Per Boye Hansen first worked as a journalist in Oslo. He then studied theatre at the University of Oslo and took a diploma at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Ruhr in musical theatre direction.
From 1984 to 1989 he was an assistant director at the opera in Cologne and at the Salzburg Festival. In 1983, he founded Oslo Sommeropera, of which he was the artistic director until 1992. During this period, he staged a number of opera productions.
In 1990, he founded Oslo Arts Management AS, which he owned and managed until 2000, when he joined Andreas Homoki as "Operndirektor" at the Komische Oper Berlin.
In 2005, he became director of the Bergen International Festival. He was attached to the Komische Oper as artistic advisor and was advisor for long-term artistic planning at the opera in Zürich.
Per Boye Hansen is chairman of the Ibsen International Award.
From 1 August 2012 he is appointed director of the Norwegian National Opera.