Mérida hosts free opera gala while Valencia opens ticket sales for 2026‑27 season

The Teatro María Luisa in Mérida will present a free lyrical concert on Sunday, 5 July, featuring arias and scenes by Puccini, Verdi, Mozart and Bellini. The event, organized by La Octava and supported by the city council, will include 12 singers from Extremadura, the rest of Spain and abroad, and will be open to the public at no charge after a recent €6 million restoration of the venue.

In Valencia, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia began general ticket sales on 1 July for its 2026‑27 season. The programme introduces new productions of operas such as Carmen, Lohengrin, Simon Boccanegra and La clemenza di Tito, alongside rarely staged works by Handel, John Adams and Cilea. The season will feature leading conductors, the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana and prominent vocalists, and will also include a diverse ballet and contemporary dance offering.