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Operatober: October 1- November 1 

World Opera Day is celebrated each year on October 25.

 

But one day of celebration isn't long enough! The US and Canada have a flourishing operatic music community. We're proud to share the amazing events our members have planned for you during the whole month of October.

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Join in the fun as OVI hosts activities for everyone to enjoy, online and in-person: from online costume competitions, to opera-themed recipes, to lively discussions about operas with professional docents and educators, there's something for everyone. Prizes, opera-themed recipes to try, book suggestions, and more await.​

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The centerpiece of Operatober 2026 will be the Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD presentation of Verdi’s Macbeth on October 17, perfect inspiration for a month of music, creativity, community, and just a little mischief.

If you don't live near a cinema that has the Met Macbeth HD live stream, consider having a watch party in someone's home. The Met now offers “Live at Home Streaming,” to be enjoyed on TV. Simply connect a computer to a large-screen TV via an HDMI cable!  Tickets are $20. Click here for more info

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Scroll down for a calendar of events organized by Region. Or, Click the Calendar Pages below to view a written list of the events in store, broken down by week!

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September 27-October 3 Events | October 4-10 Events | October 11- 17 Events |
October 18-24 Events | October 25 - November 1 Events

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Mark Your Calendars... OVI's Culminating Event: Operatober Grand Finale

 

WHEN: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 7:30 PM Eastern

WHAT: Please join us for the OVI Operatober Finale, a lively virtual gathering to celebrate a month of opera, volunteers, creativity, and fun from across the OVI community.  An evening of majestic music and gripping drama awaits as OVI members, professional educators and opera singers share behind-the-curtain insights into Verdi's timeless Macbeth 

Featuring special guest, Justin Moss (Florida Grand Opera), shout-outs from OVI member guilds and companies, entertainment, Operatober highlights... and, of course, prizes!

Come see what your fellow opera volunteers have been up to, celebrate with friends from across the country, and help us bring Operatober 2026 to a rousing close.

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HOW: Click Here to Register for Zoom​

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The Initiative to Celebrate Opera was launched in 2008 by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in collaboration with OPERA America. Inspired by Opera America, the Erwin H. Johnson Memorial Fund, Inc. for Opera, based in Buffalo/Niagara, have been the main sponsor and promoter in their area for Celebrate Opera WNY Week, Day, and Opera-tober for the past 15 years. 


A special thanks to Danielle Di Stefano, soprano, EHJ's Artistic Director, and the creator/organizer of the Opera-tober initiative.

Calendar Legend

 

Finding an Operatober event around you is easy! Simply look for the color that corresponds
to your state or province. You may also filter calendar results by clicking the Show button.
 

  • Gray: Northwest Region- (US: AK, ID, ND, NE, MT, OR, SD, WA, WY; Canada: AB, BC, NT, SK, YT)

  • Pink: Northeast Region- (US: CT, DE, IA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI; CANADA: MB, NB, NL, NS, NU, ON, PE​​)

  • Purple: Southwest Region- (US: AZ, CA, CO, HI, KS, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT)

  • Green: Southeast Region (US: AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, MO, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
     

Aria Ready to Celebrate?

 

Invite your community to join the celebration! Here are some simple strategies to inspire, engage, and grow community interest to make Operatober an annual tradition for your region.

  • Cross-Post: Collaborate with your local organizations to share each other's events on social media and websites. Most guilds or organizations have a Contact Us form on their websites. Simply write a few lines inviting them to come join and help celebrate Operatober. Include your contact info to stay in touch.
     

  • Get Creative: Opera-themed cocktail parties, fashion shows, art exhibits, yoga or dance classes... opera can be enjoyed both on and offstage!
     

  • Opera Memes: with the power of Canva, Photoshop, Krita, and other online software, you can make Operatober-themed memes to garner interest in your community. Use eye-catching graphics (old paintings and meme bases work well), have some cute puns or witty one-liners, and let your creativity go wild.
     

  • Post Online Opera Puzzles: does your organization have some posters or photos from past or current productions/events? Turn them into puzzles to share with your community online via social media! There are many free puzzle makers online; here's the one we used in 2025: https://im-a-puzzle.com/make-puzzle  
     

  • Opera Watch Parties:  whether it's a screening of a local production, or a timeless production with masters found free on YouTube, an opera watch party is an easy way to enjoy opera together. In-person, virtual over Zoom, a hybrid of the two: the possibilities are endless.
     

  • Opera Bingo: Host an Opera Game Night by making custom Bingo cards online for free. There are options on Canva, as well as various free websites, which can be shared digitally for virtual games, or printed off for in-person.
     

  • Proclamations: Contact local, county, or state government to request a proclamation for Operatober. Share it on social media, and/or at local opera events planned in your community: an official proclamation brings interest and uniqueness to your celebration

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