Blackwater Valley Opera Festival (BVOF) will return to Waterford and East Cork from 26 May to 1 June 2026 for a week of exceptional opera and classical music in some of the region’s most striking historic settings.
Ireland’s summer opera festival will present over 24 events , with more than 100 performers across 13 historic homes and venues in Lismore, Youghal, Dungarvan, and Castlemartyr. With stunning new venues, international and national talent,and a carefully curated programme, the 2026 season promises memorable experiences for all. Tickets for all performances and bespoke dining experiences are now on sale, with many expected to sell out, so early booking is advised.
Opera remains central to the festival, with four performances of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, staged in the atmospheric grounds of Lismore Castle. The production, with a predominantly Irish cast and featuring the Irish Baroque Orchestra, is conducted by composer Peter Whelan and directed by Tom Creed. It hurtles between comedy, danger, and seduction as a notorious libertine pursues pleasure until vengeance and justice close in. From a deadly duel to a ghostly reckoning, the drama ignites in the historic stable yards of Lismore Castle with sharp humour, beauty, and a touch of the supernatural.
Handel’s Acis and Galatea will be performed by candlelight in St Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore – an evocative setting for this timeless work. The story features the tragic love between the sea-nymph Galatea and the shepherd Acis, starring Jade Phoenix, Dean Power, Edward Grint, Patrick Hyland, with the Irish Baroque Orchestra conducted by Oliver-John Ruthven.
New for 2026, Ballynatray House joins the festival as a recital venue, expanding the programme of chamber music and song presented in historic houses across the Blackwater Valley. The inaugural recital features Irish mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught and is already sold out. Concerts at Dromore Yard remain a festival fixture, with highlights including performances by Magdalene Ho, and brother-and-sister piano virtuosos, Finghin Collins and Dearbhla Collins. The concert programme concludes with the return of Cork-born mezzo-soprano Niamh O’Sullivan, whose international career has brought her to major concert halls worldwide, alongside pianist Gary Beecher.
Alongside ticketed performances, the festival will present free open-air events in Lismore, Dungarvan, Youghal, and Castlemartyr, with further programme details to be announced in the coming weeks.
Food and hospitality remain central to the festival’s distinctive atmosphere. Audiences are encouraged to dress up and make an occasion of it, whether enjoying a picnic showcasing local produce and performances from some of Ireland’s leading vocalists, or attending formal opera dining in Lismore Castle Gardens, curated by celebrity chef Eunice Power. Gourmet table picnics will also be available for concerts at Dromore Yard.
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival expects to again welcome more than 5,000 visitors and engage with 2,000 students through its growing educational outreach programmes, which make opera and classical music more accessible to the whole community. This is supported by the Friends Memberships which supports the festival year-round, with 40 percent of funds dedicated to education and community outreach.
Eamonn Carroll, Festival Director of Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, said, "As we celebrate our 16th festival, we are pleased to present a programme that reflects what Blackwater Valley Opera Festival does best - ambitious productions, exceptional performances, and artists of the highest calibre from Ireland and beyond. Whether you’re a long-time opera lover or discovering the festival for the first time, there is something truly special to experience. At its core, the festival is about shared moments: extraordinary music in historic settings, along carefully considered food and hospitality. This summer, the Blackwater Valley will once again be alive with music, culture and a uniquely vibrant festival atmosphere.”
Blackwater Valley Opera Festival is supported by grants from the The Arts Council of Ireland, Waterford City & County Council.The festival’s lead sponsors are Kildare Village and the John Pollard Foundation.
Tickets are now on sale blackwatervalleyopera.ie with concession rates available for senior citizens, students, and community groups. Bespoke group packages include tickets, dining, and VIP experiences. See blackwatervalleyopera.ie
