Arpi Sinanyan from Armenia and Jiazhou Wang from China are the winners of NEUE STIMMEN 2026. At 22, Wang is the youngest winner in the competition's history. They prevailed among the eight finalists who performed at Friday evening’s final concert. Each receives €15,000 in prize money. The young singers have completed an intensive week of competition that gave them opportunities to perform before an audience, an internationally renowned jury of experts, and other leading figures from the opera world.
Alexander Neef, Chairman of the Jury and Director of the Opéra national de Paris, says: “The winners impressed us with their voices, stage presence, and individuality. This week, we encountered young singers with distinctive artistic identities and something to say. Opera needs strong individuals like these. A competition like NEUE STIMMEN can give them visibility, help them forge connections, and open up new prospects. What matters is that they find their own path and continue on it with confidence. I warmly congratulate the winners.”
Six prizewinners and a total of €60,000 in prize money: That was the outcome of the NEUE STIMMEN International Singing Competition final at the Stadthalle Gütersloh. Eight young singers performed with the Duisburg Philharmonic, conducted by Vitali Alekseenok, for the nine-member jury, an audience of opera professionals, and other guests. The top three female and male singers received awards. The final concert was streamed live on the international opera platform OperaVision. A recording of the final will also be available afterward. The individual arias from the final and semifinal will also be available on the Liz Mohn Foundation’s YouTube channel (@lizmohnstiftung).
