Name: Theatertreffen der Jugend 2026
Start: 2026-05-30T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-06-06T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Haus der Berliner Festspiele

Theatertreffen der Jugend

About Theatertreffen der Jugend

The Theatertreffen der Jugend is the most important federal competition for young, non-professional theatre in Germany. Since 1980, the Berliner Festspiele's 'junge Szene' department has invited seven outstanding youth productions from across Germany to the Haus der Berliner Festspiele in Wilmersdorf every early summer. The 47th edition in 2026 runs from May 30 to June 6: 103 ensembles from all 16 federal states applied, and the jury selected seven productions from five federal states. The performances are accompanied by a dense forum programme with workshops, artist talks, and discussion formats under the motto "(Re-)Claim Space: Theatre Spaces and their Political Dimension".

Dates 30 May — 06 Jun 2026

Venue Berlin (11000)

Prices —

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Theatertreffen der Jugend — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 47th edition of the Theatertreffen der Jugend runs from May 30 to June 6, 2026, at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. 103 ensembles from all 16 federal states had applied; the jury selected seven productions from five federal states. The selection was published on March 24, the programme on April 30; ticket pre-sales started on May 6. The 2026 Forum programme runs under the motto "(Re-)Claim Space: Theatre Spaces and their Political Dimension".

The 47th edition brings together seven youth productions from five federal states from May 30 to June 6, 2026, at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. The selection is the result of a nationwide competition with 103 submissions. In parallel, workshops, artist talks, and discourse events are held under the Forum motto "(Re-)Claim Space".

Highlights Theatertreffen der Jugend 2026

47th Federal Competition for Young, Non-Professional Theatre
Seven productions from five federal states
103 submissions from all 16 federal states
Forum programme "(Re-)Claim Space"
Workshops and artist talks at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele

Programme Theatertreffen der Jugend 2026

Invited Productions 2026

ALICE im Wunderl@nd – Göttingen (Lower Saxony)
ANNE – Cottbus (Brandenburg)
APOLLON – STOP TRYNA BE GOD – Düsseldorf (North Rhine-Westphalia)
FRISCH gefragt! – Berlin
Mission (im)possible – in the end lies the beginning – Berlin
TRAUER//FALL – Cologne (North Rhine-Westphalia)
Zum Lachen in den Keller – Stuttgart (Baden-Württemberg)

Forum

Motto: (Re-)Claim Space: Theatre Spaces and their Political Dimension
Workshops, artist talks, discussion formats
Writing days, research formats
Accompanying programme for invited ensembles and accredited multipliers

Dates

Selection published: March 24, 2026
Programme published: April 30, 2026
Pre-sale start: May 6, 2026
Festival week: May 30 – June 6, 2026

Prices Theatertreffen der Jugend 2026

Single tickets are available via the Berliner Festspiele webshop, by phone (+49 30 254 89 100), or at the box office. Reduced rates are available for pupils, students, and groups. A contingent of discounted tickets is available during pre-sales and at the box office.

Practical information

Practical information — Theatertreffen der Jugend

Getting There

Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Schaperstraße 24, 10719 Berlin (District Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, Neighbourhood Wilmersdorf). U-Bahn lines U3/U9 Spichernstraße (approx. 200 m), Bus M19/M29.

Tickets

Single tickets are available via the Berliner Festspiele webshop, by phone (+49 30 254 89 100), or at the box office. Reduced rates are available for pupils, students, and groups.

Forum

The Forum programme is primarily for the invited ensembles but can be accredited for educators, theatre teachers, and multipliers.

Federal Competition for Young Theatre since 1980

Alongside the Theatertreffen for professional stages, the Theatertreffen der Jugend is the second major festival brand of the Berliner Festspiele on Schaperstraße. Since 1980, the competition has brought together seven selected youth productions from all over Germany at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele every May/June – serving as a platform, meeting space, and source of inspiration for young, non-professional theatre between the ages of 14 and 21.

47th Edition 2026

In 2026, the 47th edition runs from May 30 to June 6. A five-member jury invited seven productions from five federal states out of 103 submitted productions from all 16 federal states. Featured are: ALICE im Wunderl@nd (Göttingen), ANNE (Cottbus), APOLLON – STOP TRYNA BE GOD (Düsseldorf), FRISCH gefragt! (Berlin), Mission (im)possible – in the end lies the beginning (Berlin), TRAUER//FALL (Cologne), and Zum Lachen in den Keller (Stuttgart).

Forum 2026: (Re-)Claim Space

Parallel to the performances, the Forum programme runs for the invited ensembles and accredited multipliers. The 2026 motto is: "(Re-)Claim Space: Theatre Spaces and their Political Dimension". Workshops, talks with jury members, artist discussions, research formats, and writing days frame the productions and connect young theatre makers nationwide.

At the Haus der Berliner Festspiele

The venue is the Haus der Berliner Festspiele at Schaperstraße 24, Berlin-Wilmersdorf (district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf) – U-Bahn lines U3/U9 Spichernstraße, approx. 200 m. This traditional theatre building, with its Great Hall, Side Stage, and Foyer, is in continuous use during the festival week: workshops in the mornings, productions in the afternoons and evenings, followed by discussion rounds in the foyer.