Join us for the Festival Opening Ceremony followed by our new regional touring show Bravo! to kick-start the Festival of Outback Opera 2027.

Our Festival Opening takes place in the beautiful Royal Theatre Winton, one of the world’s most unique cinematic and live performance venues under the beautiful Winton sky.

The evening will begin with an official Opening Ceremony for the festival commencing at 6pm followed by our regional touring show Bravo!

From the passion of Puccini and Verdi to the brilliance of Mozart and Bizet, Bravo! brings together some of the most thrilling, moving and instantly recognisable music ever written. Opera Queensland’s leading artists take to the stage for 80 minutes of soaring voices, unforgettable melodies and stories of love, jealousy, triumph and heartbreak. Whether you’ve loved opera for years or you’re hearing these extraordinary voices for the first time, this is opera at its most exhilarating.

Big voices. Great music. Pure opera.

Join Opera Queensland and Red Dirt Tours on a 4-hour birdwatching tour to experience the beauty of bird song and rugged rock formations in Bladensburg National Park.

You will visit the old homestead of Bladensburg station for a morning tea and be serenaded by artists from the Festival of Outback Opera. Take a break from driving. Sit back, relax and let us take the dirt roads for you!

Bladensburg National Park is home to nearly every ecosystem in the Winton region - black soil plains with Mitchell Grass downs, riverine channel country, clay pans, jump up country, water holes. As well as being home to many endangered species it is also rich with Indigenous and European histories.

Meet outside the Tattersall's Hotel for pickup by Red Dirt Tours at 7:00am. The Balamara bakery will be open from 5:30am if you would like a light breakfast or coffee before departing. The tour will return to Winton at approximately 11:00am.

As part of the Festival of Outback Opera, Opera Queensland invites all visitors and Winton locals to come together for a session of Festival Trivia!

Test your knowledge in this annual festival experience in a fun and engaging pub trivia that asks questions across all musical tastes and this year’s festival topics. Grab a beverage and make your way to the historic North Gregory Hotel courtyard to play along. Stick around afterwards to hear the bush poetry of Banjo Paterson performed by Gregory North.

Join us at the iconic North Gregory Hotel in Winton for a lively panel discussion on opera’s unique role in regional life. Together we’ll explore how this multifaceted artform not only connects communities through music and storytelling but also drives cultural tourism when presented in regional spaces. The conversation will also consider how opera connects to other art forms and how it can contribute to a national platform for local artists.

Pre-event entertainment provided by the University of Queensland will start at 11.15am. Please make your way to the North Gregory Hotel Beer Garden in time to enjoy the performance. Grab a drink and be a part of an exchange of ideas about the importance of the arts for regional Queensland tourism along with guest Industry experts.

Panel members will be announced closer to the event.

Enjoy glorious music and dazzling night skies. Dark Sky Serenade returns to the picturesque Jump-Up at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, for a concert 75 metres above the breathtaking surrounding landscape. As the sun sets, sublime music fills the crystal-clear air, with breathtaking views and constantly transforming skies as you look out across the vast landscape. As night falls, the stage becomes a cathedral of light amidst the infinite starry sky.

This year’s Festival of Outback Opera is headlined by British baritone Sir Simon Keenlyside CBE, one of the world’s most celebrated opera singers. A commanding presence on the international stage for four decades, Keenlyside makes his Queensland debut in an unmissable festival appearance. He will perform alongside Opera Queensland artists, Camerata - Queensland's Chamber Orchestra, and singers and musicians from the University of Queensland School of Music.

This is opera as you have never experienced before.

Join us from 4pm for drinks and food before taking your seats. There will be a paid bar and food stalls available. Seating is general admission unless specified at purchase.

What to wear: Dress to impress or come in your jeans and boots. Practical footwear is highly recommended as the terrain can be uneven. Bring some layers, when the sun sets it can become quite cold.

This year, the Long Lunch returns to Winton and the Waltzing Matilda Centre.

Enjoy a cocktail and canapés on arrival and exclusive access to the museum. Then be seated for a three-course meal paired with a selection of fine wines and music. Our Long Lunch features an exquisite Chef's menu paired with a selection of fine wines, accompanied by a degustation of songs performed by some of the stars of the festival. As the flavours dance on your palate, the music takes flight. Rich arias and delicious duets make this an afternoon to remember.

This majestic concert takes place on an 18,000-acre working cattle station with 360-degree views of uninterrupted horizon, which has played host to everyone from the country’s first stockmen to Queen Elizabeth II.

On this very special evening some of Opera Queensland’s finest singers perform under the stars, accompanied by an orchestra joined by musicians from the University of Queensland. As the sun sets over the desert horizon, the performers are illuminated by the spellbinding colours of the outback complemented by spectacular lighting. Get your cameras out, this is Insta-grand!

British baritone Sir Simon Keenlyside CBE will also headline Singing in the Night, performing alongside Opera Queensland artists, Camerata - Queensland's Chamber Orchestra, and singers and musicians from the University of Queensland School of Music.

Join us from 4pm for drinks and food before taking your seats. There will be a paid bar and food stalls available. Seating is general admission unless specified at purchase.

What to wear: Dress to impress or come in your jeans and boots. Practical footwear is highly recommended as the terrain can be uneven. Bring some layers, when the sun sets it can become quite cold.

Treat yourself to fabulous singing and socialising, led by talented Opera Queensland artists. Sing Sing Sing is a fun-filled session of music making and merriment for singers of all levels of experience and ability. Revel in your love of song in the fresh morning air outside The Drover's Place across from the iconic Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame. Join us for a cuppa from 10am and warm up those vocals!

Come in your riding boots and ballgown and be ready for a gala like no other. An evening of fine dining, sublime singing and dancing set among the coolabah tree-lined Thomson River at Smithy’s Camp. This relaxed, yet stylish gathering embodies the spirit and iconography of the Outback with just enough glitz to ensure the evening is a memorable one.

Atmospheric lighting sets the mood as some of Australia’s finest singers deliver a series of opera favourites throughout the 4-course meal; each perfectly paired to the culinary offering. After dessert, the dancefloor opens and you’re invited to continue the celebrations as the bar remains open while you dance the night away.

Looking for something extra special? Start the evening with an optional Sunset River Cruise or Silverbullet Rail Experience to make the most of your Festival of Outback Opera experience in Longreach. Smithy’s Sunset Cruise and Rail Experience are available at an extra charge and must be selected in the booking process. Departure for the Sunset Cruise is at 3:45 pm from Longreach Railway Station, with the train scheduled to leave at 4:15 pm.

Please note, seat selection secures you a seat at your selected table. The seat position at the table may differ. Opera Queensland will contact you following your booking via email to confirm the names of all ticketed guests and their dietary requirements.

You know the music. Now experience it live.

From the passion of Puccini and Verdi to the brilliance of Mozart and Bizet, Bravo! brings together some of the most thrilling, moving and instantly recognisable music ever written. Opera Queensland’s leading artists take to the stage for 80 minutes of soaring voices, unforgettable melodies and stories of love, jealousy, triumph and heartbreak. Whether you’ve loved opera for years or you’re hearing these extraordinary voices for the first time, this is opera at its most exhilarating.

Big voices. Great music. Pure opera. This performance will take place at the Qantas Founders Museum, offering a unique opera experience in one of Outback Queensland's most iconic settings.