Despite a global decline in audiences for traditional performances, cities around the world are investing heavily in new opera houses and cultural centers. This trend is visible in places like Shanghai, where a striking new opera house highlights the city's cultural ambitions, and in Taiwan, which recently opened a large performance complex with multiple auditoriums. Kuwait has also built a major cultural center, featuring an opera house, museums, and theaters, as part of its efforts to enhance its national image. These projects reflect a broader movement to use cultural infrastructure to shape urban identity and promote cities on the world stage.