The NEUE STIMMEN Competition has announced its 2026 winners.

The first prize went to soprano Arpi Sinanyan from Armenia and baritone Jiazhou Wang from China.

Meanwhile, the second prize went to soprano Aigerim Altynbek from Kazakhstan and bass-baritone Irakli Pkhaladze from Georgia while the third prize was awarded to soprano Liere Wu from China and tenor Rafael Rojas from Mexico.

This year’s competition, which was held in Gütersloh featured a jury that included Alexander Neef (Director of the Paris Opera), Boris Ignatov (Casting Director at the Stuttgart State Opera), Sophie de Lint (Director of the Dutch National Opera), and tenor Neil Shicoff.

Founded by Liz Mohn in 1987, NEUE STIMMEN has supported artists including Christiane Karg, Nathalie Stutzmann, Marina Rebeka, Michael Volle, René Pape, Franco Fagioli, Nadine Sierra, Nicole Car, Pene Pati and Elsa Dreisig.