Opera and Theatre for Children in Frankfurt: 8 EUR Kids' Tickets, Up to Three Free Seats for Under-19s, and Where the Discounts Stop
Oper Frankfurt runs its own programme for small audiences, Oper für Kinder for ages 6 and up with tickets at 8 EUR for children and 15 EUR for adults, plus the Opernkarussell for ages 2 to 5 and paid childminding for ages 3 to 8 on selected Sundays. In the main house, its Oper für Familien scheme lets an adult who pays full price apply for up to three free tickets for children and young people under 19. Schauspiel Frankfurt gives pupils, students and apprentices up to 30 a flat 9 EUR ticket, school classes 7 EUR, and stages the family play Die kleine Hexe (age 5 and up) from 22 November 2026.
Two Houses, One Booking Office
Frankfurt’s two big stages, the Oper Frankfurt and the Schauspiel Frankfurt, belong to the same Städtische Bühnen and sell their tickets from one box office at Willy-Brandt-Platz. For families, the useful news is that both have programmes and discounts for young audiences, and that they work differently. The opera has formats for children from age 2, the theatre has a family play each season and flat prices for teenagers.
At the Opera: Formats by Age
The programme called JETZT! Junge Oper sorts what is offered by age:
| Format | Age | What it is | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opernkarussell | 2 to 5 | Programme for the youngest audience | Holzfoyer |
| Oper für Kinder | 6 and up | An opera told with a handful of singers and musicians, for example Turandot | Holzfoyer |
| Familienworkshop | 6 and up | A workshop for families around a production | Meeting point at the Opernpforte |
| Kinderbetreuung | 3 to 8 | Childminding at the Opernspielplatz on selected Sunday afternoons, bookable for a fee | Ballet hall of the opera house |
The dates for this autumn on the programme page: Turandot as an Oper für Kinder on Saturday 31 October 2026 at 14:00, and on Sunday 15 November 2026 at 13:00, both in the Holzfoyer. The event page lists prices of 8 EUR for children and 15 EUR for adults, recommends the show for ages 6 and up, and notes that the play replaced another title at short notice, so look at the page for the latest. Kindergarten groups and primary-school classes register by email instead of using the shop. The programme also lists the opera Hänsel und Gretel in the main house on 22 November and 20 December 2026, with a childminding option for each date, and a Familienworkshop on it on 15 November.
Free Seats for the Main House
Beyond the children’s formats, Oper Frankfurt’s reductions page lists a scheme that is easy to miss. Under Oper für Familien, an adult paying the full price can apply for a maximum of three free tickets for children, or young adults under 19. Small children in the stalls can borrow large foam cushions from the cloakrooms. The page gives no list of eligible performances, so ask the box office before you book your own ticket.
The other discounts on the same page:
- Pupils and students under 30: 50 percent off, not for opening nights, and you may be asked for proof of age.
- School groups: 6 EUR per ticket, applied for by email at schuelerkarten@buehnen-frankfurt.de.
- Kulturpass holders: certain performances and recitals for 3 EUR.
- People with refugee status: 3 EUR per performance.
Our guide to free culture for low-income families shows how to get the Kulturpass.
At the Schauspiel: Flat Prices and a Family Play
The Schauspiel Frankfurt’s ticket page sets the rules for teenagers and families:
| Who | What they pay |
|---|---|
| Pupils, students, apprentices, federal volunteers up to 30 | Flat 9 EUR in the Schauspielhaus, Kammerspiele, Bockenheimer Depot and Box; 11 EUR for guest performances and premieres |
| School classes with accompanying teachers | 7 EUR per ticket |
| Groups of 20 or more | 20 percent off |
| Frankfurt-Pass holders, unemployed people | Half price with proof, subject to availability |
| Refugees | 3 EUR |
| Theatertag (several times a season) | All seats of one performance at 14 EUR, reduced 9 EUR |
The family offer of the season is Die kleine Hexe, a play for everyone from age 5, based on Otfried Preußler. The programme for September 2026 lists the premiere on 22 November 2026, directed by Henner Kallmeyer. The Junges Schauspiel page adds workshops for school and children’s groups on the play, 90 minutes and 5 EUR per person. We did not find the ticket prices for this production, so look at the booking page when it opens.
One practical gift: according to the Schauspiel, your ticket is also an RMV ticket for the trip there and back on the day of the performance, from five hours before the start until the end of service. Our page on choosing an RMV ticket explains the system.
