International Forum of the Theatertreffen 2026 of Berliner Festspiele
Theatertreffen in Berlin is considered to be the most important presentation platform of German-language theatre. Beside the ten remarkable productions from the German-language region, selected by a jury of critics, Theatertreffen has invited aspiring artists from around the world for over 60 years to take part in the International Forum, a 17-day scholarship programme.
The International Forum is a platform for global exchange and the promotion of young theatre makers, an initial impetus for collaboration, the search for diverse local perspectives on global issues, and a free space for communal play. It focusses less on the completed work than on all the creative processes that precede artistic work to gather new impulses for individual artistic practice. Once again in 2026, around 30 artists who are setting out on their artistic practice will be invited, to watch theatre together, to talk, to (re-)consider, to experiment and to make connections. The fellows will have the opportunity to attend the festival, to take part in intensive workshops with international artists, to reflect together the productions invited to Theatertreffen and theatre in general and to exchange ideas: At night in the hotel lobby, during the playful morning warm-ups and while cooking lunch together. Nonstop theatre, for two weeks – as scenic research, entirely without pressure to produce.
For its 2026 edition, the International Forum will relocate to the Floating University in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district. The rainwater collection basin built to serve the former Tempelhof airport is a man-made environment reclaimed by nature – both contaminated and paradisiac – in which polluted water coexists with a variety of birds, insects, algae, reeds and some humans with a thirst for knowledge. The Floating University is a site of cohabitation, a place of learning in between nature and culture.
Here, in the middle of the city, the question of cohabitation is raised in an entirely new way – and not only between human beings. As a rule, we think of and practise theatre in laboratory settings from a human perspective, from which we attempt to make statements about the world. Is it possible to overcome this human gaze within theatre practice? Which language(s), images, movements and artistic strategies will we find as direct neighbours of the Floating University ecosystem?
We, the leaders of the International Forum, Aljoscha Begrich and Sima Djabar Zadegan, invite the fellows to join us in initiating a learning process in collaboration with the weather and environment of the Floating University: spending two weeks outdoors in the sunshine and rain. Establishing connections. Listening. Trying out shared languages. But also going inside, immersing ourselves in the Theatertreffen festival, watching and discussing productions. Cooking together, eating together (and washing up together). And allowing theatre’s ecosystem to spread.
Deadline for applications for the 2026 International Forum: 30 November 2025 (23:59, CET)
Announcement of selected fellows: late February 2026
Online preparatory meeting in March and April 2026
The International Forum will begin on the afternoon of Friday, 1 May 2026 and end on Sunday, 17 May 2026. The day of departure is Monday, 18 May 2026.
The International Forum’s programme is based on the following pillars:
The International Forum 2026 will mostly take place at the Floating University, an outdoor space. The weather in Berlin in May can still be cold and rainy.
The scholarship includes all costs for participation in the programme:
This Open Call for the International Forum is addressed at theatre practitioners at the beginning of their artistic practice who have already gathered some professional experience. They may be from all sectors of the performing arts, especially from the fields of directing, acting, set and costume design, dramaturgy, text, music, video, performance, choreography and theatre education.
Applicants should
Applicants are expected to
We aim for the greatest possible diversity within the group. We don’t base the selection entirely on fellows’ artistic skills and approaches but also consider their main location of work (place/country) as well as the points of connection between their artistic work and the focus and programme of this year’s International Forum. Due to the funding structure, we can only consider one person per collective; this person must be clearly named in the application.
We also strive to create the most barrier-free access to the programme. Individual needs and requirements will be enquired during the further development of the programme. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us before the application.
Only complete applications that have been submitted before the end of the deadline will be considered. Deadline for all applicants for the 2026 International Forum: 30 November 2025 (23:59, CET)
Theatre makers from all parts of the world can apply. They submit their applications via different institutions. Due to the federal funding structure of the International Forum, the decisive factor is the main location of work, which must not be identical with the place of residence:
Artists whose current main location of work is in Germany, Austria, Luxembourg and Switzerland apply directly to Berliner Festspiele. Please send exclusively digital applications to:
internationales-forum@berlinerfestspiele.de
Artists with a current main location of work outside the German-language countries should apply via the Goethe-Institut’s application portal via the following link:
portal.gap.goethe.de/en-US
Further information on the application and the necessary documents:
goethe.de/en/kul/foe/inr.html
The deadline for applications for all applicants is 5 December 2024 (23:59, CET)
about International Forum:
berlinerfestspiele.de/forum-en
about Floating University:
floating-berlin.org
about Theatertreffen:
berlinerfestspiele.de/en/theatertreffen
Berliner Festspiele – Theatertreffen – International Forum
Co-directors: Aljoscha Begrich, Sima Djabar Zadegan
Assistant: Laura Jiménez González
Schaperstraße 24, 10719 Berlin, Germany
Tel +49 30 254 89 375
internationales-forum@berlinerfestspiele.de
The International Forum takes place in co-operation with the Goethe-Institut, the Swiss Cultural Foundation Pro Helvetia, the Kultur | lx – Arts Council Luxembourg and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport. It is supported by the German Stage Association.
Theatertreffen is funded by
Funded by
The International Forum is realised in cooperation with
The 2025 International Forum was realised thanks to the support of our partners:
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