The Austin Opera has announced its 2026-27 season.

The season opens with the world premiere of “Ofrenda“ by composer Jorge Sosa and librettist John de los Santos.

“The idea for Ofrenda came to me during COVID,” said composer Sosa. “I wanted to write a work that centered around healing and celebrated essential workers. I was thinking about the curanderas (traditional healers) in México and the mysticism that surrounds them. John de los Santos has been an incredible creative partner in developing the idiosyncrasies of the characters and the bilingual libretto. The opera reads like a hospital procedural show, mixed with a healthy dose of magical realism and high drama.”

The opera will star Stephanie Sanchez and Victoria Vargas.

Performance Dates: Oct. 1-4, 2026 at the Sarah and Ernest Butler Performance Center

Massenet’s “Thaïs” will star Nicole Heaston and Troy Cook. Timothy Myers will conduct the production by Crystal Manich. The production features lighting designs by Tláloc López-Watterman, costume designs by Brandon McDonald, projection designs by Greg Emetaz, and movement by Michael Pappalardo.

Performance Dates: Nov. 13-15, 2026 at the Long Center for the Performing Arts

Greg Spears’ “Fellow Travelers” will be performed kicking off the second year of a national tour for the work. Kevin Newbury brings his acclaimed production.

Performance Dates: Feb. 6 & 7, 2027

The season concludes with Verdi’s “La traviata” starring Sara Gartland, Kameron Lopreore, and Joo Won Kang. Conducted by Timothy Myers, the opera is directed by E. Loren Meeker

Performance Dates: April 18-24, 2027