Wexford Festival Opera 2026 – 75th Anniversary

Wexford Festival Opera turns 75 this year, and Ireland’s best-loved opera festival is marking it with 17 days of music, drama and celebration in the heart of Wexford town.

Opening-night fireworks kick off the festival on Thursday 15 October. Three main-stage productions follow at the National Opera House: Mascagni’s Iris, with Joseph Calleja as Osaka; Rossini’s comic L’equivoco stravagante; and Prokofiev’s The Gambler. On Saturday 17 October, the anniversary concert Croí na Féile brings Ermonela Jaho, Joseph Calleja, Daniela Barcellona and Giorgi Manoshvili to the stage.

There’s plenty beyond the main stage too. Lunchtime recitals take place in St Iberius Church and the O’Reilly Theatre, and there are pocket operas, including Balfe’s The Rose of Castille and Stanford’s Much Ado About Nothing. You can also catch a community opera, Still, life…, and the world premiere of The First Festival, with a libretto by Colm Tóibín.

Free pop-up performances around town mean you don’t need a ticket to soak up the festival atmosphere. Whether you’re a seasoned opera lover or curious about trying it for the first time, this anniversary year is a great time to go.