[2] The competition's parent organization, Operalia Foundation, is a nonprofit organization based in Beverly Hills, California,[1] with postal address in New York City's Upper West Side.

Cities which have hosted the competition include Paris at both the Palais Garnier and Théâtre du Châtelet, Mexico City in one of the Televisa Recording Studios, Madrid at the Teatro de la Zarzuela, Bordeaux at the Grand Théâtre, Tokyo at the Kan'i Hoken Hall [ja], Hamburg at the Laeiszhalle, Puerto Rico at the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center, Los Angeles at both UCLA's Royce Hall and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Washington, D.C. at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium, Austria, Germany and Switzerland, Madrid at the Teatro Real, Valencia at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Québec at the Palais Montcalm [fr] and Grand Théâtre de Québec, Astana at Astana Opera, Lisbon at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos[4] and Prague at the National Theatre.

The competition is open to singers of all voice types between the ages of 18 and 32 who are already performing professionally.

Applicants are required to submit two recent video recordings of them singing with piano or live orchestra.

[5] According to Operalia, the organization receives 800 to 1.000 submissions each year, other sources speak of "hundreds" of applications.

[5] While the jury deliberates the numerous winners, the audience votes for their favorite female and male singers.