The International Opera Festival of the José Banús and Pilar Calvo Foundation returns to Marbella in August

Marbella will once again become a meeting point for opera lovers this August with the return of the International Opera Festival of the José Banús and Pilar Calvo Foundation. The event will take place at the Teatro Ciudad de Marbella over three consecutive evenings, from 13 to 15 August 2026, with a programme featuring major works from the opera repertoire and a final gala dedicated to tenors.

The National Opera of Moldova will be the leading company in this edition, which aims to bring large-scale opera productions to audiences on the Costa del Sol during the summer season. The festival therefore brings back a cultural event of reference for Marbella, which first took place in 2002 and was resumed in 2025.

Three nights of opera at Teatro Ciudad de Marbella

The programme will open on Thursday 13 August with Nabucco, one of Giuseppe Verdi’s most emblematic works. Known for its dramatic and choral strength, the opera revolves around the conflict between the Hebrews and the Babylonians and includes one of the best-known moments in the opera repertoire: the chorus Va, pensiero.

The festival will continue on Friday 14 August with L’Elisir d’Amore, by Gaetano Donizetti, a lighter and more romantic opera that contrasts with the intensity of the opening night.

The closing event will take place on Saturday 15 August with the Grand Lyric Gala of The Three Tenors, designed to bring the cycle to an end with some of the most popular pieces in the vocal repertoire.

Simultaneous translation to bring opera closer to the audience

One of the highlights of this edition will be the inclusion of simultaneous translation into Spanish for all three performances. This will allow audiences to follow the storyline more easily and enjoy the opera experience even if they are not familiar with the original language of each work.

With this initiative, the festival strengthens its educational and cultural purpose, opening the door to new audiences, from regular opera fans to visitors and residents looking for a different cultural evening in Marbella.

A cultural highlight for Marbella’s summer

The festival adds a high-level cultural event to Marbella’s August calendar. At a time of year traditionally dominated by open-air events, live music and tourism-related leisure, opera offers a different and elegant plan within the city’s summer programme.

The Teatro Ciudad de Marbella, located in Plaza Ramón Martínez, will host the performances. In the case of Nabucco, the show is scheduled for 9 pm, with tickets listed at €45 in the municipal agenda.

The National Opera of Moldova leads this edition

The National Opera of Moldova, based in Chisinau, is considered one of the most important opera companies in Eastern Europe. Its repertoire includes major composers such as Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Bellini and Tchaikovsky, and its productions have been staged in different European venues.

In Marbella, the company will perform in collaboration with Leonor Gago Artist Management, which is linked to its international tours in Spain. Its presence reinforces the international nature of the festival and the commitment to bringing full opera productions, with soloists, orchestra, chorus and staging, to the city.

📍 Location: Teatro Ciudad de Marbella.
📅 Dates: 13, 14 and 15 August 2026.
🎭 Programme: Nabucco, L’Elisir d’Amore and the Grand Lyric Gala of The Three Tenors.
🎶 Main company: National Opera of Moldova.
🗣️ Accessibility: simultaneous translation into Spanish.
🎟️ Tickets: available through mientrada.net.

The information comes from the article published by Al Sol de la Costa and the official agenda of Marbella Town Hall.