The Schwankhalle and Theater Bremen will once again host the performing arts festival OUTNOW from 21 to 26 May 2026. Founded in the Schwankhalle in 1994, the festival has been held biennially since 2013 in cooperation with Theater Bremen.
OUTNOW! presents artists, groups, and collectives from across Europe who are at the beginning of their professional careers. No prior educational background is required. Individual artists, directors, groups, and collectives who have been producing their own work for less than five years are invited to submit their current productions for the OUTNOW! Festival 2026. Contributions from other disciplines such as media art, visual arts, and music with a performative or theatrical focus are just as welcome as performances in public space and site-specific projects, works for young or mixed-age audiences, and productions that artistically address issues of participation.
As a forum for young international theatre talent, OUTNOW! 2026 offers invited artists the opportunity to be on-site throughout the festival and participate in the accompanying WHATNOW? lab. This first-ever, multi-day lab offers inspiration, lectures, panels, workshops, and experimental formats for engaging with members of the regional independent theatre scene on practices of contemporary, solidarity-based, and sustainable theatre creation.
The submitted works must be suitable for touring and – at the time of the application deadline – no older than three years. The works do not have to be full-length.
Travel and transportation costs, accommodation, and meals in Bremen during the festival period will be covered. An expense allowance will also be paid. The festival strives to ensure access requirements for all artists and upon request, they will attempt to cover access and care costs. OUTNOW! is committed to enabling international productions to participate, however, the festival has a limited travel budget. Invitations to international, and especially non-European, productions are dependent not only on the jury’s decision but also on additional travel funding.
