THEATER DER WELT is Germany's most important and oldest international theater festival. Since 1979, every two to three years the German Centre of International Theatre Institute is choosing a new partner to host the festival. In 2029, THEATER DER WELT will celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Through its changing venues, collaboration with local and international partners, and diversity of artistic perspectives, the festival creates a unique space for innovation, dialogue, and lasting inspiration for the theater landscape in Germany and around the world.
THEATER DER WELT's objectives are:
1. To increase visibility of international artistic developments and working methods at the local level
2. To activate the respective local urban society and open up its perspectives on international cooperation and intercultural coexistence
3. To promote the international exchange of knowledge and experience
4. To develop models and provide impetus for the establishment of sustainable structures for international artistic cooperation
5. To form networks, collaborations, working relationships, and synergies that extend beyond national borders and festival periods.
For each festival edition, the local partners develop a program in cooperation with the ITI that focuses on international exchange and ties in with the specifics of the local conditions.
Who can apply?
The call for applications is aimed at cultural institutions, theaters, and production companies, as well as their local and state governments. It is possible to apply as a consortium of several institutions.
The multi-stage application process begins in stage 1 with an expression of interest from an institution and a declaration of intent for proportional financing by the municipality and state (deadline: January 31, 2026).
In the second stage, a concept for the artistic curation, management, and implementation of the festival is submitted, which addresses the stated goals of THEATER DER WELT and outlines possibilities for its sustainable development (deadline: March 31, 2026).
Based on the submitted documents, selection interviews will take place in April/May 2026. The decision on the venue will be made by the board of the German Center of the International Theater Institute on the basis of the applications received, probably at the end of May 2026. Additional expertise from members or external sources may be consulted for the selection process.
Applications can be submitted from now until March 31, 2026, electronically by email to bewerbung@iti-germany.de
or by mail to Zentrum Bundesrepublik Deutschland des Internationalen Theaterinstituts e.V., Mariannenplatz 2, 10997 Berlin, Germany
If you have any questions regarding content, finances, or formal requirements, please contact Dr. Juliane Zellner, ITI Director: j.zellner@iti-germany.de
> Download FACT SHEET (DE)