff must be followed. Depending on the event, late admission may only be possible during the interval or not at all. This also applies if the start of an event has been brought forward. 

9.3 Each ticket entitles the holder to attend the specified event in the seat indicated on the ticket. Other seats may only be occupied with the consent or at the request of the admission staff. The Staatsoper Dresden is entitled to assign other seats to visitors in individual cases. 

9.4 For safety reasons, it is prohibited to sit on stairs, ledges, or balustrades. Also for safety reasons, it is not permitted to sit on the balustrades, lean over the balustrades, or place objects (e.g., handbags) on the balustrades.

9.5 For safety reasons and out of consideration for others, it is not permitted to bring strollers to performances at the Semperoper. It is not recommended to bring children and infants under the age of 6 to performances, as it is important to ensure that performances proceed without disruption. 

9.6 For reasons of mutual consideration and hygiene, admission to a performance is only permitted with appropriate, clean clothing and shoes. 

9.7 Wheelchair users have access to specially designated wheelchair spaces in the stalls and in the 1st and 2nd tiers. Please note that due to structural conditions (narrow doors), access for electric wheelchairs cannot be guaranteed in the 1st and 2nd tiers.
For structural reasons, there are no wheelchair spaces available in the 3rd and 4th tiers.
The designated wheelchair spaces can be requested when purchasing tickets at the box office. If these are already sold out, no other seats can be used as wheelchair spaces. 

9.8 Bicycles, large items, animals, and similar items are not permitted in the Staatsoper Dresden. 

9.9 If a designated assistance dog is required for a performance in accordance with the applicable legal provisions, special seats are available for this purpose. Tickets can only be booked through the Semperoper visitor service and upon presentation of the required legal documentation (e.g., identification card for human-assistance dog partnerships). When requesting tickets at , please indicate that a designated assistance dog is required for the performance. 

Surtitles are an additional service to which there is no entitlement. They are not included in the ticket price. If a performance is played without surtitles or if the surtitles cannot be read from some seats or can only be read to a limited extent, there is no entitlement to a ticket refund or price reduction. 

11.1 Premature termination of an event shall only entitle the ticket holder to a refund of the ticket price if the termination occurs during the first act or, in the case of one-act works, during the first half of the event. 

11.2 The claim for a refund can only be made within 30 days of the event date by returning the original tickets to the visitor service of the Staatsoper Dresden. The ticket price will be refunded. Other expenses, in particular hotel and travel costs, will not be reimbursed. 

11.3 In the event of premature termination of an event for reasons beyond the control of the Staatsoper Dresden (e.g., due to force majeure, disasters, district heating failure, power failure, official orders, etc.), there is generally no entitlement to a refund of the ticket price.

12.1 Tickets purchased from the Staatsoper Dresden cannot be exchanged or returned. This also applies in the event of changes to the announced cast or other changes to the performance. No compensation will be paid for performances not attended. This also applies if the customer arrives late and can only be admitted after the performance has started or cannot be admitted at all. The Staatsoper Dresden is not responsible for the customer's journey to and from the event. Strikes by transport companies, weather conditions, and other events beyond the control of the Staatsoper Dresden do not entitle the customer to return tickets.

12.2 If something other than the event title announced at the time of ticket purchase is performed, tickets may be returned for a refund of the ticket price until the start of the event. Any further claims are excluded. In particular, hotel and travel expenses cannot be reimbursed. Program or cast changes for symphony and special concerts or other events, in particular soirées, chamber music evenings, performance evenings, soloist concerts, or multi-part ballet evenings, do not entitle the customer to a refund of the ticket price.

12.3 If an event is canceled, the ticket price will be refunded provided that the customer submits a refund request to the visitor service of the Staatsoper Dresden within 30 days of the event date (by handing in the tickets in person or by post within the deadline, or by using the online form on the website https://www.semperoper.de). Any further claims are excluded. In particular, hotel and travel expenses will not be refunded. In the event of an event cancellation for which the Staatsoper Dresden is not responsible (e.g., due to force majeure, disasters, power failure, official orders, etc.), there is generally no entitlement to a refund of the ticket price.

12.4 It is possible to place tickets on commission from 3 months to 2 working days before the respective performance date at the Staatsoper Dresden. This option is generally only offered when fewer than 300 tickets remain (excluding commission regulations under subscription terms and group conditions) and when the tickets are in seating groups 1 to 6 or in the center lodge („Mittelloge“) for a performance at the Semperoper. This rule does not apply to prices ZU1 to ZU8 or to exclusive events, third-party events, and guest performances. Tickets can only be accepted on commission if the customer can prove ownership of the tickets (e.g., by presenting the original ticket). In particular, if the legal ownership of e-tickets cannot be proven, the Staatsoper Dresden may refuse to accept them on commission. Once tickets have been accepted on commission, this cannot be reversed. The Staatsoper Dresden is not obliged to offer these tickets for resale as a matter of priority. No guarantee can be given for the resale or refund of the ticket price. If the ticket has been sold, payment will generally  be made after the performance.  A commission fee of 10 percent of the ticket price (minimum €6 per ticket) will be charged by the Semperoper for resale. Any bank charges incurred shall be borne by the customer.

12.5 The above provisions apply exclusively to tickets purchased from the Staatsoper Dresden. Any return, exchange, or refund of tickets purchased from third parties (e.g., other ticket agencies) is governed solely by the terms and conditions of those ticket providers. Visitors must assert any claims against these ticket providers.

13.1 If a ticket is lost, a replacement ticket can be issued at the box office if the visitor presents the booking confirmation or proves which ticket they purchased by providing the exact seat number and the order or customer number. The Staatsoper Dresden is entitled to charge a processing fee for issuing replacement tickets. 

