Application and Eligibility
Apply
Applications for the 2026-27 Laffont Competition are now closed. Qualifying Round results will be shared with applicants on August 28.
Application
Applications for the 2026-27 season are accepted from July 1, 2026 until July 31, 2026 at 11:59pm ET with no exceptions.
Applicants may apply to the Competition once per season and are required to submit one video recording of an operatic aria for the Qualifying round. Videos must be recorded in the 2026 calendar year (from January 1 - July 31, 2026) and cannot be edited for sound or video enhancement. No pianist will be provided for the qualifying round. Videos may have live, pre-recorded, digital or app-based piano tracks. Orchestral tracks, instrumental track, and self-played piano will not be accepted.
Qualifying round videos are reviewed by the Met's Artistic Staff with considerations of vocal material, musicianship, interpretation, career potential, and adherence to video guidelines. Please be sure to review the Qualifying Round Video Guidelines HERE.
Recipients of any judge-awarded prizes at the District or Region levels of the 2025-26 Competition are pre-qualified for the 2026-27 season, should they choose to apply. Those individuals will need to complete the application through Resonance but need not submit a video recording. Pre-qualified singers will have their own priority registration day in advance of other registration groups.
Repertoire Requirements
In each round of the Competition, an in-depth knowledge of language, style, and musicianship is essential for a successful operatic audition. Our District and Region competitions require four operatic arias in two or more languages of varying styles that best represent you at your current stage of vocal development.
Oratorio, musical theater, concert arias and zarzuela are NOT permitted.
Season Timeline
Applications accepted | July 1-31, 2026
Results announced | August 28, 2026
District Competitions | October 2026-January 2027
Region Competitions | December 2026-February 2027
National Semifinals | Sunday, March 14, 2027
Grand Finals Concert | Sunday, March 21, 2027
A complete list of this season's District and Regions will be posted in July 2026.
District Registration
Recipients of judge awarded prizes at the district level of competition last season only are pre-qualified and have first priority in registration, Group A. Remaining qualifying singers are assigned subsequent registration Groups B-E and may complete district registration beginning on their group’s registration day.
Due to capacity, confirmed participation at the district level becomes increasingly limited for later priority registration groups.
Singers evaluated as not yet ready to advance to the district level of competition are adjudicated in the non-qualifier group and may not register for a district. In light of singer feedback, the Non-Qualifying group will be larger this season to limit waitlists and increase confirmed participation at the district level for qualifying singers.
Registration for the Laffont Competition takes place on Resonance with instructions sent directly to registrants individually by email.
Registration Groups
Based on Qualifying Round review, qualifying applicants are assigned Registration Groups.
Aug 31 at 12pm ET – Registration Group A (all Pre-Qualifiers)
Sept 1 at 12pm ET – Registration Group B (South America only)
Sept 2 at 12pm ET – Registration Group C
Sept 3 at 12pm ET – Registration Group D
Sept 4 at 12pm ET – Registration Group E
Eligibility
Participation in the 2026-27 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition is subject to the following regulations.
La participación en el Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition de la temporada 2026-27 está sujeta al siguiente reglamento.
South America Region Eligibility
Participación en la 2025-26 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Región Sudamérica está sujeta a las siguientes reglamentos.
Why compete?
How can the Laffont Competition assist your career development?