What’s On In 2026

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La bohème

8th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 15th August

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The Elixir of Love

7th, 11th, 13th August

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Peter Rabbit’s Musical Adventures

8th, 9th, 15th, 16th August

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Music in the Ballroom

8th, 9th, 13th, 16th August

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Last Night at the Opera

16th August

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Living Light: Visions of an Abbess

11th, 12th, 14th, 15th August

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Serenades: Dvořák and Mozart

8th, 9th, 15th August

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Other Festival Events

Come and Sing, Young Artist Gala and Craft Workshops

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  • Founded in 2017, Waterperry Opera Festival aims to make opera accessible and enriching for all. Set in the scenic Waterperry House and Gardens, Oxfordshire, we offer high-quality, socially relevant performances by a diverse company of emerging talent, supporting young artists and creatives each year.

  • Our inaugural Summer Festival launched in 2018, with a 3-day season of opera for 1,000 attendees. Since then, over the past 7 years, we have produced 39 productions for over 22,000 attendees and have established a 10-day Summer Festival in August. Our audiences continue to grow every year as we punch above our weight to produce five-star productions.

  • Community is central to Waterperry Opera Festival, uniting over 100 artists, crew, and volunteers annually. Generous supporters sharing our vision make it possible to empower some of the best emerging talent and bring high-quality opera to a broader audience.

‘Hear some of the great singers of the future before everyone else’

The Telegraph, 2022

‘It’s more like Glastonbury than Glyndebourne : the festival bringing opera to a new generation’

The Telegraph, 2023

‘An emphasis on young talent, with internships and training, gives the event an atmosphere of infectious, can-do energy.’

The Observer, 2024

‘A terrific introduction to opera…staged for all to enjoy’

Daily Info, 2025