Today, English National Opera (ENO) announces its 2026/27 Season across London and Greater Manchester, featuring nine operas, with six new productions, four operas by contemporary female composers and exciting opportunities for the next generation of opera makers.
With a dynamic mix of traditional and contemporary repertoire – from Tosca and Adriana Mater to Breaking the Waves and Einstein on the Beach – the season asserts the power of art to speak truth, with voices that refuse to be silenced and artists who dare to imagine differently.
Jenny Mollica, Chief Executive, English National Opera, said: “Our 2026/27 Season sees ENO further embrace its role as a national opera company, with two centres. Through pioneering creative partnerships and collaborations across London, Greater Manchester and nationally, we continue to enable more opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the power of opera. Whether through our accessible ticket schemes, our award-winning national learning and healthcare programmes or through our skills and artists development opportunities – now, more than ever, ENO’s social and artistic impact can be felt at both a local and national level. This is a season that speaks profoundly to the essential and the extraordinary, opening up new and vital possibilities for opera in people’s lives right across the UK.”
Annilese Miskimmon, Artistic Director, English National Opera, comments on today’s announcement: “At a time of global uncertainty, this season celebrates the power of art and artists, with a programme that explores resistance, resilience and what it means to be free. It also shines a light on contemporary voices in opera, with four works by female composers.
“As we approach 100 years in London and expand our presence in Greater Manchester and nationally, we invite everyone, whether they are new to opera or lifelong fans, to join us for a daring and provocative operatic season that celebrates our shared humanity and reminds us of why art is vital.”
André de Ridder, Music Director Designate, English National Opera, said: “This season celebrates once again the emotional depth and richness of the extraordinary operatic artform, across nine productions, including groundbreaking contemporary works and timeless classics seen and heard in a new light. I am delighted to work with ENO’s wonderful Chorus and Orchestra again – this time for a new production of Kaija Saariaho’s Adriana Mater – the composer’s second opera whose relevance and power will feel more urgent than ever right now.
“I’m also pleased to announce our new Mackerras Fellow, Néstor Bayona, my first appointment after an extensive international search and final auditions with the Orchestra of ENO.”
As a dual-centre opera company, ENO presents work in both London and Greater Manchester as part of its pioneering partnership with the city-region. Across the country, ENO runs a wide-ranging programme of learning, participation, creative health and community engagement that supports emerging artists and opens opera up to people of all ages and backgrounds.
ENO continues its commitment to making opera accessible to all. Free tickets for Under 21s will be available in Greater Manchester through partner venues, and at the London Coliseum for every performance and at every level of the theatre. Substantial discounts are available for Under 35s, with ticket prices for everyone starting from £25 (including fees).
Multi-award-winning author (The List; Slay in Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible), journalist, and long-time ENO advocate, Yomi Adegoke, stars in ENO’s season trailer, accompanied by the Orchestra of ENO performing an aria from Tosca, available to watch here
NEW PRODUCTIONS
Einstein on the Beach is a new experiential production of Philip Glass and Robert Wilson’s iconic 1976 opera, created by English National Opera, Factory International, Park Avenue Armory, and Improbable. It will premiere in June 2027 at Aviva Studios, Manchester, home of Factory International, in partnership with BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Following the sell-out success of Satyagraha and Akhnaten, director Phelim McDermott returns to complete the Glass Portrait Trilogy. Continuing their creative partnership, he will be joined by designer Tom Pye. They have collaborated on the Grammy and Olivier Award-winning production of Akhnaten for ENO, and the West End hit My Neighbour Totoro. Tickets go on sale in Autumn 2026.
At the London Coliseum, following her Olivier Award-winning Dead Man Walking (2025), ENO’s Artistic Director, Annilese Miskimmon, directs two thematically and theatrically connected new productions, Tosca and Adriana Mater, which together form a prequel and sequel in a bold narrative arc exploring art, war and resilience.
