Name: schrit_tmacher Festival — just dance! 2026
Start: 2026-02-24T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-03-29T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Theater Aachen (Hauptspielstätte) sowie Heerlen, Kerkrade, Eupen, Sittard

schrit_tmacher

About schrit_tmacher

From February 24 to March 29, 2026, the schrit_tmacher Festival will open its venues in the Meuse-Rhine Euregio for the 31st time. With the move to Theater Aachen as the new main venue and under the direction of new director Yvonne Eibig, the anniversary edition brings together international stars of contemporary dance — NDT 1, Tao Dance Theatre, Dickson Mbi Company, Humo y Polvo — alongside emerging companies. Venues in Germany (Aachen), the Netherlands (Heerlen, Kerkrade, Sittard), and Belgium (Eupen) make schrit_tmacher one of the most important dance festivals in Western Central Europe.

Dates 24 Feb — 29 Mar 2026

Venue Aachen (05334)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

schrit_tmacher — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 31st edition of the cross-border dance festival schrit_tmacher runs from February 24 to March 29, 2026, in Aachen (Theater Aachen as the new main venue), Heerlen, Kerkrade, Sittard, and Eupen. New: Festival Director Yvonne Eibig, featured companies NDT 1, Tao Dance Theatre, Dickson Mbi Company.

The 31st edition of the schrit_tmacher Festival marks a new beginning: with the new director Yvonne Eibig and the move to the Theater Aachen as the main venue, the most important dance festival of the Meuse-Rhine Euregio presents an international program from February 24 to March 29, 2026. Key companies include the Nederlands Dans Theater 1, the Chinese Tao Dance Theatre, the Dickson Mbi Company from Great Britain, and the Latin American group Humo y Polvo.

Highlights schrit_tmacher 2026

Premiere at Theater Aachen, NDT 1, Tao Dance Theatre, Dickson Mbi, new direction Yvonne Eibig.

Programme schrit_tmacher 2026

Featured Companies 2026

Nederlands Dans Theater 1 (NDT 1) — one of the most renowned contemporary dance companies in the world
Tao Dance Theatre (Beijing) — minimalist works from China
Dickson Mbi Company (Great Britain) — African-contemporary fusion
Humo y Polvo — emerging Latin American voice

Venues

Aachen, Germany — Theater Aachen (main venue 2026, new) and other Aachen stages
Heerlen, Netherlands — Cultuurhuis Heerlen, SCHUNCK
Kerkrade, Netherlands
Sittard, Netherlands
Eupen, Belgium

Focus Areas

Expanded talent development program
Increased youth program
Discourse formats on the festival theme "Dance as a social bridge"

Tickets and program: schrittmacherfestival.de · reservix.de

Prices schrit_tmacher 2026

Single tickets depending on company and venue (see program). Festival pass for multiple performances recommended.

Practical information

Practical information — schrit_tmacher

Getting to Aachen

ICE/Thalys to Aachen Hbf, then city bus 5 to Theater Aachen. By car: A4/A44 exit Aachen. Direct train connections to Heerlen (40 min) and Eupen (30 min).

Tickets

Advance booking via schrittmacherfestival.de and reservix.de (see program overview). Festival pass for multiple performances recommended.

Tip

If you fancy a "dance Eurotrip" day, combine an Aachen performance with one in Heerlen or Eupen — train connections make it easy.

A Festival Across Three Countries

The schrit_tmacher Festival is a unique feature in the European dance landscape: it takes place simultaneously in Aachen (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany), Heerlen, Kerkrade, Sittard (Limburg, Netherlands), and Eupen (East Belgium). This cross-border constellation is part of the program: the Meuse-Rhine Euregio becomes a unified stage for world-class contemporary dance. The 31st edition runs from February 24 to March 29, 2026.

What's New in 2026

New Festival Director Yvonne Eibig takes over the artistic direction of the German program section
Move to Theater Aachen as the new main venue — the festival leaves the Aachen factory hall where it was based for many years
Expanded focus on talent development and youth programs
Festival theme: Dance as a "social bridge" — embodiment, human origin, the relationship between body and mind

The 2026 Program Highlights

Nederlands Dans Theater 1 (NDT 1) — one of the most renowned contemporary dance companies in the world, based in The Hague
Tao Dance Theatre from Beijing — Tao Ye's minimalist works have shaped the international avant-garde for years
Dickson Mbi Company — the British choreographer combines African dance traditions with contemporary practice
Humo y Polvo — an emerging company from the Latin American scene
Further guest performances, co-productions, and discourse formats

schrit_tmacher in Aachen's Theater Scene

Aachen — Germany's westernmost major city, a university and imperial city — is a vibrant hub for performing arts. With the move to the prestigious Theater Aachen (main venue near the Ludwig Forum), schrit_tmacher gains the visibility the festival has built over its 30-year history. Aachen is located in the StädteRegion Aachen district and is excellently connected to the other venues via the Dutch and Belgian public transport network.

Euregio Concept

The parallel programs in Heerlen (Netherlands, at Cultuurhuis and SCHUNCK), Kerkrade, Sittard, and Eupen (Belgium) form a unified festival schedule together with Aachen. Visitors can attend multiple performances in different countries with a pass — an experience that is unique in Europe in this geographical density.