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Auditions View all
Cascais Opera - International Vocal Competition 2026 (posted Tue 25 Nov 2025)
Opera – Audition – solo
Deadline:
Thu 15 Jan 2026 (in 40 days)
EAA
Portugal
Country
Portugal
Company
CIVOC cascaisopera.com
Applications from
Soprano; Mezzo-Soprano; Contralto; Countertenor; Tenor; Baritone; Bass-Baritone; Bass
Payment
Financial award
Downloads
Audition information
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Apply now for the Cascais Opera – International Vocal Competition 2026.
Building on remarkable growth over the past editions—with more than 500 applicants, over €80,000 awarded in prizes, and numerous prestigious performance opportunities awarded across the first two editions—we warmly invite singers from around the world to apply for the third edition. Cascais Opera has recently joined the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC) and Opera Latinoamerica (OLA), further expanding its international reach and creating new opportunities for all contestants.
The competition will be held from 29th May to 7th June 2026 in Cascais, Portugal, culminating in the grand Final at the esteemed Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon.
Applications are open to singers of all nationalities and voice types, aged between 18 and 32 at the time of the competition (please refer to the official regulations for further details).
Apply on Muvac: www.muvac.com/en/competition/civoc-concurso-internacional-opera-cascais-x1kv29py
Applications for the 3rd edition close on the 15th January 2026 at 23:59 Portuguese time.
Jury for the 3rd edition
- Sergei Leiferkus - President of the Jury
- Antonio Pirolli - Principal Conductor of Orquestra Sinfónica Portuguesa
- Catarina Sereno - Mezzosoprano
- Christina Scheppelmann - General & Artistic Director of La Monnaie, Belgium
- Eline de Kat - Artistic Coordinator at Opera de Monte Carlo
- Erik Malmquist - Head of Casting in Bayerische Staatsoper, Germany
- Ferruccio Furlanetto - Bass
- Fredrik Andersson - Artistic Director Music Department of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal
- Ivan van Kalmthout - Senior Opera Executive
- Juliane Banse - Soprano and Artistic Director at Festival Internacional de Música de Marvão, Portugal
- Karen Stone - Executive Director of Opera Europa
Prizes, Awards and Performance Contracts
The Competition will grant the following prizes, awards and Performance contracts:
- Grand-Prix Égide - €12,000
- First Prize ‘Tereza Berganza’ for female voice - €8,500
- First Prize ‘Maurício Bensaude’ for male voice - €8,500
- Second Prize - €5,000
- Third Prize - €3,500
- ‘Best Singer under 25’ Award – €2,500*
- RTP Audience Prize - €1,500
- Finalist Award - €1,500. This prize will be awarded to each finalist who has not been awarded any monetary prizes.
Performance contracts* with:
- Festival Amazonas de Opera, ‘Carlos Gomes’ Prize - up to €3,000 in travel support
- Mafra Music Festival "Filipe de Sousa” in 2027 for two singers, in addition to €1,000 per singer.
- Marvão International Music Festival (FIMM) in 2027, in addition to €1,000.
- Algarve International Piano Festival (FIPA) in 2027, in addition to €1,000.
- Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, in addition to €1,000.
- Opera in the Academy and the City (OAC), in addition to €1,000.
- Orchestra Alma Mater, in addition to €1,000.
- Chamber Orchestra of Cascais and Oeiras (OCCO), in addition to €1,000.
*Note: All Performance contracts, as well as the ‘Best Singer under 25’ Award and the ‘Carlos Gomes’ Prize may be awarded to Semifinalists that were not selected for the Final.
In addition to the prizes, contestants have access to free of charge Masterclasses, Feedback from the Jury members, and concert opportunities such as the Semifinalist's Concert.
The Competition will also supply: Flights and accommodation for Finalists, Semifinalists' Concert Bursary, Collaborative Pianists, Rehearsal and Warm-up rooms, Tickets for the Final.
We look forward to your application!
Apply on Muvac: www.muvac.com/en/competition/civoc-concurso-internacional-opera-cascais-x1kv29py
Participation in the competition is subject to the terms and conditions outlined in the official competition regulations (found in cascaisopera.com and on Muvac). If any discrepancies or doubts arise, please consult the official competition regulations, which take precedence and are considered final.
Applications
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