The 7th International Ottavio Garaventa Competition will take place Oct. 10 and 11, 2026, in Genoa.

Presented by A.P.S. Voz y Alma – l’Anima dell’Opera under the patronage of the City of Genoa, the competition is dedicated to tenor Ottavio Garaventa and is open to singers of all ages and nationalities.

Semifinals will be held Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Biblioteca Universitaria di Genova, with candidates accompanied by pianist MiKi Ketaya on a piano donated to the city of Genoa by the Garaventa family. The final round will take place Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Auditorium Eugenio Montale of the Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova.

Prizes to be awarded include first and second prize, the Garaventa Prize for the best tenor not awarded in the previous three editions, the “Premio Over 40” and “Gradimento del Pubblico” (Audience Choice) prizes, the “La voce di Mimì” prize (not awarded in the previous two editions), and the “Fiore di Loto” prize for the best interpreter of a female Madama Butterfly character.

Selected singers will be considered for engagements with A.P.S. Voz y Alma – l’Anima dell’Opera in its 2026-27 season productions of Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” Puccini’s “La Bohème,” and Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” with casting overseen directly by the artistic direction of the Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, with Federico Pupo and Davide Pagliarusco in attendance.

The competition concludes with the Gala Garaventa, held Sunday, Oct. 11, at 3:30 p.m. at the Auditorium Eugenio Montale of the Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, featuring Fabio Armiliato, Paolo Andrea Ferrando, Giovanni Battista Bergamo, Marco Camastra, Antonio Bellandi, Paolo Ponziano Ciardi, and Miki Ketaya.