From 1992, he directed operas at international locations, such as Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss at La Monnaie, Smetana's Die verkaufte Braut at the Volksoper Wien, and Puccini's Tosca at the Grand Théâtre de Genève.

He directed Ernst Krenek's Karl V. for the Bregenzer Festspiele 2008, and Mozart's Don Giovanni at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Peking.

[3] He staged a Mozart cycle of Don Giovanni, Die Entführung aus dem Serail and La clemenza di Tito.

[5][6] From 2013 to 2015, Laufenberg directed for the Linz Opera Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies.

[7][8] His focus in Wiesbaden in the 2016/17 season has been again Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen, staged by him based on his Linz version, and conducted by Alexander Joel.