SF Opera, Musicians Reach Tentative Agreement, Ending Strike
The strike at San Francisco Opera, which resulted in five canceled performances and delayed the opening of the 2026–27 season, is set to come to an end.
The San Francisco Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera jointly announced Thursday evening that a tentative agreement on a four-year contract has been reached. Pending ratification of the contract, performances will resume at the opera house when Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra opens on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
“We cannot wait to return to the pit,” said Gabe Young, the orchestra’s associate principal oboist and chair of the musicians’ negotiating committee, in a statement.
“We are heartened to have reached a tentative deal that provides a fair contract and stability for the members of the orchestra,” Young said, adding that “we want to thank the public and Opera patrons for their patience and support through what has been a challenging process for our musicians.”
The San Francisco Opera Orchestra, represented by American Federation of Musicians Local 6, had been on strike since Sept. 12, when the season opener of Simon Boccanegra was canceled just a half hour before curtain. In the days since, a picket line and impromptu performances have taken place intermittently on the Opera House steps.
Musicians also performed casually in Golden Gate Park on Sunday, Sept. 13, while technicians dismantled the stage for Opera in the Park, which was also canceled. San Francisco Opera also previously postponed its annual gala, originally set for Sept. 12, to Nov. 12.
In a statement, SF Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said that “I am deeply grateful that we have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract—one that addresses important structural changes while providing a fair agreement for our musicians.”
Both Young and Shilvock thanked Mayor Daniel Lurie, who along with Matthew Goudeau, the city’s executive director of arts and culture, got involved in negotiations shortly after the strike began.
In his statement, Lurie acknowledged the rising cost of living as a working musician in San Francisco, and praised the return of opera patrons to small businesses in the neighborhood.
Lurie also summed up the relief felt among both parties: “Finally, we are getting those performances started again.”