5th International Competition
Great Opera Voices of Africa
2026
- Registration open | October 31, 2025 - January 20, 2026
- Preliminary rounds | January 21, 2026 - January 23, 2026
- Semi-final | March 5, 2026
- Final and awards ceremony | March 7, 2026
- Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet | Paris, France
Under the patronage
Under the patronage
With the support
Launch of the 2026 edition
The call for applications for the Africa Lyric's Opera Competition, 2026 edition, opens on October 31, 2025!
News
A rich and intense season!
Book online to attend the semi-final and final on March 5th and 7th, 2026!
The Voices of Opera from Africa in Toulouse
Opéra National Capitole Toulouse | January 28, 2026 | 12:30 PM
Africa-Caribbean: Music and Memory | April 2026
The Great Opera Voices of Africa and the Caribbean
More information
The history of the Competition
Launched in 2007, AFRICA LYRIC'S OPERA is a global initiative that aims to promote and make classical music and opera accessible to the widest possible audience, and to value opera in all its diversity.
Its commitments: to promote operatic and instrumental artists from around the world of African and Afro-descendant origin, to identify, support and mentor young operatic talents, to create operas and collaborations with artists, instrumentalists and orchestras from around the world, bringing together writing, voices, Africa and its diaspora, to organize innovative and inclusive classical events, to support educational, social and cultural projects, to create music schools, to offer scholarships and to organize training sessions, masterclasses and international competitions.
The International Competition of African Opera Voices, created in 2022, responds to an approach of openness, professional integration, training, solidarity and visibility of African and Afro-descendant voices in classical music.
Competition history
Launched in 2007, AFRICA LYRIC'S OPERA is a global initiative aimed at promoting classical music and the operatic arts and making them accessible to as many people as possible, and highlighting opera in all its diversity.
Its commitments include promoting operatic artists and instrumentalists from around the world, as well as those of African origin and Afro-descendant artists; identifying, supporting, and mentoring young operatic talent; creating operas and collaborations with artists, instrumentalists, and orchestras from around the world; exploring writing, voices, and African and its diaspora; organizing innovative and charitable classical events; supporting educational, social, and cultural projects; creating music schools; offering scholarships; and organizing training sessions, masterclasses, and international competitions.
The International Competition of African Opera Voices, created in 2022, responds to an approach of openness, professional integration, training, solidarity and visibility of African and Afro-descendant voices in classical music.
The instrument of 2026: The Oud, the "Oriental Lute"
Every year, Africa Lyric's Opera highlights a musical instrument to discover or rediscover.
This season, the Oud is in the spotlight! Are you familiar with this instrument?
The oud (ud, aoud, 3oud, عود) or “Oriental lute” is a plucked string instrument widely used in Arab countries, Turkey, Greece, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Its name comes from the Arabic word al-oud (meaning “wood”).
The main difference between the Eastern and Western lutes lies in the playing technique. The Western lute is played with the fingers, like a guitar, while the oud uses a quill or a plastic plectrum. Also, unlike the Western lute, the oud allows for quarter-tone notes; these are not possible on the Western lute due to the presence of frets on its neck, which are notched in semitones.
The Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet: A sumptuous setting for the 2026 edition of the International Competition of Great Opera Voices of Africa, March 5-7 in Paris
Register online and become one of our future winners!
Go for it! Show off your talent!
1 - To be from an African country
Being of African origin or of African descent, or from the African diaspora, or having the nationality of an African country or a link with Africa
2 - Be passionate
To be an opera singer and/or a singing student and/or a promising young talent and/or passionate about opera singing and/or self-taught and/or semi-professional
3 - Be available
Be available on the competition dates for the semi-final and the final
4 - Select a category and set the permissions
Choose one of the three opera competition categories: Young Talent, Amateur, or Semi-Professional. Pay the registration fees according to the category before the deadline set by the regulations.
5 - Respect the application deadline
Please respect the registration deadline set by the regulations, which is January 31, 2026.
6 - Talk about yourself
Submit a cover letter and a detailed curriculum vitae outlining your musical experience, training, and project.
7 - Submit a complete file
Applicants must have submitted a complete application (including one video for pre-selection) and meet the age limit for each category.
8 - Plan your trip if needed
Have a valid passport for travel if necessary (applicants from outside France/Europe) and comply with the applicable stay, health, and security rules.
Are you a resident of France or elsewhere?
No restrictions on place of residence (Africa, Europe, Rest of the World)
French-speaking, English-speaking, Portuguese-speaking...?
No language restrictions. We speak your language.
Young beginner or experienced adult?
Applicants must be between 16 and 50 years old, depending on the category.
Young prospect, amateur or semi-professional?
Try your luck in one of the three categories!
Need immediate online assistance?
Would you like our team to help you register?
Do you have any other questions?
Line, our virtual assistant, is available 24/7!
Are you asking yourself the following questions?
- You cannot pay your registration fees by PAYPAL or credit card?
