The OBOS Christmas Gala is a unique, self-financed partnership between OBOS and The Norwegian Opera & Ballet — one that has turned a simple idea into a cherished annual tradition and a powerful expression of community.
As a member-owned cooperative with more than 615,000 members, OBOS is not just the largest housing developer in the Nordics — it is a socially responsible organisation that reinvests its profits to benefit its members and society at large. Its mission is to create good cities to live in, where culture plays a vital role. Thriving cities are built not only on bricks and mortar, but on shared experiences, creativity, and belonging.
Co-created with the Opera, the OBOS Christmas Gala is not a traditional sponsorship activation but a genuine artistic collaboration — the Opera’s only Christmas concert, offered exclusively to OBOS members. All costs are covered by ticket revenue, making it entirely self-financed, while delivering exceptional cultural, emotional, and brand value.
Since its launch in 2019, the Gala has sold out every year, with 33,600 tickets sold and record-breaking demand in 2025, when all 5,600 tickets sold out in 24 hours. 92% of attendees are satisfied with the concert, and 14% visited the Opera for the first time — proof of its accessibility impact.
The OBOS Christmas Gala demonstrates how business and the arts can thrive together — creating loyalty, community, and pride at zero cost.
And as we like to say at OBOS: a city rich in culture is a better place to live for everyone.