13.2 If several tickets exist for the same seat at an event (e.g., the original ticket and a replacement ticket, or a copy of an e-ticket), the Staatsoper Dresden is only obliged to admit the guest who first presents the ticket as proof of admission, with discharging effect to subsequent visitors. The statutory provisions on bonds and—in the case of non-personalized tickets—in particular the provisions on so-called "kleine Inhaberpapiere," in particular Sections 807, 794, 796, 797 BGB (German Civil Code), apply. In this case, a replacement ticket does also not entitle the holder to be assigned a different seat. The admission staff does not check whether the holder of the original ticket has acquired it legally. 

14.1 Coats, jackets, hats, caps, umbrellas, large bags, backpacks, and similar bulky items may not be taken into the auditorium and must be left in the cloakroom. The front-of-house staff is entitled to refuse admission to the auditorium even if the ticket holder has a ticket if such items are not handed in. 

14.2 Upon presentation of the cloakroom ticket, the service staff will hand over the cloakroom items without checking the factual entitlement. If the cloakroom ticket is lost, the items in question may only be handed over after all other visitors have been given their cloakroom items and if it can be plausibly stated that the remaining items actually belong to the person who lost the cloakroom ticket. In such cases, the Staatsoper Dresden is entitled to collect personal data before handing over the items. 

14.3 The service staff must be notified immediately of any swapped, damaged, or lost items in the cloakroom, as well as the loss of a cloakroom ticket. In the event of the loss of a cloakroom ticket, the opera may demand appropriate financial compensation. 

14.4 Upon accepting the items for storage, the Staatsoper Dresden assumes liability for loss or damage to the stored items only if the admission and service staff have intentionally or grossly negligently violated their storage obligations. Liability is in any case limited to the proven current value of the items deposited and a maximum value of €250.00 per cloakroom ticket. ID cards and documents of any kind, credit cards, cash, keys and valuables, as well as jewelry and electronic devices, are excluded from liability in any case. This also applies if these items are in coat pockets or containers. The handing over and storage of such items is at the visitor's own risk. 

15.1 Items of any kind found on the premises of the Staatsoper Dresden must be handed in to the admission or service staff. 

15.2 It is recommended that the loss of items on the premises of the Staatsoper Dresden be reported to the admission or service staff immediately. Lost property will be handed over to the public lost property office after a reasonable period of time. 

16.1 Any audio and/or photo/video recordings of events by visitors are prohibited for reasons including copyright and personal rights. Violations of this prohibition will result in claims for damages by the Staatsoper Dresden and the participating artists, as well as third parties, if applicable. 

16.2 Beyond events, image recordings may only be made on the premises of the Staatsoper Dresden for private and non-commercial purposes. 

16.3 In the event of a violation of the provisions in Section 16.1 or 16.2, the staff of the Staatsoper Dresden is entitled to demand the surrender of the recording, to delete it, and to ask the visitor to leave the event. 

16.4 The Staatsoper Dresden is entitled to record events without prior notice and to take photographs and make video recordings in the auditorium, on the premises, and in the foyers, to store the recordings in particular on image, sound, and audiovisual media, and to publish them for commercial use (e.g., on the radio), for its own reporting, advertising, and other theater-related uses in print and online media. The Staatsoper Dresden is entitled to grant the aforementioned rights to third parties. Visitors consent to the possible photographing and recording of their person and to the aforementioned use. In the event of recording by the Staatsoper Dresden or by third parties commissioned by it, technical equipment in the auditorium and possible restrictions on visibility are to be expected, which do not justify any claim for reimbursement or partial reimbursement of the ticket price. 

17.1 Mobile phones and other electronic communication and information devices, as well as acoustic signaling devices of any kind, must be switched off completely in the auditorium. In the interests of other visitors and the smooth running of events, the Staatsoper Dresden is entitled to demand the temporary handover of such devices or to ask the visitors concerned to leave the performance in the event of non-compliance. 

17.2 Food and beverages may not be brought into the auditorium. 

17.3 Smoking is not permitted on the premises of the Staatsoper Dresden. This also applies to e-cigarettes or similar devices that produce smoke and could therefore trigger the fire alarm system. 

18.1 The domiciliary Rights at the Staatsoper Dresden and their enforcement are incubent upon the artistic director and the commercial management. During events, the house rules/domiciliary rights are enforced by the admission staff and the head of security. The instructions of the Staatsoper Dresden staff must be followed at all times. 

18.2 If there is reason to believe that visitors are disrupting an event or harassing other visitors, they may be denied access to the premises of the Staatsoper Dresden . Visitors may be expelled from events if they disrupt them, harass other visitors, or have taken a seat for which they cannot present a valid ticket. Visitors who have violated the instructions of staff based on these General Terms and Conditions or who have violated these General Terms and Conditions may also be denied access. This does not entitle them to a refund of the admission fee or reimbursement of expenses. 

19.1 Personal order and customer data will be collected, processed, stored, and used in compliance with data protection law to the extent necessary for the initiation and execution of the contract.

19.2 The privacy policy available at https://www.semperoper.de/datenschutz applies.

The Staatsoper Dresden, its representatives, and vicarious agents shall only be liable for damages of any kind suffered by a visitor on the premises of the Staatsoper Dresden in cases of intent or gross negligence. This limitation of liability shall not apply to claims arising from injury to life, limb, or health. 

The Saxon State Theaters do not participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer dispute resolution body.

German law applies to contracts and legal relationships subject to these General Terms and Conditions. The place of performance and jurisdiction for all contracts and legal relationships subject to these General Terms and Conditions is Dresden for both parties. 

These General Terms and Conditions shall enter into force  on August 1, 2025, and replace all previously applicable provisions.