Cheaper Ways to Try It
- Start with the Oper für Kinder at 8 EUR for the child, rather than the big evening opera.
- Ask about Oper für Familien if you plan a Sunday afternoon in the main house.
- Use the Theatertag or the flat teenager price at the Schauspiel for older children.
- Combine a performance with a free museum afternoon, as in our guide to free museums for under-18s.
- Check our page on the Ferienkarte for holiday activities.
Step by Step
- Pick the format by age: Opernkarussell from 2, Oper für Kinder and the Familienworkshop from 6, the family play from 5.
- Look at the event page for the date, the age recommendation and the price before you book.
- Ask the box office about Oper für Familien if you want to bring several children.
- Bring proof of age or status: school or student ID, Kulturpass, Frankfurt-Pass.
- Book childminding for a Sunday show if you want to watch undisturbed.
- For school and kindergarten groups, register by email with the Bühnen.
Compliance Note
This guide summarises the programme and ticket pages of Oper Frankfurt and Schauspiel Frankfurt as read in October 2026. Programmes, dates, prices and discounts change from season to season, and some schemes depend on availability. Confirm the details with the box office or the event page before you book.
FAQ & Common Pitfalls
What is the best opera format for a young child?
According to Oper Frankfurt's programme, the Opernkarussell is for children from 2 to 5 years, the Oper für Kinder format is for children from 6 years, and the Familienworkshop is also for ages 6 and up. Oper für Kinder works with a handful of singers and musicians and offers an easy start for primary-school children. The shorter formats are held in the Holzfoyer, not the big opera house.
How much do the children's performances cost?
For Oper für Kinder the event pages list 8 EUR for children and 15 EUR for adults, for example for Turandot. Kindergarten groups and primary-school classes do not book through the shop but have to register by email at jetzt@buehnen-frankfurt.de. Booking for later dates in the season opens at fixed dates, with announcements such as 'booking opens 15 March' on the event pages.
Can small children really get free tickets for the main opera house?
Under the Oper für Familien scheme, an adult who pays the full price for a ticket can apply for a maximum of three free tickets for children or young adults under 19, according to the Oper's ticket-reductions page. Foam cushions for small children in the stalls can be borrowed from the cloakrooms. The page does not list the performances it covers or the booking route, so ask the box office (+49 69 212 49494) and do it before you buy.
What about childminding while I watch a Sunday performance?
On selected Sunday afternoons the Oper offers a Kinderbetreuung at the Opernspielplatz in the ballet hall for children aged 3 to 8. It is bookable for a fee for a particular performance, such as Hänsel und Gretel on 22 November and 20 December 2026, and the page lists it as a tip for parents. Check the event page of the performance for the price and the booking.
Which discounts apply to teenagers and school classes?
At Oper Frankfurt, schoolchildren and students under 30 get a 50 percent reduction on tickets (not at openings), school groups pay 6 EUR per ticket, and students of named Frankfurt universities and music schools pay 8 EUR subject to availability. At Schauspiel Frankfurt, pupils, students, apprentices and federal volunteers up to 30 pay a flat 9 EUR at the Schauspielhaus, Kammerspiele, Bockenheimer Depot and Box, 11 EUR for guest performances and premieres, and school classes with teachers pay 7 EUR each.
Is there a family play for children at the Schauspiel?
Yes, Die kleine Hexe, a family play for everyone from 5 years based on Otfried Preußler, directed by Henner Kallmeyer. The Schauspiel's September 2026 programme lists the premiere for 22 November 2026. The Junges Schauspiel page says there are practical workshops for school and children's groups about the play at 5 EUR per person, which take about 90 minutes and usually happen at the school. We did not find the ticket prices for the play, so check them when booking opens.
I hold a Kulturpass or a Frankfurt-Pass. What do I pay?
At the Oper, Kulturpass holders can attend certain performances for 3 EUR, and refugees pay 3 EUR per performance, according to the Oper's reductions page. At the Schauspiel, unemployed people and Frankfurt-Pass holders pay half price on presentation of proof and subject to availability (premieres, guest performances and special events excluded), and refugees pay 3 EUR. Our page on free culture for low-income families explains who qualifies and where to get the cards.
Does the ticket include public transport?
At the Schauspiel, yes. The ticket serves as an RMV ticket for the journey there and back on the day of the performance, from five hours before the start until the end of service. The pages we read at the Oper do not mention this, so ask before relying on it.