For other venues, teams and events nearby, see the Dallas–Fort Worth guide.
The Dallas Arts District's horseshoe opera house
The Winspear Opera House, officially the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, is the opera and dance house of the AT&T Performing Arts Center at 2403 Flora Street in the Dallas Arts District. Its main room, the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall, seats about 2,200. It is home to The Dallas Opera and Texas Ballet Theater, and the AT&T Performing Arts Center also books touring Broadway shows, concerts, dance and lectures there. The best seats are the center of the Orchestra for closeness and the front center of the Mezzanine for the full stage picture; the side arms of the upper levels are the seats to approach with care.
The name honors Margot and Bill Winspear, whose 42-million-dollar gift helped fund the building. The house has not been renamed since it opened in October 2009, so "Winspear" on any ticket or map means the same hall. Searchers sometimes confuse it with the Winspear Centre in Edmonton, Canada, which is a separate concert hall.
Winspear seating levels, from Orchestra to Grand Tier
The level and zone names below come from The Dallas Opera's official seating map. The hall is a modern take on the traditional horseshoe, so every level above the floor curves around the room toward the stage. The Dallas Opera describes five seating levels spread over six floors:
- Orchestra (Level 1): the main floor, divided into Orchestra Left, Center and Right, with a raised Orchestra Terrace (Left, Center and Right) at the back and along the sides.
- Cree Box Circle (Level 2): a ring of boxes. The President's Boxes face the stage at center, the Founder's Boxes curve along the sides, and the Side Boxes sit closest to the stage.
- Mezzanine (Level 3): front and center rows, rear rows, and side sections.
- Dress Circle (Level 4): the same pattern one level higher.
- Grand Tier (Levels 5 and 6): the top of the house, served by two floors.
On the Mezzanine, Dress Circle and Grand Tier, The Dallas Opera labels the side sections that run along the arms of the horseshoe as restricted view.
Best seats at the Winspear and seats to avoid
Opera
- Best overall: Orchestra Center, middle rows. You are close enough to read faces and far enough back to take in the set and the orchestra's sound as a whole.
- Best raised view: the front and center of the Mezzanine. On The Dallas Opera's map this zone ranks ahead of the rear and side zones of the same level, and the height shows the full stage picture.
- Comfort and privacy: the President's Boxes at the center of the Cree Box Circle face the stage straight on. Side Boxes are closer but look at the stage at an angle.
- Value: front and center of the Dress Circle and Grand Tier. In a 2,200-seat horseshoe, the top level is far closer than the balcony of a large touring house.
Ballet and dance
Raised center seats in the Mezzanine and Dress Circle let you see floor patterns and formations that are flattened from the Orchestra. The Orchestra Terrace center is a good middle ground.
Broadway tours
Orchestra Center and the Mezzanine front center are the strongest seats for a musical. Orchestra Terrace Center, at the back of the main floor, is a sound choice when the center rows are gone.
Seats to avoid
- The side arms of the Mezzanine, Dress Circle and Grand Tier, which The Dallas Opera labels restricted view; part of the stage is cut off.
- The very front Orchestra rows, which The Dallas Opera places in a lower zone than the center; you look up at the stage over the orchestra pit.
- Extreme Orchestra sides (the Side and Side Terrace zones), which see the stage at an angle.
Capacity and how big the hall feels
The Margaret McDermott Performance Hall seats about 2,200, and Wikipedia lists a total capacity of 2,300. The building also holds the Nancy B. Hamon Education and Recital Hall, a separate room for up to 200.
For comparison, the Winspear is smaller than many touring Broadway houses, and its horseshoe stacks seats vertically rather than pushing them back. The hall has a fly tower, retractable screens and variable acoustics, so it can be tuned for unamplified opera or amplified musicals.
Parking, DART and getting to the Arts District
Lexus Red Parking is the garage directly beneath the Winspear, entered from the north end of Jack Evans Street. As of 2026, the AT&T Performing Arts Center lists self-parking at 22 dollars prepaid or 24 dollars at the gate, and valet at 32 dollars prepaid or 34 dollars at the gate; Lexus drivers get free self-parking. Prepaid parking closes two hours before curtain, gates open about two and a half hours before showtime, and spaces are limited, so the center recommends buying parking with your tickets. Check current rates before you go.
- Other garages: Lexus Silver, under Moody Performance Hall, serves the Wyly Theatre side of the campus, and One Arts Plaza has a paid garage a short walk away. Independent lots nearby add more than 3,000 spaces.
- DART rail: Texas Ballet Theater notes that the Pearl/Arts District station, served by the Red, Blue, Green and Orange lines, is less than half a mile away. Walk northwest on Pearl Street and turn right on Flora Street.
- Drop-off: on Flora Street in front of the building.
Entry, screening and house rules
As of 2026, the AT&T Performing Arts Center uses magnetometer screening for all ticketed events, and weapons are not allowed. Texas Ballet Theater's venue guide says the Winspear currently has no bag-size restriction; the center's clear-bag rule applies to outdoor Strauss Square shows, not the opera house. Policies can change by event, so check the AT&T Performing Arts Center FAQ before you go.
- Arrival: lobbies open 90 minutes before curtain, and the hall about 30 minutes before.
- Late seating: set by each production; latecomers may wait in the lobby or take temporary seats until intermission.
- Children: everyone needs a ticket, and children under 4 are not admitted unless the program is billed as family-friendly. Booster seats are available.
- Dress code: none; wear whatever suits the occasion.
- Food and drink: bars on several levels; whether drinks go into the hall depends on the show, and The Dallas Opera does not allow food or drink in the hall.
Foster + Partners and the 2009 opening
The Winspear was designed by Foster + Partners, with Norman Foster and Spencer de Grey leading the project, as part of the AT&T Performing Arts Center campus that opened during the week of October 12–18, 2009. The Dallas Opera's first production in the new house was Verdi's Otello on October 23, 2009.
The building wraps the hall in a 60-foot glass facade and shades it, and three acres of Sammons Park, under a slatted Sky Canopy. Inside, the Moody Foundation Chandelier, more than 300 LED rods, lowers over the audience and then retracts into the ceiling before the performance, to music commissioned from Philip Glass.
Frequently asked questions
How many seats are in the Winspear Opera House?
The main hall, the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall, seats about 2,200, with a total capacity of about 2,300.
What are the best seats at the Winspear Opera House?
The middle rows of Orchestra Center are the best overall. For a raised view, the front and center of the Mezzanine shows the full stage.
Which Winspear seats have a restricted view?
The Dallas Opera marks the side sections along the horseshoe on the Mezzanine, Dress Circle and Grand Tier as restricted view.
Where do I park for the Winspear Opera House?
Lexus Red Parking is directly beneath the building, entered from Jack Evans Street, and can be prepaid until two hours before curtain. One Arts Plaza and nearby lots are alternatives.
Is there a bag policy at the Winspear Opera House?
As of 2026, Texas Ballet Theater reports no bag-size restriction at the Winspear, but every guest goes through magnetometer screening. Check the current policy before you go.
Is there a dress code at the Winspear Opera House?
No. The AT&T Performing Arts Center welcomes any attire that suits the occasion.