The Washington National Opera has announced its 2026-27 season.

Opera

The season opens with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” in a production by E. Loren Meeker. Karah Son sings the title role with Matthew White, and Michelle Mariposa. Erina Yashima conducts.

Performance Dates: Nov. 7-20, 2026

John Adams’ “Nixon in China” will be conducted by Robert Spano and directed by Elkhanah Pulitzer. Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson, and Kathleen Kim.

Performance Dates: Nov. 14-21, 2026

The company will perform a “Special Concert: We the People” conducted by Robert Spano. The event will showcase works by Mozart, Verdi, and contemporary composers. Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson, and this year’s Washington National Opera Marian Anderson Award recipient and former Cafritz Young Artist Amber Monroe will perform.

Performance Date: Nov. 22, 2026

The “Odyssey” will be performed in the Kreeger Theater of the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The work will feature the WNO’s Youth Chorus alongside the Cafritz Young Artists in leading roles.

Performance Dates: Dec. 18-20, 2026

“O’Keeffe: Kiss the Sky” will make its world premiere in an opera by Christopher Tin and Kelley Rourke. Francesca Zambello directs a cast that includes Isabel Leonard, Christine Goerke, and William Burden.

Performance Dates: March 14-26, 2027

Mozart’s “Idomeneo: A Trojan Tale” will be reimagined by Francesca Zambello and Kelley Rourke. American tenor Gregory Kunde stars alongside WNO Cafritz Young Artists and Robert Spano conducts.

Performance Dates: March 20-27, 2027

Verdi’s “La Traviata” will star Francesca Pia Vitale and Ben Bliss star with Francesca Zambello directing. Valentina Peleggi conducts.

Performance Dates: April 29-May 1, 2027

American Opera Initiative

WNO continues its commitment to expanding the repertoire through its popular American Opera Initiative (AOI), which mentors emerging young composers and librettists as they create new works, performed by WNO Cafritz Young Artists. This season will be “Cry, Wolf.”

Performance Dates: Jan. 15 & 16, 2027