Cascais Opera – International Vocal Competition closed its application period with 499 candidates, a significant increase compared to the 2025 edition, which received 340 applications.
The 2026 edition confirms the competition’s growing international profile, with applications from 59 countries, reflecting a broad global participation. Of particular note is the strong presence of candidates from almost every country in the Americas, a growth that the organization attributes to the integration of Cascais Opera into the OLA – Ópera Latinoamérica network, which has been strengthening the competition’s ties to Latin America and the Caribbean.
South Korea is the country with the highest number of applications (97), followed by China (75). In Europe, countries such as Germany (35), Spain (27), Italy (20), and France (13) stand out.
Portuguese participation has also increased significantly, from 6 candidates in 2025 to 25 in this edition, placing Portugal among the five most represented countries in the competition.
The artistic evaluation phase will now follow. All applications will be reviewed by the selection jury, chaired by bass-baritone Sergei Leiferkus and composed of Catarina Sereno, Ivan van Kalmthout, Jennifer Larmore, and Liliana Bizineche. The candidates selected to participate in person in Cascais will be announced on April 15.
At stake are €57,000 in prizes and 12 professional contracts, including opportunities with institutions and festivals such as the Amazonas Opera Festival, the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, the Marvão International Music Festival, the Mafra Music Festival, and the Óbidos Opera Festival.
The competition will take place between May 29 and June 7, with auditions, masterclasses, concerts, and networking opportunities in various venues in the town of Cascais. The competition will end with the Final Concert on June 7 at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon. Tickets are now available on Ticketline, with prices ranging from €15 to €30.
