shanghai’s monumental opera house takes shape
New images document the Snøhetta–led Shanghai Grand Opera House as it approaches completion along the Huangpu River, with an opening anticipated in the second half of 2026. Following its winning proposal in the 2017 international competition, Snøhetta joined forces with East China Architectural Design & Research Institute, Theatre Projects, and Nagata Acoustics in 2019 to deliver the project as a consortium from concept through construction.
Positioned on the convex bank of the river, the opera house occupies a prominent site within Shanghai’s emerging cultural masterplan. Its spiraling, climbable rooftop traces a continuous sweep around the perimeter, rising from the ground in a broad arc that draws visitors upward. The gesture echoes the movement of water along the Huangpu while establishing a civic presence visible from across the waterfront.
images © Tian Fangfang, Honne Dang
snøhetta’s contextual design motifs
The roof is conceived by the architects at Snøhetta as an accessible public landscape. A helical stair links plaza and skyline to guide visitors along a steady ascent toward elevated platforms overlooking the city and riverbanks. Open throughout the day and night across the year, the roof operates as an urban stage and gathering ground, and extends the institution’s reach beyond ticketed events.
Inside, the building pairs monumentality with motion. Glazed facades introduce daylight deep into the public halls, while sculptural volumes finished in deep red curve through the interior. These forms define circulation routes and shape the sequence of arrival, framing views between foyers, stairs, and auditoriums. The experience begins well before any performance, with the dynamic architecture setting the tempo.
the Shanghai Grand Opera House rises along the bank of the Huangpu River as construction nears completion
a translucent and white material palette
The program accommodates a wide spectrum of productions, from traditional opera and orchestral repertoire to contemporary and experimental work. Multiple auditoriums of varying scale allow the institution to address different audiences and formats, reinforcing its ambition as a cultural destination across genres.
Landscape design mirrors the building’s geometry. A radial layout radiates outward from the opera house, reinforcing visual continuity between structure and site. Planting and surface treatments align with broader ecological goals within the district, contributing to a low-carbon development strategy that supports Shanghai’s long-term urban ambitions.
a spiraling roofline sweeps around the site as a continuous public promenade above the waterfront
the helical stair connects plaza and skyline to guide visitors toward elevated river views
a radial landscape layout mirrors the building’s geometry and supports low carbon goals
deep, red sculptural volumes shape circulation routes through the interior
soaring glazed facades draw daylight deep into the public halls
multiple auditoriums accommodate opera, orchestral, and experimental performances
project info:
name: Shanghai Grand Opera Hall
architect: Snøhetta | @snohetta
location: Shanghai, China
collaborators: East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI), Theatre Projects, Nagata Acoustics, schlaich bergermann partner, Meiss Architecture & Engineering Office
area: 146,786 square meters
previous coverage: April 2019, November 2023, July 2025
photography: © Tian Fangfang, © Honne Dang
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