The English National Opera (ENO) has announced a provocative 2026/27 season, marking its evolution as a dual-centre company with major residences in both London and Greater Manchester. The nine-opera season features six new productions and four works by contemporary female composers, centered on powerful themes of resistance, resilience, and freedom.
A major highlight is the first UK performance in 15 years of Philip Glass and Robert Wilson’s masterpiece, Einstein on the Beach. Directed by Phelim McDermott, this experiential production will premiere in June 2027 at Manchester’s Aviva Studios before traveling internationally. This follows the transfer of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angel’s Bone from Manchester to the London Coliseum in October 2026.
Artistic Director Annilese Miskimmon will helm two connected new productions at the London Coliseum: Puccini’s Tosca and Kaija Saariaho’s Adriana Mater. Conceived as a bold narrative arc exploring the intersection of art and war, the two works will even be available to view as a consecutive matinee and evening pairing on December 5, 2026.
The season also features the London operatic premiere of Lars von Trier’s Breaking the Waves, directed by Tinuke Craig, and the ENO premiere of Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride, directed by Lyndsey Turner. For fans of political satire, a riotous double bill pairs Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial by Jury with Arthur Sullivan’s The Zoo.
The ENO remains committed to accessibility and artist development. Over 5,000 free tickets will be available for Under 21s across both regions, with tickets for all starting at just £25. The company also announced Spanish conductor Néstor Bayona as the new Mackerras Fellow, mentored by Music Director Designate André de Ridder.
Beyond the stage, the ENO’s social impact continues through the ENO Breathe programme, which is expanding to support chronic respiratory conditions in both London and Greater Manchester. In a unique fusion of culture and sport, the season concludes with the Perfect Pitch finale in Salford—a mass performance of 400 singers celebrating the link between opera and football just one week before the 2026 World Cup.
