Tanztage Berlin 2026 — 30 Years of Dance Platform
Berlin's oldest production platform for emerging dance artists celebrates its 30th anniversary
About Tanztage Berlin
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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.
Tanztage Berlin — edition 2026
The 2026 anniversary edition distributes the ten productions over two and a half weeks in January — performed in the Festsaal, Hochzeitssaal, and Kantine of Sophiensæle in Mitte. Seven of the ten works are world premieres, complemented by selected revivals and guest performances. Mateusz Szymanówka's curatorial concept poses the question of what artistic creation is worth today — a programmatic statement that runs through the entire festival.
The performance program is supplemented by workshops for professionals and interested parties, discourse formats on the state of the independent dance scene, and the first part of the publication "Sophiensæle Forever," which reflects on the 30 years of festival history from today's perspective. The funding body is the Berlin State Senate Department for Culture and Societal Cohesion.
Programme Tanztage Berlin 2026
The complete program for the 35th Tanztage Berlin is available at tanztage.sophiensaele.com with all artist profiles, trailers, and performance times. Here are the confirmed premieres and main performances:
Thursday, January 8, 2026 — Festival Opening
- 7:00 PM — Hochzeitssaal: jee chan, ratu (Premiere)
- 8:30 PM — Festsaal: Dominique McDougal & Carro Sharkey, Did4luv
Saturday, January 17, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Hochzeitssaal: Dominique Tegho, the intimacy of collision (Premiere)
- 8:30 PM — Festsaal: Colleen Ndemeh Fitzgerald, I want revenge, grandma
Further Premieres and Performances
- Mey Seifan / Tanween Company
- Further artists will be listed on the festival website with dates and venues
Accompanying Program
- Workshops in the Kantine (separate registration required)
- Discourse formats on the state of the independent dance scene
- First installment of the publication Sophiensæle Forever
Further performance dates and the workshop program will be announced via the schedule of the 2025/26 anniversary season.
Highlights Tanztage Berlin 2026
- 30 Years of Tanztage Berlin: Double anniversary with Sophiensæle
- 10 performances, including 7 premieres
- Emerging choreographers: jee chan, Dominique Tegho, Colleen Ndemeh Fitzgerald, Mey Seifan, and many more
- Three venues: Festsaal, Hochzeitssaal, Kantine
- Curation: Mateusz Szymanówka
- Accompanying program: Workshops, discourse, anniversary publication "Sophiensæle Forever"
Prices Tanztage Berlin 2026
Tickets approx. €20 regular, €13 reduced. Solidarity prices (high/low) available. Sales via tanztage.sophiensaele.com and at the box office (if available). Workshops with separate fees.
Practical information — Tanztage Berlin
Getting There
Sophiensæle, Sophienstraße 18, 10178 Berlin-Mitte. U-Bahn U8 Weinmeisterstraße (3 min.), S-Bahn Hackescher Markt (5 min.). Tram M1 stops directly in front of the building.
Tickets
Advance sales via sophiensaele.com and tanztage.sophiensaele.com. Regular tickets approx. €20, reduced €13. Solidarity prices available.
Good to Know
The building is partially accessible (Festsaal and Kantine; Hochzeitssaal has stairs). Detailed access information on the festival website. Separate registration is required for workshops.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Tanztage Berlin
Sophiensæle
Sophienstraße 18, 10178 Berlin