Festival PERSPECTIVES

A Festival on the Border River

Festival Perspectives is arguably the most important ambassador of Franco-German cultural cooperation on stage. Founded in 1978 as the French Theatre Week, it has evolved over the decades into a bilingual, multidisciplinary festival that programs the performing arts of both countries equally — a unique feature in the European festival landscape. Since 2007, it has been supported by the Foundation for Franco-German Cultural Cooperation, based in Saarbrücken.

Saarland Meets Moselle

The festival consistently crosses the border: 21 venues on both sides of the Saar are spread across Saarbrücken, the surrounding Saarland, and the French department of Moselle (Sarreguemines, Forbach, Metz, Saint-Avold). A shuttle program connects the venues, and many productions travel between the cities. The financial backers reflect this — in addition to Saarland and the state capital Saarbrücken, the French department of Moselle has also been contractually involved in financing since 2002.

International Stars on Saarland Stages

The programming combines established stars with young voices. The 2026 edition will feature, among others, works by Mariano Pensotti (Argentinian theatre), Caroline Guiela Nguyen (French documentary theatre), a revival of a Pina Bausch choreography (in collaboration with Australian dancer and choreographer Meryl Tankard), and the acclaimed Australian circus collective Circa. In total, the 48th edition comprises around 40 performances — nine guest performances, three co-productions, a reading series, four film programs, two club nights, and two workshops.

Themes 2026

Three thematic lines run through the program: Identity, existential questions, and family history. The artistic direction selects productions that explore these themes from German, French, and international perspectives — a concept that aligns with the festival's cross-border mission.

Accessibility as a Program Point

Perspectives consistently invests in accessibility. For the 2026 edition, new program pictograms have been introduced to indicate which productions are suitable for deaf audiences (with visual elements), for visually impaired audiences (with a focus on sound), or with German Sign Language interpretation. The city and venues are also largely wheelchair accessible.

Awards 2025

The previous edition brought two important recognitions: The collective DARUM received the Nestroy Special Prize in 2025, and the play ARMOUR was awarded the Maeterlinck Prize in the circus category — both productions were featured at the festival in Saarbrücken. Over 8,000 visitors attended in 2025.

Saarbrücken as a Festival Stage

During the festival, the state capital of Saarland transforms into an open stage: The Saarländisches Staatstheater Saarbrücken, the E-Werk, the Garage, the Filmhaus, the Tbilisser Platz with its circus tent, and several clubs will host performances. Public spaces and open-air areas are also included. In Moselle, the Théâtre de Sarreguemines, the Carreau Forbach, and the Centre Pompidou Metz are central venues.