San Francisco Opera Is Cleaning Out the Costume Closet: The Sale Returns Just in Time for Halloween

If you still have no idea what to wear for Halloween this year — and you are not especially excited about buying another mass-produced costume you will probably wear once — there is a much more interesting option coming up in October.

On October 17 and 18, 2026, the San Francisco Opera is bringing back its in-person Costume Sale for the first time in more than a decade. The event will take place not at the War Memorial Opera House, but at the San Francisco Opera Scene Shop in Burlingame, where shoppers will be able to browse real costumes, accessories, props, and opera merchandise from past productions.

For vintage lovers, theater people, costume collectors, Halloween enthusiasts, or anyone who simply enjoys a good treasure hunt, the appeal is obvious: these are not costumes made to look theatrical. They were actually made for the stage.

San Francisco Opera | These Are Real Opera Costumes, Not Reproductions

When you sit inside the War Memorial Opera House, it is easy to focus on the singing, sets, and lighting. But the costumes are a major part of how a character comes to life onstage, and many of those pieces are far more elaborate up close than they appear from the audience.

The sale will include items from past San Francisco Opera productions, with styles ranging from Victorian dresses and Edwardian ensembles to Renaissance-inspired pieces, military uniforms, cloaks, 1920s looks, Egyptian-style costumes, and Western wear.

That means you do not need to be an opera expert to enjoy browsing.

Even if you have never seen the productions these pieces came from, anyone interested in vintage clothing, theatrical design, film styling, historical fashion, or dramatic accessories can easily find something interesting to look at.

Stage costumes are also designed differently from everyday clothing. Colors are often stronger, silhouettes more exaggerated, and details more theatrical because the pieces need to read from far away under stage lighting. Seeing them up close is part of the fun.

Prices Start at $5, but There May Be Serious Collector Pieces Too

An opera costume sale may sound expensive, but not everything is priced like a museum collectible.

According to San Francisco Opera, prices start at $5, with some higher-end pieces costing hundreds of dollars or more. That means you can go with a casual treasure-hunting mindset without needing a huge budget.

Someone shopping for Halloween might find a cape, hat, accessory, or unusual garment for a relatively modest price. More serious collectors may be looking for pieces with notable design histories, production connections, or exceptional craftsmanship.

The sale may also include props, accessories, and opera-related merchandise, which makes it easier to participate even if you are not looking for a full costume.

And because this is not a standard retail store, no two racks are likely to feel the same. Half the fun is not knowing what you will find.

The Timing Is Perfect for Halloween

The public sale takes place less than two weeks before Halloween, which makes the timing especially good for anyone who wants a costume that does not look like it came straight from a seasonal chain store.

San Francisco Opera has noted that many of the pieces could work well for Halloween, Renaissance fairs, theater productions, masquerades, photography, and other creative uses.

That gives these costumes a second life beyond the stage.

A formal gown, military jacket, dramatic cloak, or vintage ensemble that once belonged to an opera production can easily become the centerpiece of a Halloween look. And even if your friends have no idea which opera it came from, saying “this was actually used by San Francisco Opera” already makes the story more interesting.

You also do not have to treat the pieces as costumes. Some may work for photography, short films, themed events, fashion styling, or simply as collectible objects.

You Might Even Find Pieces Connected to Famous Designers and Opera Stars

One of the most exciting parts of a sale like this is the possibility of finding something with a notable history.

Over the years, San Francisco Opera has worked with major designers and visual artists including Thierry Bosquet, Bob Mackie, and David Hockney. Some costumes from past productions have also been worn by internationally known singers such as Renée Fleming and Joan Sutherland.

That does not mean every piece at the sale will have a famous name attached to it, but it adds to the treasure-hunt feeling.

For people who are interested in costume construction, the inside of a garment can be just as interesting as the outside. Opera costumes are built to survive rehearsals, repeat performances, quick changes, and stage movement, so the structure, closures, reinforcements, and alterations can be very different from ordinary clothing.

Even if you leave empty-handed, getting a close look at real stage costumes is something most people rarely get to do.

Important: The Sale Is Not at the Opera House

This is the detail to remember before heading out.

The Costume Sale will not take place at the War Memorial Opera House on Van Ness Avenue. It will be held at the San Francisco Opera Scene Shop in Burlingame.

October 16 is a preview day by invitation, while the public sale takes place on October 17 and 18 from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM, with final entry at 4:30 PM.

Admission is timed, and every visitor needs a ticket. Each ticket includes approximately two hours of shopping time, which helps keep the space from becoming too crowded and gives shoppers a reasonable amount of time to browse.

If you already know what you are looking for — a cape, a vintage dress, military styling, or something for Halloween — it may be smart to scan the space once before slowing down to shop.

Tickets Go on Sale October 1

Timed-entry tickets go on sale October 1 at 11:00 AM, with prices ranging from approximately $5 to $25 depending on the day and time slot.

The entry price is relatively low, but because this is the first major in-person costume sale in more than a decade — and because it lands right before Halloween — popular time slots may fill quickly.

If you already know you want to go, booking ahead is probably the safest move.

Event: San Francisco Opera Costume Sale 2026

Public Sale Dates: October 17–18, 2026

Hours: 9:30 AM–6:30 PM

Final Entry: 4:30 PM

Location: San Francisco Opera Scene Shop, Burlingame

Tickets: $5–$25, timed entry

Ticket Sales Begin: October 1 at 11:00 AM

What You Take Home May Be More Than a Costume

These garments were made for a very specific purpose: to become part of a character once the stage lights came up.

They passed through the hands of designers, cutters, stitchers, wardrobe teams, and performers. Some may have been worn through weeks of rehearsals and multiple performances before eventually being packed away in storage.

Now, some of them are getting another chapter.

That is what makes this sale more interesting than a typical Halloween shopping trip. You may leave with a dramatic coat, a vintage accessory, a piece of costume history, or simply a better appreciation for how much work goes into the visual world of opera.

So if you are looking for one of San Francisco’s more unusual fall events, a trip to the Burlingame Scene Shop is worth considering.

Even if you do not leave with a full costume, you are almost guaranteed to see a few things that normally only exist under stage lights.