SF Opera Opener Canceled as Musicians Strike; Opera in the Park Also Off

A performance of ‘Simon Boccanegra’ was canceled at the final hour over failure to reach agreement on a new contract.

Sep 12, 2026

Updated 9:19 pm PT

Eun Sun Kim leads the San Francisco Opera orchestra in rehearsal for Richard Strauss’ ‘Elektra’ in 2026. (Cory Weaver / SF Opera)

San Francisco Opera’s season opener — the Sept. 12 performance of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra — was canceled at the last minute on Saturday evening when the orchestra musicians went on strike.

The popular Opera in the Park event, an annual performance in Golden Gate Park falling this year on Sept. 13, has also been canceled.

The strike had been threatened for weeks by the musicians union, should San Francisco Opera fail to offer what the musicians characterized as a fair contract. The previous contract expired on July 31.

“A strike is not something we take lightly, and we are deeply sorry to everyone who planned to spend this evening at the opera,” the musicians said in a statement. “We have been clear throughout these negotiations that management’s offers were insufficient, and that without a fair contract we would have no choice but to stop work. Management’s insistence on cuts has left us no other option.”