Dear Neighbors, Explorers, and the Arts-Curious,

There's something remarkable about watching world-class opera unfold against the backdrop of a lakeside summer in Central New York. And this year, the Glimmerglass Festival is inviting us to think bigger — about the American Dream itself.

The 2026 season opens with a brand-new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Oklahoma!,' directed by Festival favorite Francesca Zambello. Alongside it: Puccini's 'Madame Butterfly,' Mozart's 'Così,' and Gregory Spears' 'Fellow Travelers' — a lineup that moves from America's heartland to the political tensions of the 1950s, asking what it means to build, question, and carry forward the ideals we share.

Add in the annual Youth Opera selection 'Robin Hood,' plus 'Vignettes: Ellis Island,' the jazz-infused 'Happy End,' and a full slate of Festival Favorite dinners, brunches, after-hours, and Artist-in-Residence performances, and you've got a summer worth clearing the calendar for.

Oklahoma!

July 10 - August 15

Set on the cusp of statehood, 'Oklahoma! 'celebrates the dreams and complexities of settlers forging new lives on the frontier.

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Madame Butterfly

July 11 - August 17

This elegant, visually stunning staging presents a nuanced examination of the American presence in Japan and the cultural collision at the heart of Puccini’s timeless masterpiece.

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Così

July 17 - August 14

Mozart’s sparkling comedy about love, loyalty, and deception takes on new life in an American college setting.

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Fellow Travelers

July 18 - August 16

Set during the 1950s “lavender scare,” 'Fellow Travelers' follows two men whose relationship becomes a dangerous secret in an era of government surveillance and fear.

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Youth Opera:

Robin Hood

August 2 - 7

When the law of the land is corrupt, what’s an honest citizen to do? In the absence of the King, the Sheriff has seized the country’s assets for himself and his cronies. Robin Hood is the unlikely leader of a band of ordinary folks doing their best to survive in the forest until just rule returns to the land.

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Beyond the Main Stage

The Festival isn't just about the four marquee productions. Woven throughout the season is a full slate of special programming designed to deepen the experience:

Vignettes: Ellis Island — an intimate, staged exploration of the voices and stories that passed through America's most famous gateway.

Happy End — Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's jazz-infused musical, a sharp, smoky counterpoint to the main season's operatic sweep.

Festival Favorites — the beloved lineup of pre-show dinners, Sunday brunches, after-hours gatherings, and Artist-in-Residence performances that turn a night at the opera into a full weekend affair.

Whether you're building a day trip or a long weekend in Cooperstown, these events are what transform a Glimmerglass visit from a performance into an experience.

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Can't Attend?

Still Applaud.

If your summer calendar’s already packed (or you’re more bleachers than balcony), consider celebrating Glimmerglass’s 51st season and beyond with a gift instead.

The arts matter. Full stop. And Glimmerglass isn’t just about grand arias and curtain calls. It’s a training ground for the next generation of artists and technicians. A safe haven for bold storytelling. A stage where voices—young, seasoned, and beautifully diverse—find their full power.

You don’t need a ticket to take part. Just heart.

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Photo Credits: Karli Cadel and the Glimmerglass Festival