Puccini’s Tosca (30 October – 11 December 2026) is a timeless story of love, power and sacrifice, reimagined here in a concert hall of an unidentified European state overtaken by civil conflict amid foreign aggression at the border, drawing striking parallels between art, conflict and political oppression. Conducted by Ben Glassberg, the production stars Grammy Award-winning Axelle Fanyo in the title role, alongside Chaz’men Williams-Ali as Cavaradossi. The role of Scarpia is shared by Christopher Purves and Craig Colclough, with the Children’s Chorus cast from Marlborough Primary School, through an ENO Engage partnership with the Tri-borough Music Hub and London West Music Hub.
For Adriana Mater (28 November – 12 December 2026), Miskimmon is joined by ENO’s Music Director Designate, André de Ridder, who creates a shimmering, immersive soundscape with Kaija Saariaho’s score, blending traditional orchestration with electronics. With a libretto by journalist and war correspondent, Amin Maalouf, and a newly commissioned English translation by the composer’s son, writer-director Aleksi Barrière, this production is set in an unidentified European state during and post-civil war. In the opera, Adriana’s son Yonas grapples with the legacy of violence in his bloodline, forcing him to confront the dark origins of his family. Making her ENO debut in the title role is Kristina Stanek, and returning to ENO following his stand-out performance in last season’s Albert Herring is Caspar Singh as Yonas. They will be joined by former Harewood Artist Leigh Melrose as Tsargo, and Lauren Fagan making her company debut as Refka.
For one day only, on Saturday 5 December 2026, audiences can embark on a unique operatic journey: a matinee performance of Tosca followed by an evening performance of Adriana Mater. This rare pairing offers the chance to experience both productions consecutively, creating a richly layered and unforgettable day of music and storytelling.
Making its London and ENO premiere is a new production of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s Breaking the Waves (13-25 February 2027). Premiered in 2016 and adapted from Lars von Trier’s award-winning 1996 film, the opera follows the deeply devout Bess McNeill, whose unwavering love is tested to its limits after her husband Jan is gravely injured in an offshore accident, leading to a heartbreaking journey of faith, devotion and self-sacrifice. Directed by Tinuke Craig, who returns following her Olivier Award-nominated production of Blue (2023), and conducted by Joana Carneiro who makes a welcome return following recent productions of ENO’s Mary, Queen of Scots (2025) and The Handmaid’s Tale (2022, 2024). Lauren Snouffer makes her ENO debut as Bess, a role she has sung to great international acclaim, with Liam James Karai as Jan.
Also making its ENO premiere is a new production of Iphigénie en Tauride (6-14 November 2026) – rarely performed but widely regarded as Gluck’s greatest work. The opera follows Iphigenia, secretly saved from sacrifice by the goddess Diana and now serving as her priestess, whose world is upended by the arrival of her tormented brother Orestes. As he seeks release from his persecution, the siblings are drawn towards reconciliation and divine mercy. Directed by the Olivier Award-winning Lyndsey Turner, the production is conducted by David Bates, making his ENO debut on the podium. Christine Rice leads the cast as Iphigenia, following her stand-out performance in ENO’s Dead Man Walking (2025), joined by Jacques Imbrailo as Oreste. Iphigénie en Tauride will be performed at the London Coliseum in its original French libretto by Nicolas-François Guillard, with English surtitles.
A riotous double bill pairs Scottish Opera’s 2025 staging of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan’s Trial by Jury with a new ENO production of Arthur Sullivan and Bolton Rowe’s The Zoo, performed at ENO for the first time (4-12 March 2027). Directed by John Savournin, a Gilbert and Sullivan specialist, the two works are brought together at the London Coliseum as one fast-paced political satire, conducted by Peter Whelan. The journey begins with The Zoo which follows two pairs of lovers: first, a nobleman’s over‑the‑top attempts to woo a snack seller and second, a young chemist’s panic over mistakenly thinking he’s poisoned his sweetheart, sending both couples into a whirlwind of comic misunderstandings. This is followed by Trial by Jury, reimagined by Savournin as a 1980s TV game show, becoming a comedic showdown where a contestant is accused of breaking a promise to his jilted bride. The cast includes Neal Davies as The Learned Judge following his critically acclaimed performance as Sir Joseph in ENO’s HMS Pinafore (2025-2026), and Mary Bevan as The Plaintiff (Angelina) / Laetitia Grinder.
