96-Hour Opera Festival and Competition

Competition

SAT, JUNE 13, 2026 @ 7pm
RAY CHARLES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER @ MOREHOUSE COLLEGE

• World Premiere Operas
• 96-Hour Opera Project Competition Showcase
• $10,000 Prize as part of a $25,000 Commission

Now in its fifth season, the 96-Hour Opera Project celebrates the artistry of emerging creative talents and offers a path into the art of opera.

This year, we are proud to announce that the 96-Hour Opera Project will form the beating heart of our first-ever NOW Festival. The festival will include the 96-Hour Opera Project competition showcase, along with developmental workshops and incubator performances of works by past competition winners.

The competition pairs composers and librettists to write original ten-minute operas. Bringing their completed works to Atlanta, the creative teams are allowed 96 hours to rehearse and develop their productions with guidance from specialists in the field from June 10 through 13, 2026.

On Saturday, June 13, 2026, a public competition showcase will present the ten-minute operas at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College where a winning team will be selected by a distinguished group of judges. All selected participants will receive a $1000 honorarium. The Atlanta Opera presents the Antinori Grand Prize to the winning team — a $10,000 award and an Atlanta Opera commission for a new work to be produced and performed in an upcoming season as part of our annual NOW Festival.

The NOW Festival features presentations of the works in development by previous competition winners. Tickets and a full schedule of public opportunities to view these world premieres will be released Spring of 2026.
Designed specifically for composers and librettists from historically underrecognized communities, the 96-Hour Opera Project competition is open to those who self-identify as part of a demographic that has been under-presented in the creative pantheon of opera.

The Atlanta Opera provides singing talent, and a pianist as collaborators to bring the new works to life. The Atlanta Opera also provides story prompts, which will form the basis of the plot lines of the submitted works.

FESTIVAL DATES

Jun 10-14, 2026
NOW Festival

Fri, Jun 12, 2026 @ 7:30pm
New Work World Premiere
Water Memory
Ferst Center for the Arts

Sat, Jun 13, 2026 @ 7:30pm
96-Hour Opera Project
competition showcase
Ray Charles Performing Arts Center

Sun, Jun 14, 2026 @ 3pm
New Work World Premiere
Water Memory
Ferst Center for the Arts

Competition Application

Applications now open
APPLY ONLINE

Tickets

Tickets on sale in Spring 2026.

Application

Applications now open – APPLY ONLINE
Application deadline – Feb 10, 2026

For questions concerning applications or participation in the 96-Hour Opera Project, please email [email protected].

FAQ

What is The NOW Festival?

The NOW Festival is a celebratory multi-day event in June that honors the development and performance of new operatic works. It aims to help nurture emerging creative talents from under-represented communities and offers a path into the art of opera.

It will include the 96-Hour Opera Project competition showcase, along with developmental workshops and world premieres of works by our past competition winners.

The competition, in which teams of composers and librettists have four days to workshop and stage completely new and compelling 10-minute operas, is the heart of the festival. Each team presents their work in a showcase before an audience and the panel of judges.

Winners from previous year’s competition will have the opportunity to present their developed works in an incubator setting and, the following year, as a more developed workshopped opera.

What is the date and location of the performances?

In 2026, the NOW Festival will open with the world premiere of Water Memory, followed by the 96-Hour Opera Project and a second performance of Water Memory. Events will be presented in partnership with Morehouse College, the Morehouse School of Music and Georgia Tech.

The entire festival runs June 10 – 14 with public performances of Water Memory scheduled for June 12 at 7:30pm and June 14 at 3pm at the Ferst Center for the Arts on the Georgia Tech campus, 349 Ferst Dr, NW in Atlanta. The 96-Hour Opera Project competition showcase will also be open to the public and will take place Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 7:30pm, at the Ray Charles Center for the Performing Arts, 900 West End Ave, SW in Atlanta.

Are the teams provided with a theme or concept?

The Atlanta Opera will provide a compelling story theme or themes for the participating librettists and composers. The story prompts will be given to the creative teams in advance of the competition with time to engage in exploration and research on the subject.

Who should apply?

The competition encourages the participation of composers and librettists who self-identify as part of a group that has been underrepresented in opera.

We are only able to accept permanent residents and citizens of the United States for this project.

There is no age range or limit for applying, but composers and librettists in the early stages of their careers are encouraged to participate.

Application is limited to artists who are determined to have significant skills as a composer and/or playwright/librettist through academic study and limited professional experiences; and who demonstrate a unique perspective that could benefit from mentorship.

Successful applicants will express interest and enthusiasm for opera as a form of storytelling, however, artists with no previous opera experience are encouraged to apply. They will demonstrate excellence as evidenced by submitted samples of previous composition/writing and a developed voice in their chosen art form and will commit to following a provided story prompt to develop a 10-minute work for a maximum of two voices.

What if a librettist doesn’t have a composing partner or vice versa?

We will provide an option to pair artists, based on their experience and interests.

What resources does the competition provide to participants?

All participating teams will travel to Atlanta after preparing their works in advance of the program. Travel (airfare or mileage reimbursement), housing, singers, pianists and space will be provided to each composer/librettist team to showcase their new mini-operas.

What are the judging criteria for the applications?

Submissions will be evaluated based on artistic excellence or the potential for artistic excellence, artistic ability, knowledge of both vocal and orchestral writing (composers), and character development (librettists).

Who are the judges for the competition?

Judges will be announced in early 2026.

What is the 96-hour structure?

• DAY 1: Wed, Jun 10, 2026 – Introductions and music rehearsal
• DAY 2: Thu, Jun 11, 2026 – Rehearsal and staging
• DAY 3: Fri, Jun 12, 2026 – Coaching, mentorship with judges, and final prep
• DAY 4: Sat, Jun 13, 2026 – Dress rehearsal, Competition Showcase performance and judging

What are your plans for community participation and digital distribution?

We invite the community to enjoy the performances/competition. The Atlanta Opera Film Studio will capture aspects of the preparation and the competition showcase. Specific use of the video and audio recordings will be determined by the needs of The Atlanta Opera.