The 33rd International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival, organized by the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet, will bring four major opera and ballet productions to audiences at the historic Aspendos Ancient Theatre in Türkiye's Antalya from Sept. 12-26, 2026.
The festival will feature one opera, two ballets and one staged cantata across six performances. Artists from Kazakhstan’s Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre will also take part in the program. All performances will begin at 9 p.m.
The festival will open Sept. 12 with Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Attila,” staged by the Antalya State Opera and Ballet at the Aspendos Ancient Theatre.
One of Verdi’s early masterpieces, the three-act opera explores power, loyalty, revenge and belonging through a dramatic portrayal of historical events. Centered on the Hun ruler Attila and Odabella’s vow of revenge, the work tells a story of love, betrayal and a struggle for power, accompanied by Verdi’s powerful music and dramatic choral scenes.
Directed by Yiğit Günsoy, the production will feature Şafak Güç as Attila, Bilge Yılmaz as Odabella, Burak Pektaş as Foresto and Serhat Konukman as Ezio.
