The International Opera Workshop Waiblingen will hold its seventh edition from Sept. 12 through 19 in Waiblingen, Germany.

Twelve singers selected from a competitive international pool will participate in six days of public masterclasses before performing alongside soprano Melanie Diener, baritone Thomas Hampson, and the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen under chief conductor Ariane Matiakh in a program of arias by Wagner, Mozart, Strauss, and others on Sept. 19, 2026.

The 2026 cohort represents ten countries: Croatia, Spain, France, South Africa, the United States, Italy, Ukraine, South Korea, Ireland, and China. Participants are housed with local families and will also give informal performances at public locations throughout the city, including an open-air appearance at the Waiblingen Market Square on Sept. 17 as part of the city’s “Waiblingen erfrischt” series.

Founded in 2019 as a joint initiative between Diener, Hampson, and the city of Waiblingen, the workshop is designed for singers on the threshold of professional careers. Unlike many training programs, it positions participants as emerging colleagues rather than students.

“Ambitious opera singers that we choose to mentor for the week are a joy and a challenge. The privilege of trust they invest in their tutoring, yoga classes, and singing in all sorts of venues in the city is a thrill. Waiblingen has a devoted musical public and the support from the city is remarkable. We work hard, we sing a lot, and the city rings,” Hampson said, per an official press release.

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