The 2026 Berlin Performing Arts Market
The 2026 Berlin Performing Arts Market
On May 12, 2026, the Berlin Performing Arts Program will put on the third edition of the Berlin Performing Arts Market. This year, the Market will focus on the relationship between artists and curators and/or presenters as well as the qualities of this collaboration.
These connections are important, especially in times of funding cuts and smaller budgets. With this in mind, the Berlin Performing Arts Market specifically invites national and international festivals, networks, trade fairs and institutions to present their work and develop shared paths of collaboration to bring the independent performing arts into the future.
With this in mind, it will not only be Berlin-based artists who pitching during this edition: curators, presenters and national networks will also present themselves and their work. Over the course of exchange formats, we invite you to search for the types of relationships that will carry the independent performing arts into the future. How do artists and curators find each other? What connects them, what do they need each other for and how does collaboration take place?
The Performing Arts Market is part of the event Common Grounds – A Get-Together Examining National and International Collaboration in the Independent Performing Arts on May, 11 and 12, which will invite national and international members of the independent performing arts community to Berlin for two days in order to deepen the exchange regarding international collaboration.
Schedule of Events
10:00 am: Welcome & Warm-Up
With Franziska Werner (Vorstand des LAFT Berlin – Landesverband freie darstellende Künste Berlin e.V.) as well as Catherine Launay und Tubi Malcharzik (the Berlin Performing Arts Program), and Gina Jeske (presentation of the Performing Arts Guide 2026/2027)
1:00 am: Keynote Presentation on Berlin’s Independent Performing Arts Community
WithTatiana Saphir (performer, theater maker and DJ)
Pitching Sessions
Moderated by: Olympia Bukkakis and Maria F. Scaroni
11:30 am: Pitching Session – Part 1
12:45 pm Lunch Break
1:45 pm Pitching Sessions – Part 2
3:15 pm Pitching Sessions – Part 3
5:00 pm: Information and Exchange Tables with National Networks
In a decentralized exchange format, different networks and initiatives present their work and invite discussion. The focus is placed on questions of distribution, national networking as well as the exchange of resources and knowledge. With, amongst others,
- Aerowaves (Hub for dance discovery in Europe) (https://aerowaves.org/)
- Information Center LAFT (https://pap-berlin.de/en/what-we-offer/information-center)
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit/ ZAV-Künstlervermittlung Berlin (Federal Employment Agency / ZAV Artist Placement Agency) (https://zav.arbeitsagentur.de/DE/Standorte/Berlin/berlin_node.html)
- Circus Hub Berlin
- FestivalFriends (Association of independent German theatre festivals) (https://festivalfriends.de/)
- Netzwerk Freier Theater (https://www.netzwerkfreiertheater.de/)
- Netzwerk spielorte Brandenburg (A project of Freie Darstellende Künste Brandenburg)
- PADA (Alliance of Agents, Distributors, & Producers)
- PAMPA (Producers, Agents, Managers Performing Arts)
- produktionsbande (Network for production managers, producers, art workers, strategists) (https://produktionsbande.org/en)
6:00 pm: Closing Remarks and Presentation of the Pubication On Tour! Tools, Tips and Strategies for Distribution Work
Moderated by: Olympia Bukkakis and Maria F. Scaroni
You can download our program overview as a PDF file here.
Berlin Tours Accompanying the Program
In addition to the program on May 12, we are offering two "Berlin Tours": On Sunday, May 10, 2026: Walking Tour through Berlin-Mitte & on Wednesday, May 13, 2026: Independent Performing Arts Tour along the U8 subway line.
Please note: Separate registration via email is required for both tours. Please read the information about the respective tours. Participant numbers are limited!
Digital Booklet
All information about this year's participating artists and festival can be found in our digital booklet.
Language
The 2026 edition of the Berlin Performing Arts Market on May 12 will take place in English spoken language; simultaneous interpretation is not being planned for this day.
Accessibility
The event will take place at ZK/U – Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik (Siemensstraße 27, 10551 Berlin). The hall, terraces and conference rooms are barrier-free. Access is possible via a ramp on the northern side as well as an elevator. An accessible restrooom is located on the ground floor.