Festival dates: 21–25 May 2026
Application deadline: 15 September 2025

Schwankhalle and Theater Bremen will once again host the OUTNOW! Performing Arts Festival from 21 to 25 May 2026. Founded at the Schwankhalle in 1994, the festival has been held biennially in cooperation with Theater Bremen since 2013.

OUTNOW! showcases emerging artists, groups, and collectives from across Europe. A relevant educational background is not required. Artists, directors, groups and collectives with no more than five years‘ experience of producing their own work are invited to submit their current productions for OUTNOW! Festival 2026. Contributions from other disciplines, such as media art, visual arts, and music, that have a performative or theatrical connection, as well as performances in public spaces, site-specific projects, works for young audiences or intergenerational projects, and productions that artistically address questions of access, are all welcome.

The OUTNOW! 2026 will consist of Anna K. Becker and Johannes Schürmann (the artistic directors of OUTNOW!), Janna Schmidt (communications, Schwankhalle), Canan Venzky (dramaturgy and direction) and Mable Preach (direction, choreography and authorship).

As a forum for young international theatre talents, OUTNOW! 2026 will offer invited artists the opportunity to participate in the accompanying WHATNOW? lab throughout the festival. This multi-day laboratory, which is taking place for the first time, provides opportunities for artists to exchange ideas with actors from the regional independent scene on contemporary, solidarity-based and sustainable theatre production practices through impulses, lectures, panels, workshops and experimental formats.

Application information:

• OUTNOW! is a festival for artists at the beginning of their professional careers. Individual artists and groups from all artistic disciplines who have been working professionally for no more than five years are eligible to apply. A relevant educational background is not required. Applications from students are welcome.

• Submitted works must be tour-ready and no more than three years old at the time of the application deadline.

• All performing arts formats or works with a theatrical or performative reference are welcome, especially those intended for young audiences or intergenerational audiences, and productions that consider accessibility as part of the artistic process. Works for the stage or site-specific works, installations, performances in public spaces, audio walks and much more will be presented as part of OUTNOW! The works do not have to be full length.

• The deadline for applications is 15 September 2025. Applications can only be submitted electronically using the application form which is available at www.outnowbremen.de. The application requires a video link to a complete recording.

• Travel and transport costs, accommodation, and catering in Bremen during the festival period will be covered. In addition, an expense allowance will be paid.

• The festival aims to ensure that all artists have equal access. Upon arrangement, we will endeavour to cover access and care costs.

• Participating artists are invited to attend the entire festival and take part in the WHATNOW? artistic laboratory. Applicants should note that the festival will take place from 21 to 25 May and plan their schedules accordingly.

• OUTNOW! is keen to enable international productions to participate. However, the festival has a limited travel budget. The invitation of international productions, particularly non-European ones, depends on the jury‘s decision and additional travel subsidies.

Contact

The festival team is on summer break until 25 August. After that, you can reach us at outnow@schwankhalle.de if you have any questions regarding your application.

The OUTNOW! jury will review all applications from October onwards. If your application is shortlisted, we will get in touch with you in December.