LA Opera's Opera at the Beach: Carmen

LA Opera brings opening night to the ocean with Opera at the Beach, a free live simulcast of Carmen on a massive outdoor screen at the Santa Monica Pier. Now in its 13th year, this beloved tradition turns the shoreline into an open-air opera house for thousands of Angelenos.

Come early for the family fun. Starting at 4:00 PM, kids can dive into arts and crafts with LA Opera Connects, balloon art, face painting, live performances by local artists, a prize wheel, free merch and a gift-basket drawing.

The broadcast starts at 6:00 PM. Carmen runs about three and a half hours with one intermission and is sung in French with English and Spanish subtitles, so younger kids may enjoy the famous "Habanera" and "Toreador Song" and then head home. Bring blankets, low lawn chairs and jackets for the evening breeze.

📅 Dates & Times

Saturday, October 17, 2026

4:00 PM: Pre-show family activities

6:00 PM: Carmen broadcast begins (about 3.5 hours with one intermission)

📍 Venue

Santa Monica Pier

200 Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica, CA 90401

👨🏻‍👩🏻‍👦🏻‍👦🏻 Age Requirement

All ages are welcome.

🎟️ Tickets/Price

Free. No registration is required.

RSVP to LA Opera for event updates and a complimentary gift

🍔 Food

Food vendors will be on site. Outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are allowed. Large coolers, canopies, tents, sun umbrellas and pets are not permitted, and bags are checked at the entrance.

🚙 Parking

Park at the Beach Parking Lot, 1550 Appian Way, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Please check the website for rates.

🌐 Website Link

LA Opera: Opera at the Beach

🧭 Directions

Click on “Google” on the map for directions.

📢 Disclaimer

Event listings are believed to be accurate at the time of posting, but details are subject to change without notice. Please confirm all details with the event organizer before attending. FUN WITH KIDS IN LA® is not liable for errors, omissions, or changes to listings in our calendar. Some events have paid us to be on our events calendar, and some events contain an affiliate link.