Operalia, The World Opera Competition 2026: Final Round

The final round of Operalia, the World Opera Competition, is once again on medici.tv in 2026! This prestigious international competition, founded in 1993 by Plácido Domingo, has helped launch a remarkable number of the most celebrated operatic careers of the last three decades — including those of Sonya Yoncheva, Joyce DiDonato, Ludovic Tézier, Rolando Villazón, Stéphane Degout, Pretty Yende, Nina Stemme, José Cura, Elsa Dreisig, John Osborn, Susanna Phillips, and many more. Meet the next generation of star vocalists at this unmissable event, an annual highlight of the opera calendar, streamed live from the Shangyin Opera House in Shanghai!

Operalia's mission statement is clear: to spotlight young talents and afford them the exposure and professional opportunities that will help them reach their full potential. "Talent alone is not enough," says Domingo; "it is also essential for young singers to come to the attention of those impresarios, managers, casting directors, conductors and stage directors who can further their professional careers. My purpose in Operalia is to help identify not only the best voices, but also to discover those singers whose personalities, characters and powers of interpretation show that they have the potential to become complete artists. Individuals such as these become tomorrow’s stars. This is why the jury is not exclusively made up of great singers but also includes general managers, stage directors and casting directors."