- Would you like to use a different payment method?
- Do you want a third party to pay for your registration?
- Would you like to send your documents via another method?
- Do you need assistance with registration?
It's possible! To do this, follow these 4 steps:
1- Click here to fill out the dedicated online form (only for candidates without a credit card or a PayPal account)
2- Download our bank details (RIB/IBAN) OR obtain the mobile money numbers for payment, depending on your country.
3- Pay your registration fees by BANK TRANSFER OR MOBILE MONEY and collect the proof of payment
4- Send your complete file by email along with proof of payment of your fees
Download the rules in French
Download the rules in English
Jury
An exceptional Jury President for the 2026 edition! The jury is just as exceptional!
2025-2026 Season
Africa Lyric's Opera offers you a rich and varied season that will take you
on the roads of metropolitan France, overseas territories and Africa, with the support of our partners!
September 15, 2025:
Launch of the Africa Lyric's Opera season
September 15, 2025
The Africa Lyric's Opera Choir performed at the Palais Garnier - Paris Opera, for the Orange Foundation's Night of the Voice, alongside exceptional artists and Les Métaboles.
- Relive this exceptional and unique event online: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/I6-FYLDR6YE?si=dWVhP7V_nBZ9Y2-8
- Listen to the replay on Radio Classique: https://www.radioclassique.fr/replay-concerts/vivez-la-nuit-de-la-voix-depuis-le-palais-garnier/
Discover the Africa Lyric's Opera choir: https://nuitdelavoix.fondationorange.com/portfolio/africa-lyrics-opera/
January 26-31, 2026
Young Talents Opera Workshop at the Opéra National du Rhin
Why participate in a lyric workshop?
The Opéra National du Rhin's youth opera workshop aims to promote the discovery and appreciation of opera and classical music among younger generations. This workshop seeks to raise participants' awareness of the operatic arts, encourage their creativity, and develop their vocal and artistic skills.
Furthermore, the initiative contributes to cultural diversity by integrating cultural influences into the world of opera, enriching the experience of young people and fostering intercultural exchange. These workshops offer a platform for young talents to express themselves and help them connect with art forms that may be less familiar to them, while creating a bright future for the stage.
Our young operatic talents of 2026:
- Léïla Chafii | soprano
- Iris Hayouni | soprano
Thank you to Sandrine Abello and the Opera Studio team!
We invite you to the Athénée Théâtre Louis-Jouvet in Paris for the 5th edition of the International Competition of Great Opera Voices from Africa:
- March 5, 2026 for the semi-final
- March 7, 2026 for the final
BOOK YOUR SEATS!
Young opera singers from Africa will make their debut at the Gstaad Festival in 2026!
Partners
Our collaborations with African and Afro-descendant composers, under the guidance of
More than 8 composers discovered or rediscovered
Previous editions
JURY
President 2022:
Patricia Petibon
President 2023:
Hélène Delavault
Sponsor 2023:
Ludovic Tézier
President 2024:
Sophie Koch
President 2025:
Jean-Philippe Thiellay
Accompanist pianist: Thomas Tacquet
Loiret Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra Director: Emmanuelle Huet
Direction : Mehdi Lougraida
WINNERS SEMI-PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
2022
1st Prix Opéra 2022 | Adriana Bignagni | mezzo-soprano
2nd Prize Opera 2022 | Suzanne Taffot | soprano
3rd Prize Opera 2022 | Maurel Endong | bass-baritone
2023
1st Prize Opera 2023 | Mariamielle Lamagat | soprano
2nd Prize Opera 2023 | Aaron-Casey Gould | tenor
3rd Prize Opéra 2023 | Monika Mazanka | soprano
2024
1st Prize Opera 2024 | Yolisa Ngwexana | soprano
2nd Prize Opera 2024 | Milan Mcray | soprano
3rd Prize Opera 2024 | Kofi Hayford | bass
2025
1st Prize Opéra 2025 | Camille Taos Arbouz | mezzo-soprano
2nd Prize Opera 2025 | Vanel Djoko | tenor
3rd Prize Opera 2025 | Mejamandresy Rakotonirina-Andrianjaly | tenor
Support us
Africa Lyric's Opera is a global initiative encompassing several actions. We build bridges between France, Africa, and the rest of the world to make opera accessible and foster innovative projects in the fields of music and culture.
You can support our projects for artists, creation, education and training
Training (masterclasses, opera workshops, music in schools, teacher training) and professional integration (promoting networking between artists, employers and producers)
Organizing high-level classical music events and concerts in metropolitan France and overseas territories to showcase African and Afro-descendant operatic voices,
The production of works, through the creation of operas and the promotion of contemporary composers and instrumentalists of classical music in France and elsewhere
Support our project to build a music conservatory in Africa!
Request the complete file
Contact us
Would you like to donate musical equipment?
Make a suggestion?
Hosting a recital at your company?
Become an ambassador or a volunteer?
Any other requests?
