With Dr. Ehrhart K&ouml;rting – senator of the interior Andreas Kriegenburg – director Nicolas Stemann – director Prof. Dr. Uwe Wesel – legal scholarModeration Peter von Becker – writer and culture journalist

The first debate addresses the background to the current controversy concerning the Red Army Fraction and the mythologising / demythologising of recent German history and the role theatre can play in this.

Theatertreffen

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Freund- und Feindbilder zwischen Ästhetik und Realität

Images of friends and enemies between aesthetics and reality

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Highlights of the 2026 Theatertreffen

Theatertreffen 2026

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Reflexe und Reflexionen

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Every year, the Theatertreffen brings the 10 most remarkable productions from German-speaking countries and works by up-and-coming artists from around the world to Berlin.

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Today’s Events

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Open Call 2026

This Open Call for the International Forum is addressed at theatre makers at the beginning of their artistic careers who have already gathered some initial 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 production, music, video, performance, choreography and theatre education.Around 30 artists from around the world will be invited to come to Berlin, 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.Deadline for applications: 30 November 2025 (23:59, CET)

International Forum

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On 13 January, the Theatertreffen’s jury of critics announced their selection of the 10 most remarkable productions for the 2026 Theatertreffen at a press conference. Our congratulations go to the nominated production teams and all participants!

The 10 Most Remarkable Productions 2026

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Director Jan-Christoph Gockel draws on a wealth of ideas and styles to interweave Friedrich Schiller’s Wallenstein trilogy with the artistic team’s two-year research project on former mercenaries in the present day. On 10 May from 17:00, 3sat will broadcast the spectacular, multi-hour performance from the Theatertreffen as a time-delayed livestream to the delphi LUX, creating a link between cinema and theatre.

Wallenstein (Livestream in the cinema)

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The Theatertreffen invites 34 emerging theatre makers from all parts of the world to attend and reflect the festival and to exchange ideas and experiences across artistic and national boundaries. We are very much looking forward to welcoming all participants and thank everyone for their applications! More than 800 artists from 90 countries responded to the Open Call published in the autumn of 2026.

The 2026 International Forum Participants

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The next Theatertreffen will take place from 6 to 23 May 2027. The 10 most remarkable productions, selected by a <a href="${link:{uuid:{8bc1f638-5ed1-41f7-a2fa-cc4a419ad956},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/theatertreffen/das-festival/ueber-die-10-inszenierungen/jurys/jury-2027}}}">jury of critics</a>, will be announced in a press conference in January&nbsp;2027.&nbsp;The programme schedule will be published in April.

Theatertreffen 2027

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Drama and Discourse, Mehr Drama!, Discussions, Awards

The 10 Most Remarkable Productions

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The fourth edition of the Performing Arts Season focuses on myths and rituals – with works by international artists such as Marina Abramović, Marie Chouinard and Dumb Type. Advance tickets are available.

Performing Arts Season

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With more than 130 international musicians performing in 24 acts, Jazzfest Berlin 2026 presents a multi-faceted view of the global jazz scene. The full festival programme, complete with concerts, films, jam sessions, discursive events and a range of community and outreach projects is published. Advance ticket sales are on.

Jazzfest Berlin

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More than 60 productions from across Germany applied to take part in this year’s Tanztreffen der Jugend. Following the jury’s selection process, the 10&nbsp;productions chosen for the final programme have been announced. The programme schedule has been published, advance ticket sales are open.

Tanztreffen der Jugend

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For more than five decades, Gabriele St&ouml;tzer has been grappling with questions of justice, gender and self-determination. Opening at Gropius Bau in June 2026,&nbsp;Dabei sein und nicht schweigen&nbsp;(Showing up and Not Remaining Silent)&nbsp;is the artist’s largest institutional solo exhibition to date.

Gabriele St&ouml;tzer: Dabei sein und nicht schweigen

More Berliner Festspiele

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This year, Treffen junger Autor*innen celebrates its 40th&nbsp;anniversary! For this special edition, around 500&nbsp;young writers from across Germany submitted their work, more than 100&nbsp;persons more than last year. The jury's selection has now been announced.

Treffen junger Autor*innen

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The group exhibition Kreuzberg: Kunst und Migration seit 1960 (Art and Migration since 1960) presents artistic perspectives on migration, work and life in the district that is also home to Gropius Bau. Rarely shown historical artworks enter into dialogue with pieces created specifically for the exhibition.

