The finale of the competition will be held live in front of the audience. Admission is free, tickets can be purchased at the Croatian House in Split.

Casta Diva Spalato 2026, the second edition of the international opera competition for young singers, will be held from 23 to 25 September 2026 in the Ivo Tijardović Concert Hall in the Croatian House Split. The competition brings together promising opera singers from different countries and gives them the opportunity to present their artistic and vocal abilities to an international jury of experts in one of the most representative concert halls in Croatia.

As of this year, Casta Diva Spalato is part of the Split International Music Competition – SIMC platform, a new international competition project that unites five musical disciplines. In addition to opera singing, competitions for piano, saxophone, cello and guitar will also be held in Split in January 2027. More information about the platform, the program and individual competitions is available on the website www.simc.hr.

Candidates born after January 1, 1991 are eligible to apply for the Casta Diva Spalato 2026 competition. Each candidate is required to prepare five opera arias from the Romantic period. The number of participants is limited, and applications must be received no later than September 10, 2026. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

The early registration fee is 100 euros, and it can be paid until 10 August 2026 at 23:59 Central European Summer Time, GMT+2. The regular registration fee is 115 euros and applies to applications from 11 August to 10 September 2026. Payment is made via the Adriaticket online system. Proof of payment must be attached to the completed application form, as it is an integral part of the application. After registration and payment of the registration fee, no refund is possible.

The participation fee does not include the services of a pianist. Candidates may perform with their own accompanist or use an official pianist provided by the organizer. The fee for using an official accompanist is an additional 15 euros.

The candidates' performances will be judged by an international expert jury composed of prominent opera artists, conductors and artistic directors of European opera houses. The president of the jury is Nicola Colabianchi, intendant and artistic director of the Venetian Teatro La Fenice. The members of the jury are Teodor Nitea, general director of the Opera "Nae Leonard" from Romania, Alberto Gazale, artistic director of the Teatro Lirico di Sassari from Italy, Florin Estefan, artistic director of the Romanian National Opera in Cluj-Napoca, Marco Iezzi, tenor and president of the BJM Management agency, and Jure Bučević, artistic director of the Casta Diva competition from Croatia.

The most successful contestants will be awarded cash prizes. The first prize winner will receive 2.000 euros, the second-place candidate 1.000 euros, and the third-place candidate 500 euros. The audience will also have the opportunity to choose their favorite, who will be awarded the Audience Award in the amount of 200 euros.

The competition is organized by the Croatian House Split, a public cultural institution, with the aim of recognizing and promoting young opera talents and creating new opportunities for their professional and artistic development.

1. Erika Henriques Teles da Silva, mezzo-soprano
Johann Strauss II (1825–1899)
The bat
"Ich lade gern mir Gäste ein"

2. So Ry Kim, soprano
Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
Rigoletto
"Dear name"

3. Marija Salečić, soprano
Vincenzo Bellini (1801–1835)
The Capulets and the Montagues
"Eccomi in lieta vesta... Oh! quante volte..."

4. Melanya Sivolyan, soprano
Francesco Cilea (1866–1950)
Adriana Lecouvreur
"I am the humble handmaid"

5. Maria Salvini, mezzo-soprano
Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868)
La Cenerentola
"Nacqui all'affanno... Non più mesta"

6. Milan Perišić, baritone
Jules Massenet (1842–1912)
Herodiad
"Vision fugitive"

7. Dajana Lupić, soprano
Jacques Offenbach (1819–1880)
Les Contes d'Hoffmann
"Les oiseaux dans la charmille"

8. Dora Jana Klarić, mezzo-soprano
Amilcare Ponchielli (1834–1886)
La Gioconda
"Voce di donna o d'angelo"

9. Ana Stula, soprano
Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924)
Turandot
"In this palace"

10. Volodymyr Morozov, bass
Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
Sicilian Vespers
"Oh homeland, oh Palermo"

11. Jia Sucheng, soprano
Vincenzo Bellini (1801–1835)
the sleepwalker
"Ah! Non credea mirarti... Ah! non giunge"

12. Natalia Dzhavshanashvili, soprano
Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901)
The Troubadour
"Silence, peaceful night"