Eight singers advanced to the Grand Finale: Aaron-Casey Gould, Evan Gray, Yuriy Hadzetskyy, Jack Lee, Chao Liu, Thomas McGowan, Viktoriia Shamanska and Lea Shaw. The final concert took place at Theater aan de Parade, with Philzuid conducted by Karen Kamensek. The international jury, chaired by opera director Sir David Pountney, included singers Susan Bullock, Paul McNamara and Peter Rose, alongside representatives of major European opera houses and institutions, among them Opernhaus Zürich, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Staatsoper Unter den Linden and Dutch National Opera.
First Prize, the Grand Prix ’s-Hertogenbosch, was awarded to mezzo-soprano Lea Shaw, who also received the Van Amelsvoort Prize, the ANED Fund Audience Prize and the Press Prize. Based in Glasgow, Shaw has already gained professional experience with Scottish Opera and English National Opera. She has also received recognition at the Northern Aldborough Festival New Voices Competition. Her success in ’s-Hertogenbosch was followed by further performance opportunities, including an appearance at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and a television performance on Podium Klassiek.
Second Prize went to tenor Jack Lee, while bass-baritone Evan Gray received Third Prize. Both were among the eight finalists selected from the original field of participants.
The Grand Finale featured a broad selection of vocal repertoire, opening with the overture to Verdi's La forza del destino and including Feathers, a new work commissioned by the IVC from Dutch composer Anne-Maartje Lemereis. Reflecting on the competition, Andrew Watts praised the performances and emphasised the opportunities offered to all participants, including those who did not reach the final: "Those who were not singing in the finals received feedback from the jury and took part in masterclasses and other musical programmes throughout the week."
Beyond the competitive rounds, the IVC continued its efforts to provide practical support for young singers through individual feedback, masterclasses and opportunities to establish contacts with opera professionals. Its wider programme also reflected the competition's close relationship with the city of ’s-Hertogenbosch, where local host families, volunteers, educational institutions and cultural partners play an important role in the event.
The 2026 edition also expanded its international reach through a new streaming partnership with OperaVision, allowing audiences beyond the Netherlands to follow the competition. In his closing reflections, Watts underlined the importance of continued support for cultural institutions and events: "If we do not collectively support events such as these then they will disappear." His appeal reflected the broader challenges facing classical music organisations and the need to maintain opportunities for emerging artists.
