The Odesa National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre is Ukraine's oldest theatre and a prominent landmark in Odesa, boasting a rich and dramatic history. Its current magnificent Neo-Baroque building, designed by Viennese architects Fellner & Helmer, officially opened in 1887 after the original 1810 structure was tragically destroyed by fire in 1873.

The theatre is celebrated for its luxurious late French Rococo interior and a unique horseshoe-shaped hall where exceptional acoustics allow even a whisper from the stage to be heard throughout. Despite facing challenges like another destructive fire in 1925 and sitting on shifting ground, the theatre was famously protected by anti-aircraft units during the World War II bombings in 1941. After multiple remodels, with the most recent major renovation completed in 2007, it continues to captivate audiences as a vital cultural institution.