Paul Smith x The Royal Opera House at Christmas
Every winter, London reveals a series of festive installations that blend tradition with contemporary creativity, but this year, one stands out for its artistry, colour, and cultural symbolism. The Royal Opera House has unveiled its 2025 Christmas Tree, an extraordinary design collaboration with the iconic British designer Paul Smith. Set within Covent Garden’s historic Paul Hamlyn Hall, the installation offers a joyful fusion of fashion, performance, craftsmanship, and heritage, positioning itself as one of London’s must-see festive design moments.
A Collaboration Rooted in British Design Heritage
The partnership between Paul Smith and the Royal Opera House is more than a seasonal commission; it represents two pillars of British creativity coming together to celebrate their shared history. Smith’s long-standing connection to Covent Garden is woven into the narrative of this collaboration; it was here, in 1979, on Floral Street, that he opened his very first London shop. Just steps away from the Royal Opera House, that original storefront helped cement Covent Garden as a hub of design, individuality, and British craftsmanship.
This new collaboration pays homage to that legacy, bringing Paul Smith’s unmistakable design language, characterised by bold colour, playful detail, and refined simplicity, into one of the capital’s most treasured cultural institutions. It also aligns seamlessly with the Royal Opera House’s ongoing mission to connect wider audiences with the magic of performance.
The Christmas Tree: A Stage of Its Own
At the centre of the collaboration stands the Paul Smith-designed Christmas Tree, a spectacular installation that transforms the Paul Hamlyn Hall into a festive theatre of light and imagination. Rather than approaching the tree as a traditional decorative object, Smith has treated it as a storytelling device, one that draws directly from the artistry, craft, and emotion that bring opera and ballet productions to life.
The tree’s design is inspired by the hidden world behind the curtain: the costume ateliers, backstage workshops, lighting rigs, props, and scenic details that collectively create the immersive worlds seen on stage. It features a palette infused with Paul Smith’s signature stripes and unexpected bursts of colour, echoing both his fashion heritage and the dynamic energy of performance. Decorative elements reference stage lighting, costume embellishment, and the playful ephemera of theatre, creating a sense of discovery for visitors as they explore its details.
The result is a festive centrepiece that feels simultaneously classic and modern; a creative work that respects the traditions of the Royal Opera House while injecting Paul Smith’s unmistakable vibrancy.
Immersive Festivities Inside Paul Hamlyn Hall
The setting of the installation is integral to its impact. Paul Hamlyn Hall, with its sweeping glass arches and Victorian ironwork, provides a dramatic architectural backdrop that elevates the tree into a full-scale sculptural experience. As daylight dances across the iron and glass before giving way to the warm glow of evening performances, the tree becomes a shifting spectacle; a reminder of how design interacts with its surroundings.
Visitors are invited to experience this festive transformation through the Paul Smith takeover at the Royal Opera House. Throughout the season, the venue will host a programme of Christmas activities running daily from noon, offering families, design enthusiasts, and culture lovers the chance to explore the installation up close. The takeover reinforces the Opera House’s role not just as a stage for world-class productions but as a vibrant cultural space open to all.
A Convergence of Culture, Craft, and Creativity
The Paul Smith x Royal Opera House Christmas Tree reflects a deeper conversation within the design world: the role of cross-disciplinary collaboration in shaping modern cultural experiences. By inviting a fashion designer to reinterpret one of their most recognisable festive traditions, the Royal Opera House highlights the porous boundaries between design disciplines, from architecture and fashion to scenography and performance.
Smith’s design celebrates the theatre’s unseen contributors: the makers, artisans, and creatives who work backstage to construct the visual language of opera and ballet. This focus resonates with broader themes within the design industry, emphasising craftsmanship, storytelling, and the beauty found in often overlooked details.
Why This Installation Matters
For London’s design community, the installation signifies more than a festive attraction. It demonstrates how cultural institutions can collaborate meaningfully with contemporary designers to create experiences that feel inclusive, imaginative, and rooted in heritage. It also showcases the power of design to evoke emotion, whether through colour, form, narrative, or spatial experience.
Moreover, the project reinforces Covent Garden’s position as a district shaped by creativity. From Paul Smith’s early shopfront to the iconic architecture of the Royal Opera House, the neighbourhood represents decades of artistic growth, reinvention, and cultural dialogue. This year’s Christmas installation honours that spirit while inviting visitors to rediscover the area through a new lens.
A Festive Highlight for London’s Design Calendar
As London’s cultural season unfolds, the Paul Smith x Royal Opera House collaboration stands out as a must-visit landmark for design lovers. Whether you’re drawn to its bold artistic details, its connection to British design history, or the immersive atmosphere it creates within Paul Hamlyn Hall, the Christmas Tree offers a moment of joy, creativity, and wonder, perfectly capturing the spirit of the season.
For those exploring London’s festive design highlights, this installation is not merely decoration; it is a celebration of colour, imagination, and the unending dialogue between fashion, performance, and architectural space.
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