Open Call: OUTNOW! 2026

About the Open Call

The festival, originally founded in 1994 and held biennially since 2013 in cooperation with Theater Bremen, provides a forum for international emerging talent in performing arts. It welcomes individual artists, directors, groups, and collectives who have been producing their own work for no longer than five years. An artistic background is not a prerequisite. The call includes various disciplines such as media art, visual arts, and music with a performative or theatrical reference, as well as public space performances, site-specific projects, works for young/intergenerational audiences, and productions addressing participation. The 2026 jury comprises Anna K. Becker, Johannes Schürmann, Janna Schmidt, Canan Venzky, and Mable Preach. Invited artists will participate in the WHATNOW? lab, a multi-day program offering impulses, lectures, panels, workshops, and experimental formats for exchange on contemporary, solidarity-based, and sustainable theater practices.

What is Offered

Travel and transport costs, accommodation, and catering in Bremen during the festival period (May 21-25, 2026) will be covered. Additionally, an expense allowance (Aufwandsentschädigung) will be paid. The festival strives to ensure accessibility for all artists and will attempt to cover access and care costs upon consultation. Participating artists are invited to attend the entire festival and take part in the WHATNOW? artistic lab.

Requirements

OUTNOW! is for artists at the beginning of their professional career, who have not been working professionally significantly longer than five years. An artistic training background is not required; applications from students are welcome. Submitted works must be tourable and not older than three years at the application deadline. All formats from performing arts or with a theatrical/performative reference are welcome, including works for young/intergenerational audiences and productions considering accessibility as part of the artistic process. This includes stage works, site-specific installations, public space performances, audio walks, etc., and do not need to be full-length. Applications must be submitted electronically via the application form and require a video link to a complete recording. While OUTNOW! aims to enable international participation, the invitation of international (especially non-European) productions is contingent on additional travel cost funding due to a limited budget.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically via the provided Tally.so application form: https://tally.so/r/wdo6Do. A video link to a complete recording of the work is required.