Theatrical performances in Kazan began in 1791. Initially, they took place in a gymnasium theater that accommodated 400 spectators. In 1803, the first separate wooden theater building was constructed on a stone foundation at the site of the modern theater.

A fire in 1842 destroyed much of the city, and information about the theatrical buildings of that time has almost not survived. Performances began to be held in private homes. In 1845, the construction of the first stone theater started, located where the current square on Freedom Square is, then known as Theater Square. The first performances in the new building took place in 1851. In Kazan, opera always developed alongside drama and operetta, with Italian opera troupes often performing.

Regular opera seasons began in 1874 under the leadership of P. M. Medvedev. On August 26, 1874, the Kazan opera troupe performed M. I. Glinka's opera "Life for the Tsar" for the first time, marking the beginning of regular opera seasons in Kazan. However, on the night of December 4, 1874, the theater burned down. The new building, constructed in 1875, stood until the fire of 1919 and was never restored.

In 1934, a decision was made to create the Tatar State Opera Theater. The theater opened on June 17, 1939, with the opera "Kachkyn" by Nazib Zhiganov, but it did not have its own building. The construction of a new building began in 1936, but due to the war, it was delayed until the mid-1950s. On September 28, 1956, the new theater building opened with N. Zhiganov's opera "Altynchech," and it was named after Musa Jalil.

On February 10, 1941, the theater was named the Tatar State Theater of Opera and Ballet. In 1957, the theater participated in the Decade of Tatar Art in Moscow, and in 1986, it toured the capital again, receiving excellent reviews. In 1988, the theater was awarded the title of "Academic."

On both sides of the theater building, monuments to Pushkin and Tukay are installed. The theater's facade faces Freedom Square, while on the opposite side, there is a park with a fountain and flowerbeds.

The theater's repertoire is formed as an anthology, including world masterpieces, Russian classics, and works by Tatarstan composers. Since 2001, the theater has actively sought new creative directions, participating in international projects. Since 1994, the theater has conducted annual tours across Europe, showcasing more than 100 performances a year.

The theater has abandoned the institute of "chiefs," which allows it to avoid conflicts and monopolies. Positions of artistic directors for opera and ballet have been introduced, who manage the artistic and administrative policies. Thanks to this, the theater expands its boundaries, offering audiences the best opera and ballet masterpieces.

In 1990, a contract system was introduced, allowing the theater to avoid mediocrity and empty halls. Each performance involves guest artists, and the cast is constantly changing, maintaining a high level of productions. According to the October 2009 issue of "FORBES," the theater ranks second in Russia for hall occupancy, second only to the Mariinsky Theater.