Dutch-Argentine soprano Ana-Carmen Balestra has been awarded the GrachtenfestivalPrijs 2026 following a unanimous jury decision at Felix Meritis, appointing her Artist in Residence for the 2027 festival.

The jury praised her commanding stage presence, vocal warmth, and energetic expressiveness across a finale program featuring works by Massenet, Velázquez, and Piazzolla.

Balestra is a former Young Artist at London’s National Opera Studio and has performed at the Wigmore Hall, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, and Scottish Opera.

She has received the 2026 Simon Sandbach Award at Garsington Opera and has performed such operas as “Carmen,” “The Cunning Little Vixen,” and “Hänsel und Gretel.”