The Tullio Serafin Opera Competition has announced its ninth edition.

This year’s competition will be centered on Rossini’s “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” with winners getting the opportunity to perform the opera at the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza in September 2026 as part of the 14th edition of the Vicenza in Lirica Festival.

Preliminary rounds will take place in April across six theaters: the Opéra Royal de Wallonie in Liège, the Opéra Nice Côte d’Azur, the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome, the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, and the Teatro La Fenice in Venice — the latter participating for the first time.

The semifinal and final rounds take place June 8 and 9 at the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza.

The jury will be chaired by Nicola Colabianchi, Superintendent and Artistic Director of Teatro La Fenice, and includes Alessandro Di Gloria, Raffaella Murdolo, Frédéric Deloche, Davide Pagliarusco, Stefano Pace, Federico Faggion, Edoardo Bottacin, Marco Tutino, Peter Heilker, Barbara Frittoli, and Andrea Castello.

Special awards include the Daniela Dessì Prize, established on the tenth anniversary of the soprano’s death and presented to a finalist soprano by Fabio Armiliato and Andrea Castello; the Francesco Pacchiega Audience Award; and the Critics’ Award offered by the Popular University of Cavarzere.

Selected singers will join the Opera Studio of the Vicenza in Lirica Festival for a training program led by Daniela Barcellona, Natale De Carolis, and Marco Titotto, culminating in their debut at the Teatro Olimpico.

The competition is open to singers under 34.