Narva Opera Festival

Founded 169 years ago as Europe’s largest textile enterprise – the Kreenholm Manufactory once had a choir that was conducted by the grandfather of beloved Estonian singer Georg Ots. Today, in this richly historicist setting, contemporary opera is performed and modern ballet from Estonia and neighbouring countries can be enjoyed.

At Narva Opera Festival, East and West, history and the present, aristocrats and bohemians meet; around abandoned industrial buildings, the freshest winds of the world’s music theatre begin to blow. In the Kreenholm district, one can sense the aura of the Tsarist era, Soviet solemnity, and today’s cosmopolitan spirit. Here, bold avant-garde meets the finest traditions.

The festival was founded by Narva-born opera singer Julia Savitskaja, who has been organising the festival since 2015. In 2018, Julia received the Estonian Cultural Endowment’s “Cultural Pearl” award for organizing the Narva Opera Days; in 2022, she was awarded the title of “Professional Cultural Figure of the City of Narva” in the field of music; and in 2025, she was recognized by the Ministry of Culture with the title of “Cultural Organizer of the Year.”

Festival Program:

14.08.2026 at 7:00 PM – Narva Opera Festival Gala “Turandot 100”

15.08.2026 at 5:00 PM – Philip Glass and Robert Wilson “Einstein on the Beach”