REVIVALS
Following its UK premiere at Aviva Studios, Manchester in May 2026, ENO’s production of Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Angel’s Bone transfers to the London Coliseum (16-31 October 2026). The opera follows a financially struggling couple who discover two injured angels in their garden and, after taking them in, descend from apparent compassion into greed and exploitation. Directed by visionary theatre-maker Kip Williams, with design by Marg Horwell, and Baldur Brönnimann conducts. Reprising their roles are Allison Cook as Mrs X.E., Rodney Earl Clarke as Mr X.E., Mariam Wallentin as Girl Angel, Matthew McKinney as Boy Angel, and Keith Pun as Male Soprano. Joining the award-winning Orchestra of ENO is Kantos Chamber Choir, a specialist guest choir who bring a distinctive sound to the production. BBC Radio 3 will record Angel’s Bone at Aviva Studios during its original premiere, in collaboration with Factory International and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, for broadcast on Opera on 3, airing on Saturday 6 June 2026 with the performance available for 30 days on BBC Sounds.
Peter Konwitschny’s much-loved production of La traviata returns to the London Coliseum (3 February – 13 March 2027). Romantic and tragic in equal measure, Verdi’s most famous opera tells the story of Violetta’s beautiful yet doomed love for Alfredo. With minimalist, contemporary staging as the backdrop to exceptional drama, this production earned an Olivier Award nomination following its 2013 premiere. Conducted by Kevin John Edusei, the cast is led by Heidi Stober as Violetta, who returns following her acclaimed portrayal of Queen Mary in ENO’s Mary, Queen of Scots (2025), alongside Egor Zhuravskii as Alfredo and David Stout as Giorgio Germont.
UK PREMIERE OF A GUEST OPERA
For one night only on 29 November 2026, ENO presents guest opera To Die For [A Comedy] by Nederlandse Reisopera and Phion Symphony Orchestra. This UK premiere at the London Coliseum follows the world premiere and Dutch tour throughout April 2026. Created by British-Russian composer Elena Langer, this new opera was inspired by Nikolaj Erdman’s 1928 play The Suicide. It follows Semyon Podsekayev, whose existential crisis is thrust into the spotlight of reality TV, turning a personal crisis into a public spectacle. Laced with dark humour, the opera is conducted by Adrian Kelly, Artistic Director of Buxton International Festival, and directed by Sam Brown, Artistic Director of the Nederlandse Reisopera. Reprising their roles from Nederlandse Reisopera are Paul Curievici as Semyon, and James Hall as TV presenter, Ivan Vane. They will be joined by former Harewood Artist Idunnu Münch as Kukoleva. Joining as guest Chorus from the Netherlands is Consensus Vocalis. This production was made possible by the generosity of The Nicholas John Trust and is dedicated to the memory of Nicholas John, Dramaturge of English National Opera, 1985-1996.
RELAXED PERFORMANCES
ENO’s relaxed performances return following previous sell-out success. In the 2026/27 Season, relaxed performances are available for Tosca and Trial by Jury & The Zoo with audiences free to make noise and move around.
ARTIST AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
ENO is delighted to announce Spanish conductor Néstor Bayona as the 2026-28 Mackerras Fellow. He will be the first to be mentored by ENO’s Music Director Designate, André de Ridder.
The Mackerras Fellowship is a prestigious two-year programme for conductors, offering an exceptional emerging conductor the opportunity to be embedded into the Company, providing hands-on experiences across ENO rehearsals and performances in both London and Greater Manchester, while learning about the wider work of an opera organisation. The Fellowship honours the legacy of Sir Charles Mackerras, ENO’s Music Director from 1970 to 1977, and has supported a generation of conductors who have gone on to distinguished international careers. It is generously supported by the Philip Loubser Foundation.
