For decades, the Theatertreffen of the Berliner Festspiele has been a seismograph for the state of our theatre, and thus for the intellectual state of our society. This year’s selection of the ten most remarkable productions represents theatre that has not gone astray in aestheticism or the latest news.
The productions that will be presented use a wide range of formal means to address issues related to power, responsibility, remembrance and individual freedom. They do so with artistic consistency, the courage to challenge audiences and a strong sense of the theatre’s societal impact. What is striking is not primarily a uniform style but a seriousness that all the productions have in common: they insist that art can be more than mere commentary and serve as a means to achieve awareness.
Particularly in times of accelerated public debate, the theatre preserves a special quality. It calls on us to slow down and think more deeply; it contradicts our preconceptions. In contrast to quick judgements and noise, it offers experience and concentration. The Theatertreffen makes this quality visible by bringing together different styles, generations and perspectives and moving them into an arena for public discourse.
It is not the task of cultural policy to prescribe content but to secure spaces where artistic freedom remains possible. The Theatertreffen is such a space: it is open, controversial and demanding. My sincere thanks go to everyone whose professionalism and commitment help to make this festival possible, year after year.
I hope that this year’s Theatertreffen will see in-depth encounters, constructive controversies and a perceptive audience.
Dr Wolfram Weimer
Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and Member of the German Bundestag
In April 2026