59th IVC Opera | Oratorio 2026: application announcement (archive)

Archive notice: applications for the 59th edition are closed.

The International Vocal Competition (IVC) 's-Hertogenbosch invites classical singers from all over the world to take part in the 59th Opera | Oratorio Competition, held from 2 to 10 October 2026 at the Theater aan de Parade. Singers can now submit their application for the Preliminary Selections, and tickets - single events or a full Passe-Partout - are on sale.

For more than a week, the IVC transforms 's-Hertogenbosch into a vibrant meeting place for the world's most promising voices. After auditions across Europe and Asia, forty outstanding singers will be selected for the Main Rounds and Grand Finale, performing with the renowned symphony orchestra Philzuid under Grammy Award-winning conductor Karen Kamensek. Every singer performs at least twice - in both opera and oratorio repertoire - for a rich and rewarding experience.

The competition offers far more than prizes. Participants receive personal feedback from an international jury of leading professionals, under the distinguished leadership of jury president Sir David Pountney, and take part in masterclasses, workshops and career-guidance sessions. With a total prize fund of €50,000, concert engagements, mentorship opportunities and international exposure through OperaVision's global livestream, the IVC is a launchpad for the next generation of vocal talent.

Preliminary Selections take place as live auditions in nine cities - from Łódź, Colombo, Berlin, Paris, Salzburg, London and Florence to Amsterdam and 's-Hertogenbosch - and through two rounds of online YouTube jury review. The competition is open to professional singers of all nationalities aged 18 to 34. Full application requirements are available on the IVC website.