The English National Opera has announced its first productions and plans for Manchester after being forced to relocate out of London. In 2022, the prestigious opera company was controversially told to leave the capital or lose its £12m annual Arts Council England subsidy, as part of an attempt to "level up" arts funding.

The plans for operas in the core repertoire remain very modest. ENO will stage a new production of Britten’s Albert Herring at the Lowry, Salford in October 2025. A semi-staged concert version of Mozart’s Così fan tutte will go into Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall in February 2026.

English National Opera will seek out classical music enthusiasts among local football teams to drum up support in its first move after moving to Manchester.