The European Opera Director prize has announced its 2025 competition will be delivered by Opera Europa in collaboration with Camerata Nuova and Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden.

The prize, founded in 2000 by Camerata Nuova, a non-profit association based in Wiesbaden, is held every two years. It is open to stage directors under the age of 35 and offers a first prize of directing a main-stage opera at a major opera company.

The 2025 edition will be hosted by Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, under its new management with Dorothea Hartmann and Beate Heine. It offers a first prize to direct Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann as part of the 2026/27 season

Initially, up to ten teams will be invited to the semi-finals to present their ideas to the jury on 1 and 2 May 2025 during the Internationale Maifestspiele in Wiesbaden. The four finalist teams will workshop a scene with singers during Opera Europa’s autumn 2025 conference.

There is no fee for applying and Opera Europa will provide a stipend to shortlisted applicants to attend the semi-finals and finals. The deadline for applications is 25 January 2025. More details on how to apply here