Philanthropic engagement
By making a philanthropic gift to the Royal Ballet and Opera you will be providing vital support for our work, helping us to secure the future of ballet, opera, dance and music.
For People, Not Profit
Every year, thanks to the generosity of our incredible philanthropic community, the Royal Ballet and Opera presents over 400 performances each year captivating audiences from school to stage.
Your support helps bring ballet and opera to life, fuels imagination, nurtures talent and helps reach children, teachers, and communities through our transformative Learning and Participation programmes.
We continue to face real financial challenges: from the need to repay our COVID-19 Cultural Recovery Fund loan, to rising Employer National Insurance Contributions, and the urgent need to renew important parts of our Grade I listed building and stage. Our commitment to fostering creativity and delivering exceptional art remains unshaken. With innovation, resilience, vision, and the continued help from you, our supporters, we are determined to meet these challenges, emerge stronger and ensure our legacy of artistic brilliance endures.
We warmly invite you to be part of this journey. Through our philanthropic circles and syndicates, you can support the extraordinary artists of the Royal Ballet and Opera. You will be welcome to join a vibrant community of donors for exclusive special events, behind-the-scenes insights, and conversations that bring you closer to ballet and opera.
By supporting the Royal Opera House you will play a critical role in helping us to continue to bring incredible dance and music to the widest possible audience, inspiring imagination, igniting emotion, and making the extraordinary accessible.
Support a Circle
Aria Circle
Established in the 2024/25 Season, the Aria Circle is a philanthropic initiative that brings together a community of opera lovers to support and deepen their engagement with The Royal Opera.
Supporters of the Aria Circle will engage with a unique programme of involvement, including private rehearsal access, in conversation evenings with artists of The Royal Opera, and celebrations around performances.
In the 2026/27 Season, the Aria Circle’s generosity will be acknowledged towards The Royal Opera’s performances of Richard Jones’ revived production of Il trittico, conducted by Principal Guest Conductor Maestro Speranza Scappucci.
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For more information or to join the Aria Circle, please contact Benjamin Cunningham at benjamin.cunningham@roh.org.uk or call +44(0)20 7212 9467.
At Home Circle
The At Home Circle is a philanthropic initiative that brings together opera and ballet lovers to hear artists in conversation in the comfortable setting of private central London homes.
In four events across the Season, supporters will deepen their involvement with the Royal Ballet and Opera and expand their knowledge of our art forms by hearing from the artists and creatives whose work graces our stages.
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For more information please contact Callum Shaw at callum.shaw@roh.org.uk or call +44(0)20 7212 9398
Fonteyn Circle
Named after Prima Ballerina Assoluta, Margot Fonteyn, the Fonteyn Circle is a philanthropic initiative that brings together a community of ballet lovers who are at the heart of supporting The Royal Ballet.
Supporters will enjoy exclusive engagement that illuminates the extraordinary world of The Royal Ballet on stage and behind-the-scenes. This includes invitations to private stage rehearsals, intimate in conversation evenings, opportunities to meet and speak with members of the Company and celebrations around performances.
In the 2026/27 Season, the Fonteyn Circle’s generosity will be acknowledged towards The Royal Ballet’s performances of Visionaries: Robbins and MacMillan.
Those who wish to have a deepened engagement may wish to consider becoming Fonteyn Circle Principal Supporters, with part of their donation supporting Royal Ballet Healthcare. Each year we must invest over £1 million in Ballet Healthcare to support our world-class dancers. By ensuring continued investment we can provide new healthcare technology, advanced equipment, in-house expertise and the study and application of industry-defining research. Increased generosity helps fund this state-of-the-art facility which nurtures stronger, healthier and more resilient dancers
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For more information or to join the Fonteyn Circle, please contact Olivia Cheung at olivia.cheung@roh.org.uk or call +44(0)20 7212 9468.
Maestro Circle
The Maestro Circle is a philanthropic initiative that brings supporters closer to the work of the Music Director of The Royal Opera Jakub Hrůša and Principal Guest Conductor Speranza Scappucci.
Those who are part of the Circle have the unique opportunity to step closer to the art form they love through a programme of privileged access touching on the rich and varied spectrum of work produced by the Company. This includes invitations to private stage rehearsals, intimate in conversation evenings, opportunities to meet and speak with artists and celebrations around performances.
In the 2026/27 Season, the Maestro Circle’s generosity will be acknowledged towards The Royal Opera’s performance of The Rite of Spring and Duke Bluebeard’s Castle, conducted by Maestro Jakub Hrůša.
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For more information or to join the Maestro's Circle, please contact Benjamin Cunningham at benjamin.cunningham@roh.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7212 9467.
Wagner Circle
The Wagner Circle is a philanthropic initiative that brings together those with a passion for the works of Richard Wagner. With exclusive insights into The Royal Opera’s work, involvement in the Circle serves to deepen knowledge and enjoyment of one of the most significant figures in opera, through a series of special events.
Supporters will be offered a unique programme of involvement, including access to private working rehearsals, conversations with artists and experts, and an evening around a performance of Parsifal.
In the 2026/27 Season, the Wagner Circle’s generosity will be acknowledged towards The Royal Opera’s performances of Evgeny Titov’s new production of Parsifal, conducted by Maestro Jakub Hrůša.
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For more information or to join the Wagner Circle, please contact David Bean at david.bean@roh.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7212 9175.
