Stimulus-specific adaptation (SSA) is the reduction in responses to frequent stimuli (standards) that does not generalize to rare stimuli (deviants). We investigated the contribution of inhibition in auditory cortex to SSA using two-photon targeted cell-attached recordings and optogenetic manipulations in male mice. We characterized the responses of PV-, SST-, and VIP-expressing interneurons of layer 2/3, and of serotonin receptor-expressing (HTR) interneurons of layer 1. All populations showed early-onset SSA. Unexpectedly, the PV, SST and VIP populations exhibited a substantial late component of evoked activity, often stronger for standard than for deviant stimuli. Optogenetic suppression of PV neurons facilitated pyramidal-neuron responses substantially more (∼x10) for deviants than for standards. VIP suppression decreased responses of putative PV neurons, specifically for standard but not for deviant stimuli. Thus, the inhibitory network does not generate cortical SSA, but powerfully controls its expre...