Awards Ceremony 2026
Live stream here on this website
February 23, 2026
Theater Regensburg
THE JURY of the
OPER! AWARDS
Manuel Brug
Dr. Eleonore Büning
Uwe Friedrich
Georg Kasch
Dr. Kai Luehrs-Kaiser
Dr. Ulrich Ruhnke
Founder of the OPER! AWARDS
and Chair of the OPER! AWARDS Jury
Stephan Schwarz-Peters
Franziska Stürz
Christian Wildhagen
OPER! Awards
The OPER! AWARDS are Germany’s only international opera prize. It is awarded annually during a gala to the best creatives of the international opera scene, working on or behind the stage. The venue is always the winning house in the “Best Opera House” category. The awards are presented across 20 categories by a jury of music journalists.
The OPER! AWARDS were launched in 2019 by the magazine OPER! and last took place on February 21, 2025 at the La Monnaie / De Munt opera house in Brussels.
Germany is the country with the highest number of opera houses worldwide, nowhere else are more operas and operettas being performed. The OPER! AWARDS are Germany’s only international opera prize, presented annually during a gala to the best creatives of the international opera scene, working on or behind the stage. The awards are presented across 20 categories by a jury of music journalists.
Oper! Awards 2026
4 November 2025
OPER! AWARDS 2026:
Theatre Regensburg is „Best Opera House“
Award ceremony on 23 February 2026
Berlin – The Theatre Regensburg will receive the OPER! AWARD 2026 for „Best Opera House“ of 2025, the jury of the OPER! AWARDS announced in Berlin today. The award will be presented on 23 February 2026 during a gala at the Theatre Regensburg. The winners of the other 19 categories of the OPER! AWARDS will be named and honoured in person at the same event.
The OPER! AWARDS are Germany’s only publicly awarded international opera prize. They are presented annually at a gala event to the world’s best artists and creatives of the international opera scene, working on or behind the stage, chosen across 20 categories by a jury of music journalists. Assessment period is the calendar year 2025. Last year’s winner of „Best Opera House“ was La Monnaie / De Munt in Brussels.
“More of the new, less of the familiar, embracing openness instead of programmatic caution, and an unshakable belief in the right of musical theatre to exist in all its forms, colours, and varieties: under its artistic director Sebastian Ritschel, the Theatre Regensburg shows great readiness to take risks, but its rate of success is high. Audiences, trust, and approval follow quality – regionally and, for quite some time now, nationwide as well. The call for a broader repertoire is often heard, yet rarely fulfilled – not so in Regensburg, where it is common practice! And always inspiring, too, thanks to an outstanding ensemble. Innovations with regard to participation, accessibility, community building, and sustainability demonstrate further how a theatre must indispensably anchor itself within civic society. No question: the best opera house is found under the roof of the Theatre – soon: State Theatre – Regensburg!”, according to Ulrich Ruhnke, Jury Chairman of the OPER! AWARDS. “We are delighted to be honouring the Theatre Regensburg with the OPER! AWARD for ‘Best Opera House’ under its own roof on 23 February 2026.”
Ulrich Ruhnke
Chairman of the OPER! AWARDS Jury
Copyright: Pawal Sosnowski
Award Categories
- Best female singer
- Best male singer
- Best opera company
- Best conductor
- Best director
- Best orchestra
- Best choir
- Best world premiere
- Best production
- Best stage designer / set
decorator /lighting desinger
- Best costume designer
- Best solo album
- Best opera recording
- Best newcomer / Rising Star
- Best rediscovery
-
Best future project
- Best festival
- Honorary / lifetime achievement
- Best benefactor / entrepreneur
- Biggest nuisance
Become a Partner
Whether as a private or corporate supporter of the OPER! AWARDS, you will become part of the most important prize in Germany dedicated to the international opera business. Help us to give deserved recognition to the leading artists or align your business objectives with the OPER! AWARDS.
Each year, the OPER! AWARDS’ wide publicity goes well beyond audiences of opera buffs and specialist media, reaching young, new target groups not yet familiar with this art form.
Whatever your aims when becoming a private or corporate OPER! AWARDS sponsor, we can offer individual solutions based on your ideas and requirements. Why not talk to us and find out how we can offer optimum support to you? The OPER! AWARDS set great value on sound and trustful cooperation, for each partnership is as unique as the people joining it.
We look forward to getting to know you!
Contact:
Dr. Ulrich Ruhnke
Phone: +49 (0)30 220 117 690
Mail: info@oper-awards.com
Our Partners & Sponsors
Media Partners
Contact
Email: info@oper-awards.com
