Gioachino Rossini’s L’equivoco stravagante has been selected by international opera fans as one of the three main stage productions for Wexford Festival Opera’s 75th anniversary in October 2026.
This marks the first time in the Festival's history that the public has been invited to vote on a main stage production.
The announcement was made by Wexford Festival Opera following the conclusion of a global public vote involving participants from 30 countries.
Opera lovers were asked to choose from three comedic operas previously performed at the festival. Rossini’s work, last staged at Wexford in 1968, received the highest number of votes, surpassing Il barbiere di Siviglia by Giovanni Paisiello and Don Gregorio by Gaetano Donizetti.
The initiative was launched as part of the build-up to the 75th anniversary celebrations in 2026.
While the full programme for the 75th edition will be revealed during the upcoming 74th Wexford Festival Opera, preparations are already underway for the Festival's milestone year.
The 2026 programme will follow the festival’s long-standing theme: "one for the head, one for the heart, one for fun." This concept, believed to have been originated by Wexford audiences and referenced in the prestigious Grove Dictionary of Opera, will guide the selection of all three main stage operas.
The 74th Wexford Festival Opera is set to begin on October 17, 2025. Running until November 1, the event will include 16 days of performances, concerts, talks, and free pop-up events. This year’s theme, "Myths and Legends," will explore storytelling traditions that bridge the past and present.
Find out more about this year's Wexford Festival Opera programme here
