The Grange Festival has announced its 2026 season, promising a packed programme of opera, dance, and concerts.
Taking place on a country estate in Alresford from June 2 to July 12, the festival will feature three new opera productions, a celebrated dance programme, and a series of concerts.
This follows a record-breaking 2025, which saw a 62 per cent rise in ticket sales and a 111 per cent increase in its Under 36 tickets scheme.
Read more
- Acclaimed guitarist to perform at Arlington Arts Centre
- Cheeky adult pantomime brings laughs and mayhem to Fleet stage
- 'I fell in love' America's Got Talent winner Paul Zerdin on his puppet friends
Tyler Stoops, CEO of The Grange Festival, said: "What excites me most about 2026 is the range of voices and visions we're bringing together.
"Following our record-breaking 2025, we've raised the bar even higher with over 40 Festival debuts, three new opera productions from outstanding directors, some of the world's best conductors, a genre-bending exploration of opera and soul, celebrations of Sinatra and Ballet Black—we needed an extra week to fit it all in.
"This season shows what's possible when you combine artistic ambition with genuine innovation—honouring tradition while fearlessly pushing forward."
The 2026 season features 26 performances across seven programmes.
Opera highlights include Puccini’s La Bohème, directed by David Geselson and conducted by Richard Farnes, with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
The cast includes Isabela Diaz as Mimì, Rhian Lois as Musetta, Luke Norvell as Rodolfo, and Patrick Dow as Marcello.
Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin will be directed by Olivier Award-nominated Max Webster and conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya.
Vladislav Chizhov stars as Onegin and Ruzan Mantashyan as Tatyana.
A new production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare will be directed by David Alden and conducted by Christian Curnyn.
The cast includes Tim Mead as Cesare, Sara Brady as Cleopatra, Hugh Cutting as Tolomeo, and Jess Dandy as Cornelia.
Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito will be performed in concert, conducted by Christophe Rousset with Les Talens Lyriques, and featuring Jeremy Ovenden as Tito.
Other concert highlights include Celebrating Sinatra, conducted by John Wilson with the Sinfonia of London and vocalist Matt Ford.
The Soul of Opera, conducted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra, will explore the connections between opera, soul, and gospel.
Ballet Black will return with a double bill, including Ingoma by Mthuthuzeli November and the UK premiere of a new work by Hope Boykin.
Tickets went on sale to members on October 14, with public booking opening on February 10.
Share