With an opening keynote exploring the V&A’s cultural ambitions and a closing fireside chat on the National Theatre’s approach to AI, the Business of Opera Summit covered a lot of ground.

Delegates from Detroit to Helsinki came together to explore four key themes:

• Purpose – strengthening identity, collaboration and collective ambition.
• Passion – championing the artistry and talent at the heart of the industry.
• Performance – turning ideas into action and building a more resilient future for opera.
• Potential – exploring technology, innovation and new pathways for the sector’s long-term future.

Through panels, roundtables, working groups and more, the day was filled with lively debate, candid exchanges and fresh perspectives from beyond the opera world.

The summit generated fresh connections, valuable insights and renewed momentum across the sector. Opera America’s audience data, particularly around converting first-time attenders into returning ones, prompted focused discussion on loyalty, while the AI clinic received an enthusiastic response.

As Richard Davidson-Houston of Glyndebourne observed, this is “a sector coming to terms with the facts, and ready to work together to address them.”

Nearly every delegate who responded plans to put their learning into practice. The summit has created new connections, sharper insights and real momentum, providing a strong foundation for lasting collaboration across the opera sector.