Tanztage Berlin 2026 — 30 Years of Dance Platform

30 Years of Dance Support in Berlin-Mitte

What began in 1996 as a small platform for unknown choreographers is now Berlin's most important address for emerging dance artists: Tanztage Berlin. From January 8th to 24th, 2026, the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary — and with it, the close connection to its venue, Sophiensæle at Sophienstraße 18 in Berlin-Mitte. This double anniversary year represents more than just a special edition: it is an assessment of the value of choreographic work today and the new voices shaping Berlin's dance scene.

Ten Performances, Seven Premieres

Curator Mateusz Szymanówka has selected ten productions, including seven world premieres. The spectrum ranges from solo performances to collective dance installations, from physically explorative works to conceptual setups. Young choreographers such as jee chan, Dominique McDougal & Carro Sharkey, Dominique Tegho, Colleen Ndemeh Fitzgerald, and Mey Seifan/Tanween Company show what is currently being explored in Berlin's dance scene — identity, encounter, colonial heritage, rituals of intimacy.

Three Spaces, Three Atmospheres

Sophiensæle utilizes its three legendary performance spaces: the grand Festsaal with its stucco ceiling and chandelier, the intimate Hochzeitssaal — where many premieres take place — and the Kantine as an experimental off-format. This spatial diversity shapes the festival: some works require the large stage space, while others unfold their impact in an intimate setting. The building itself — a former community hall from the late 19th century — is part of Berlin's dance history: Sasha Waltz founded the Sophiensæle model for the independent dance scene here in the early 90s.

More Than Performances

In this anniversary year, workshops, discourse formats, and the first volume of the anniversary publication "Sophiensæle Forever" complement the festival. This structure connects performance and reflection — a characteristic that has distinguished Tanztage for years and clearly sets the festival apart from the commercial dance mainstream. The funding body is the Senate Department for Culture and Societal Cohesion, which supports a central component of Berlin's funding policy for the independent dance scene through Tanztage.