An October opera festival in Wexford, founded in 1951 by Dr. Thomas Walsh after a talk by Sir Compton Mackenzie, running roughly seventeen consecutive days at the National Opera House and deliberately staging rarely performed operas selected partly through a public vote drawing participants from thirty countries.
A November 1950 talk by writer Sir Compton Mackenzie inspired Dr.
The festival's defining curatorial policy is staging operas explicitly chosen for being unjustly neglected rather than standard repertoire works, and some of its revivals have subsequently entered the international standard repertoire elsewhere, a documented downstream influence few festivals can claim
A public vote drawing participants from thirty countries helps shape which obscure operas receive a given year's revival
Its public repertoire vote, drawing participants from thirty countries, gives international audiences a direct role in shaping which forgotten operas receive a given year's revival
Staging deliberately neglected or rarely performed operas
chosen partly through an international public vote
is the festival's defining and long-standing curatorial custom
15–31 October 2026
Wexford Festival Opera is easier when the venue, route and way back from Wexford are chosen before the day starts.
Smart or formal dress is traditional though now optional; a coat is practical for cool October evenings outside the theatre.
Wexford Festival Opera is easier with a small bag, charged phone and group plan that survives poor signal.
For peak dates, book flexible lodging near reliable routes into and out of Wexford.
Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.
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Wexford Festival Opera is listed for 15–31 October 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Wexford, Ireland. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
17 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.
Wexford, Leinster, Ireland
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