Young Philanthropists
Join the Young Philanthropists
Founded in the 2017/18 Season, the Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) Young Philanthropists is a philanthropic initiative that brings together a community of young opera and ballet lovers who share a passion for our art forms, while fostering the next generation of philanthropists.
Curated for individuals up to 40 years old, supporters will enjoy a series of special events designed to enhance their understanding of these art forms, bringing them closer to the artistic companies and creativity taking place at the Royal Opera House. These include private stage rehearsals, conversations with artists and experts, and invitations to supporters’ evenings around performances.
In the 2026/27 Season, the RBO Young Philanthropists’ generosity will be acknowledged towards The Royal Opera’s performances of Associate Director of The Royal Opera Netia Jones’ new production of Così fan tutte, conducted by Maestro Thomas Hengelbrock.
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For more information or to join the Young Philanthropists, please contact Olivia Cheung at olivia.cheung@roh.org.uk or call +44(0)20 7212 9468.
Support a Production
Supporting a production is an incredible opportunity to get closer to favourite ballets and operas, whilst helping us to continue presenting world-class heritage and contemporary works. Through philanthropic giving, production supporters can enjoy seeing the lifecycle of a production, from the initial conception through to curtain down. Involvement includes invitations to a specially curated series of events, as well as bespoke opportunities to meet with artists and members of the creative teams and visit our technical departments.
Donors can also support a specific role in an opera or ballet. Role supporters enjoy a tailored programme of involvement around their chosen role, including invitations to watch studio and stage rehearsals as artists prepare for performances.
Production Syndicates
Our Production Syndicates offer groups of like-minded supporters the opportunity to come together and be a part of their favourite production.
Syndicate supporters are invited to attend events such as design and music insights, conversations with artists and post-performance celebrations with members of the cast, creative and technical teams, all of whom offer a real insight into how the elements of a production come together.
In the 2026/27 Season we will be running Syndicates for the productions listed below:
La Gioconda Production Syndicate
David Bean - david.bean@roh.org.uk | +44 (0)20 72129175
Parsifal Production Syndicate
Benjamin Cunningham - benjamin.cunningham@roh.org.uk | +44 (0)20 7212 9467
The Ring Cycle - Götterdämmerung
David Bean - david.bean@roh.org.uk | +44 (0)20 72129175
Wayne McGregor Production Syndicate
Michael Adamson - michael.adamson@roh.org.uk | +44(0)20 7212 9648
Support a Project
Learning and Participation
Engaging in the arts teaches us to communicate, empathise, and think critically, thereby enriching all facets of education. However, many young people in UK schools are deprived of an artistic education. We aspire for every child to reach their full potential through the transformative power of the arts, which is why we have introduced our pioneering programme, RBO Schools.
As a supporter of the Learning and Participation Syndicate, you can make a real and sustained difference to diverse communities across the country. We look forward to bringing you closer to our Learning and Participation projects, to showcase the impact that your gift will make in the lives of these young people.
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For more information please contact Callum Shaw at callum.shaw@roh.org.uk or call +44
(0)20 7212 9398.
Royal Ballet and Opera International Council
Join the International Council
The International Council is a circle of passionate Royal Ballet and Opera (RBO) supporters from around the world, who share a deep connection with our artistic companies and the works we perform at the Royal Opera House and on international stages. The support of members of the International Council ensures that our performances continue to inspire new generations and reach across borders. Philanthropists from around and beyond the UK are invited to become part of this global family and help sustain the future growth and success of the Royal Ballet and Opera.
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For more information please contact Benjamin Cunningham at benjamin.cunningham@roh.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7212 9467.
American Friends of Covent Garden
Join the American Friends of Covent Garden
If you are based in the USA, or are a taxpayer in the USA, you can join the American Friends of Covent Garden (AFoCG). A not-for-profit organisation that raises visibility and provides support for the Royal Ballet and Opera, the AFoCG brings together lovers of ballet and opera – individuals, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, foundations and corporations from across America and around the globe – to enjoy and support the arts, cultural, educational and Learning and Participation programmes of the Royal Ballet and Opera.
American Friends, Patrons and philanthropists receive a variety of benefits in acknowledgment of their support and our philanthropic initiatives, above, are also available to those supporting the AFoCG. Through grants awarded to the Royal Opera House three times a year, the AFoCG supports productions, often co-productions with opera houses or ballet companies around the world. The AFoCG also help to enable our educational, outreach and talent development programmes.
The AFoCG is a 501(c)(3) organisation, so all donations made by US taxpayers are tax-deductible to the full extent provided by the IRS.
Environment and Sustainability
It is the ambition of the Royal Ballet and Opera to be a leader in environmental sustainability and to act as a catalyst for positive change in this field. Recognising our global reach and leadership role within the UK arts sector, we embrace our responsibility and obligation to reduce our impact on the environment, and we aim to engage with our audiences, staff, suppliers and partners to raise awareness about sustainability issues. The Royal Ballet and Opera is committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2035. You can find out more about the sustainable practices we have in place to make our building, operations, productions and staffing more sustainable in our Environmental Policy.
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We welcome philanthropic support for this area of our work. For more information please contact Jessica Rigby at jessica.rigby@roh.org.uk or call +44 (0)20 7212 9587.
Payments to Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775). VAT Registration No. 769 377565.