INTHEGA Congress 2026 in Bielefeld

Industry gathering for the German-speaking touring theatre sector from 29 June to 1 July

From 29 June to 1 July 2026, INTHEGA – the Association of Cities Hosting Touring Theatre Productions – invites you to this year’s INTHEGA Congress at the Stadthalle Bielefeld. A wide range of industry professionals from the German-speaking touring theatre scene is expected to attend, and they can look forward to three days packed with discussion, information and inspiration.

The focus of the congress on the first two days will be the Theatermarkt, the leading trade fair for the touring theatre sector. Over 190 touring and guest performance organisers will be presenting their current productions for the 2027/28 season there. The spectrum ranges from drama, musical theatre, dance, cabaret and variety shows to concerts, crossover formats and theatre for children and young people. Organisers from local authorities, cultural centres and theatres will gain a comprehensive overview of the current offerings and have the opportunity to engage directly with the providers.

The third day of the congress, Wednesday 1 July, is dedicated to the specialist conference. Keynote speeches, panel discussions and workshops will focus on current challenges and future issues facing the touring theatre sector. To kick things off, Christina Stausberg (German Association of Cities), Kirsten Uttendorf (Landestheater Detmold), Dorothee Starke (INTHEGA President) and Stephan Czuratis (INTHEGA Board Member) will discuss the framework conditions and prospects for cultural work.

The subsequent workshop programme addresses key issues facing the cultural sector: from social media strategies for touring productions and legal issues relating to operators’ responsibilities, through collective bargaining and staffing issues, to technical standards and data transparency in theatres hosting touring productions. Other key areas of focus include the Volksbühnen in Germany, the successful acquisition of funding, transformation processes at theatres, and addressing the growing shortage of skilled workers. In addition, several round-table discussions will provide opportunities for direct exchange between organisers and service providers.

A particular highlight is the gala presentation of the INTHEGA Awards on the evening of 29 June. With the ‘DIE NEUBERIN 2026’ award, INTHEGA honours outstanding touring productions from the past season. The awards ceremony will be complemented by a special prize awarded to the Austrian choreographer Helge Letonja. The INTHEGA Children’s and Youth Theatre Prize 2026 will also be awarded to the Berlin-based ensemble ‘Artisanen’. The event begins at 7.00 pm at the Stadthalle Bielefeld.

The INTHEGA Congress is the most important industry gathering for touring theatres in the German-speaking world and, in addition to providing an overview of the market and expert insights, also offers a unique platform for networking.

Further information, the list of exhibitors, the floor plan of the INTHEGA Theatre Market and the full programme of the conference can be found at: www.inthega.de/inthega-kongress-2026