Kreuzberg: Kunst und Migration seit 1960

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Each year, the 10 most remarkable productions are selected by a jury of critics from more than 700&nbsp;shows within the German-language region and the viewing period.

The 10 Productions

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The International Forum is an initial impetus for collaboration, the search for diverse local perspectives on global issues, and a free space for developing artistic ideas together.

International Forum

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Aspiring arts journalists with a keen interest in the theatre&nbsp;will attend and critically reflect the Theatertreffen with the support of experienced mentors.

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At a Glance

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Seven theatre critics determine the festival’s 10 most remarkable productions.&nbsp;

The 2026 Theatertreffen-Jury

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The Theatertreffen’s database lists every production, theatre and director invited to the festival since 1964.

The Theatertreffen Database since 1964

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Exclusive insights, anecdotes and hotel experiences from three years of the jury’s daily life with trips to 3,943&nbsp;productions

From the Life of the Theatertreffen-Jury 2025

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The Open Call of Theatertreffen-Blog is aimed at aspiring arts journalists with a strong interest in theatre who would like to critically reflect the 2026 Theatertreffen. Coverage will mostly include text forms but is open to audio and social media formats. A pronounced interest in arts journalism and the festival’s programme is more important than an academic background or experience in journalism.&nbsp;Deadline for applications: 8 February 2026

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Advance ticket sales will start on 18&nbsp;April at 10:00

The Programme Has Been Published

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By Florentina Holzinger

A Year without Summer

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The programme will be published on 2&nbsp;April, the advance ticket sale will start on 18&nbsp;April, 10:00

The Selection Has been Announced

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<h3>3sat Starke St&uuml;cke 2025</h3>Last chance: The recordings of Bernarda Albas Haus, Die Gewehre der Frau Carrar / W&uuml;rgendes Blei, Double Serpent and Unser Deutschlandm&auml;rchen – the four 2025 Starke St&uuml;cke of 3sat – will be accessible in the 3sat Media Library and the Berliner Festspiele Media Library until 2 May 2026.

In the Media Library

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The Performing Arts newsletter provides updates on current productions, new artistic perspectives and upcoming events.

Discover Theatre, Dance and Performance

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Writers present their choice of new playwriting

A personally curated survey of contemporary playwriting has been presented in the new Theatertreffen format <a href="${link:{uuid:{24e50737-3383-45c7-8555-b5f9e7e42235},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/theatertreffen/programm/2026/dramatik-und-diskurs}}}">Mehr Drama!,</a> conceived in collaboration with the Verband Deutscher B&uuml;hnen- und Medienverlage (VDB). Six theatre publishers have asked distinguished playwrights from their programmes each to recommend one emerging playwright whose work has been presented at Theatertreffen in a reading with a distinguished cast. In 2026 the selection has been made by: <a href="${link:{uuid:{e62b4f11-4005-48be-bde2-ce2cfccd979c},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/B/sivan-ben-yishai}}}">Sivan Ben Yishai</a>, <a href="${link:{uuid:{35b6d0cf-a937-4411-a3fb-66deb1aacbfe},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/O/necati-oeziri}}}">Necati &Ouml;ziri</a>, <a href="${link:{uuid:{4b5f37fa-15bd-4af5-b217-ebbe532ddf55},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/S/sasha-marianna-salzmann}}}">Sasha Marianna Salzmann</a>, <a href="${link:{uuid:{27e5c053-e4b2-4a27-9db5-c84cd18e64a7},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/S/ferdinand-schmalz}}}">Ferdinand Schmalz</a>, <a href="${link:{uuid:{069cc369-6c12-4e01-94cb-406facdc8e8b},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/S/gerhild-steinbuch}}}">Gerhild Steinbuch</a> and <a href="${link:{uuid:{8cc65cf4-9a70-4d3b-b91f-9e16a9be7e85},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/T/paula-thielecke}}}">Paula Thielecke</a>.The playwrights who have been selected were: <a href="${link:{uuid:{65ba97c9-a867-4344-81aa-0ead805cbfd1},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/C/dora-yuemin-cheng}}}">Dora Yuemin Cheng</a>, <a href="${link:{uuid:{29420db1-cd9a-4ce6-a1d9-f169b28c5e00},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/K/lennart-kos}}}">Lennart Kos</a>, <a href="${link:{uuid:{b30b6c52-df77-4035-831b-96c300999e83},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/N/jara-nassar}}}">Jara Nassar</a>, <a href="${link:{uuid:{36ff1918-4503-46dd-92b0-e1578c98afe8},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/O/sharon-dodua-otoo}}}">Sharon Dodua Otoo</a>, <a href="${link:{uuid:{e885bd52-fa56-4e8c-ad52-f89901b0959f},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/U/laura-uribe}}}">Laura Uribe</a> and <a href="${link:{uuid:{dcda8935-f1bd-43a8-b018-245d6f8f130a},repository:{artists},path:{/bfs-mediathek/Z/leonie-ziem}}}">Leonie Ziem</a>.A collaboration between Theatertreffen produced by Berliner Festspiele with the theatre publishers Felix Bloch Erben, S.&nbsp;Fischer Verlage, henschel Schauspiel, Rowohlt Verlag, Suhrkamp Verlag, Verlag der Autoren and the Verband Deutscher B&uuml;hnen- und Medienverlage e.V. Funded by Heinz und Heide D&uuml;rr Stiftung.

