GEORGE VÎRBAN IS THE WINNER OF THE K-GAGOK SUPERSTAR 2026

Romanian tenor George Vîrban has been named the winner of K-Gagok Superstar 2026, an international vocal competition dedicated to Korean art song and bringing together outstanding singers from around the world.

K-Gagok Superstar is a music show-style vocal competition, organised by the KBS Korean National Television, in which international vocalists compete by performing Korean art songs, reflecting the growing global interest in Korean culture and music. The program seeks to promote Korean art song both domestically and internationally, introducing this distinctive repertoire to audiences worldwide.

Internationally acclaimed soprano Sumi Jo served as Chair of the prestigious jury, which awarded Vîrban the top prize following his vibrant and compelling performance.

The victory marks another significant achievement in the rapidly developing international career of George Vîrban, who is establishing himself as one of the most promising tenors of his generation.

During the 2026/27 season, Vîrban will make two major role debuts: Roméo in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette at the Romanian National Opera in Cluj-Napoca, and Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at the Municipal Theatre of Santiago de Chile.

He will also appear as Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv, conducted by Maestro Dan Ettinger.

In 2028, Vîrban is scheduled to make his debut as Roméo at one of the world’s leading opera houses,further marking his emergence on the international opera stage.