- Over 5,000 attendees will participate in the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in 2026.
- The event spans 26 May to 2 June with performances across Waterford and East Cork.
- Mozart’s Don Giovanni will be performed at Lismore Castle while Acis and Galatea feature at St Carthage’s Cathedral.
- The Bursary Awards support 10 artists with €50,000 in funding.
- Free open-air recitals in multiple towns along the Blackwater Valley.
- Róisín Kivlehan shared “Over 5,000 people have attended the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival with tickets still available for selected events.” Tara McKeown shared “The festival has presented 24 events at 13 venues across the Blackwater Valley.”
The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival has taken place across Waterford and East Cork from 26 May to 2 June 2026 with over 5,000 people expected to attend. Organisers have presented over 100 artists and more than 75 hours of live music through opera, concerts, and recitals in unique venues. Tickets have remained available for selected performances despite some events selling out.
The programme has featured two opera productions at Lismore Castle and St Carthage’s Cathedral along with events in Dungarvan, Lismore, Youghal, and Castlemartyr. Mozart’s Don Giovanni at Lismore Castle has sold out while limited availability has continued for other events including Handel’s Acis and Galatea. Additional highlights have included concerts at Dromore Yard and recitals in historic homes across the Blackwater Valley.
The festival has supported emerging talent through its Bursary Awards programme that has provided €50,000 to 10 artists in 2026. Free open-air lunchtime recitals have taken place in Lismore, Dungarvan, Youghal, and Castlemartyr while food experiences have complemented the music programme.
