Competitions › Operalia, The World Opera Competition
Operalia, The World Opera Competition
Next edition
No future edition is announced on the official pages we could check.
Overview
Operalia is a major international opera competition for young singers founded by Plácido Domingo. Rounds run from a jury pre-selection of recordings through quarterfinal and semifinal auditions with piano to a final gala with full orchestra. Application requires recordings submitted through the Embark portal.
- Organiser
- Operalia (founded 1993 by Plácido Domingo)
- Instruments
- Voice, Opera, Zarzuela
- Category
- Opera & general voice
- Age limits
- 20 to 32 years old, all voice types, open worldwide
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
deadline: May 12, 2026 (for the 2026 edition; now closed)
fee: No application fee from Operalia; applicants pay a small fee to Embark for portal use
how: Online application via the official Embark portal, linked from operaliacompetition.org
Rounds & time limits
- Pre-selection: jury reviews recordings and picks 30-40 candidates
- Quarterfinals: two days of auditions before the international jury, 20 advance
- Semifinals: auditions, 10 advance
- Finals: gala concert with full orchestra
Repertoire
Application: two opera arias from two different operas, in original language, with live piano or orchestra (no pre-recorded orchestra tracks), recorded within the last year. Competition: four opera arias; zarzuela category may add two zarzuela arias; applicants may reuse application arias.
Jury & prizes
Jury
- Presided over by Plácido Domingo; other jury members not named on the official page (described as international opera managers and casting directors).
Prizes
Not published on the official pages we could check.Past editions
- 2026 — Shanghai, China (Shanghai Conservatory of Music / Shangyin Opera House); dates not stated on the official page source
- 2025 — Sofia, Bulgaria source
1st prize (press report): Ekaterine Buachidze (mezzo-soprano, Georgia) and Mihai Damian (baritone, Romania) - 2024 — Mumbai, India (National Centre for the Performing Arts), 15-21 Sept 2024 source
1st prizes (press report): Kathleen O'Mara (soprano, USA) and Le Bu (bass-baritone, China)
Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source