Néstor Bayona, 2026-28 Mackerras Fellow, commented: “It is an honour to be appointed ENO’s Mackerras Fellow for 2026–28. The opportunity to work at the London Coliseum and in Greater Manchester so closely with a mentor of the calibre of André de Ridder and collaborate with the outstanding musicians of the ENO Chorus, Orchestra and Music Staff will be invaluable to my development as a conductor. I can’t wait to get started.”
ENO is pleased to announce soprano Olivia Rose Tringham and baritone Steffan Lloyd Owen as new Harewood Artists for the 2026/27 Season. ENO’s Harewood Artists programme supports talented British and British-trained singers at a pivotal stage in their careers, offering performance opportunities alongside specialist coaching and development over two to three years. Continuing artists for the upcoming season are sopranos Madeline Boreham, Ava Dodd and Henna Mun, mezzo soprano Anna Elizabeth Cooper, tenors Osian Wyn Bowen and Samuel Downes, baritone Dan D’Souza, and bass-baritone Alaric Green.
In September, ENO in partnership with the Royal Northern College of Music will begin delivery of its new Creative Incubator project, supporting the development of early-stage operatic ideas from artists based in the North West, with priority given to Greater Manchester. Through a 10-month programme, artists will receive dedicated research and development time, financial support, mentoring and professional training, alongside access to performance platforms and industry networks. Applications will open in May 2026.
Also launching in 2026/27 is The Artists’ Table, a new initiative bringing together a panel of North West-based artists to help shape ENO’s work in the region, ensuring it remains relevant, inclusive and representative. Members will be selected to reflect a range of voices, disciplines, lived experiences, and career stages within the Greater Manchester arts ecology, contributing for up to two years. Members of The Artists’ Table for the 2026-28 Seasons will be announced in June 2026.
ENO’s Greater Manchester Youth Opera Company, for young people aged 11-14, launches its pilot phase in July 2026, bringing together 30 participants from across Greater Manchester. Delivered in partnership with the Greater Manchester and Blackburn with Darwen Music Hub and the Royal Northern College of Music, the programme offers hands-on experience of opera-making, from performance to design and composition, with a focus on engaging young people currently underrepresented in the sector.
ENO and Factory International will work together to extend Factory Academy’s vocational training offer into opera, with a particular focus on technical and backstage roles. Factory Academy, which was launched by Factory International in 2018, will offer paid placements on Angel’s Bone (2026) and Einstein on the Beach (2027) at Aviva Studios, creating new pathways into opera production for people living in Greater Manchester, particularly those from backgrounds underrepresented in the arts.
LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION
Perfect Pitch, co-created with Walk the Plank, concludes this summer with a large-scale performance at We Invented the Weekend in Salford on Saturday 6 June 2026. Bringing together community choirs, football fans and ENO artists, including tenor Luis Gomes, the project celebrates the unexpected connections between football and opera. The finale will feature over 400 singers in a mass performance, including Puccini’s ‘Nessun Dorma’, famously associated with the 1990 World Cup, in the lead up to the 2026 tournament.
In 2026/27, ENO’s free national schools programme Finish This… continues in primary, secondary and SEND settings, delivered in partnership with ONE Education Music Hub in Greater Manchester, alongside Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, Wigan, Luton and Southampton Music Hubs. Finish This… supports high-quality music-making in classrooms across England, with more than 18,500 students taking part during the 2025/26 academic year. Applications for the next academic year open in May 2026, with the ambition of reaching 25,000 pupils.
CREATIVE HEALTH
ENO continues to develop its award-winning ENO Breathe programme, created with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to support people experiencing breathlessness and anxiety associated with long COVID. In 2026/27, ENO will pilot an expanded version of the programme in both London and Greater Manchester, supporting people living with chronic respiratory conditions, including COPD and asthma. Developed with partners including NHS Greater Manchester, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Greater Manchester Creative Health Place Partnership, this next phase continues ENO’s commitment to creative health and evidence-based respiratory support for wider NHS integration. Since launching in 2020, the programme has worked with over 80 NHS partners and supported more than 4,700 participants.