Mehr Drama!

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3sat Starke St&uuml;cke 2026

3sat produced the format Starke St&uuml;cke, featuring high‑quality television recordings of four productions invited to the 2026 Theatertreffen. Together with discussions and behind the scenes, they are available in the Berliner Festspiele Mediathek until the end of April 2027.

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The ten most remarkable productions, selected by a <a href="${link:{uuid:{8bc1f638-5ed1-41f7-a2fa-cc4a419ad956},repository:{website},provider:{jcr},path:{/bfs-de/theatertreffen/das-festival/ueber-die-10-inszenierungen/jurys/jury-2027}}}">jury of critics</a>, will be announced in a press conference on Thursday, 14 January 2027, at 11:00 at Haus der Berliner Festspiele. The press confence will be available as a&nbsp;live stream in the Berliner Festspiele Media &nbsp;Library.

Live Stream of the 2027 Theatertreffen Press Conference

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With its 2020 festival edition, the Theatertreffen introduced a female quota of at least 50 percent in the direction position for the ten most remarkable productions. The jury and the festival’s directors have agreed to extend this rule for another year, up to and including the 2026 festival.

A Female Quota of 50 %

The volume of debate essays “Status Quote. Theater im Umbruch: Regisseurinnen im Gespr&auml;ch”, edited by Sabine Leucht, Petra Paterno and Katrin Ullmann and published at Henschel Verlag, presents all female directors who have been invited to Theatertreffen (inlucing the 2023 edition) since the female quota was introduced in 2020.

Status Quote

3sat produces the format Starke St&uuml;cke, featuring high‑quality television recordings of four productions invited to the 2026 Theatertreffen. Together with discussions and behind the scenes, they are available in the Berliner Festspiele Mediathek.

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Upcoming Events

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36 productions were suggested and discussed for nomination for the 2026 Theatertreffen by the jury members.

The 2026 Shortlisted Productions

Das n&auml;chste Theatertreffen findet vom 6. bis 23.&nbsp;Mai 2027 statt. Die 10&nbsp;bemerkenswertesten Inszenierungen, ausgew&auml;hlt von einer <a href="${link:{uuid:{8bc1f638-5ed1-41f7-a2fa-cc4a419ad956},repository:{website},path:{/bfs-de/theatertreffen/das-festival/ueber-die-10-inszenierungen/jurys/jury-2027}}}">Kritiker*innenjury</a>, werden in einer Pressekonferenz im Januar&nbsp;2027 bekannt gegeben.&nbsp;Der Spielplan erscheint im April.

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Tickets

A Year without Summer by Florentina Holzinger could not be programmed during the Theatertreffen’s festival period (1 – 17 May) for scheduling reasons. It will, however, be presented as a “TT Epilogue” at Volksb&uuml;hne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz in October 2026.&nbsp;

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Theatertreffen 2026: Impressionen

Theatertreffen 2026: Impressions

Impressions

Theatertreffen 2026

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Each year, the Theatertreffen brings the 10 most remarkable productions from the German-language region as well as the works of emerging artists to Berlin.