Baltic Drama Forum 2026 in Riga
From 5 to 8 November, Riga will bring together theatre professionals, researchers and critics from the Baltic States and beyond, as well as theatre practitioners, to explore the latest developments in Latvian theatre, discuss current trends in contemporary performing arts and foster new opportunities for international collaboration.
Alongside an international academic conference, the programme of the Baltic Drama Forum 2026 will feature discussions on the creation of contemporary playwriting, readings of the latest plays from the Baltic States, and a selection of Latvian theatre productions. Further information about the programme is available on the Baltic Drama Forum website.
From 5 to 7 November, the Baltic Drama Forum’s international academic conference, “Liminal Practices in Contemporary Academia: Between Artistic Research and Research in the Arts”, will take place at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and the Theatre House “Zirgu pasts” of the Latvian Academy of Culture, in collaboration with the “Culture Crossroads” conference.
The conference will explore the changing relationship between academic research on the arts and artistic research, examining how contemporary cultural contexts challenge, expand and reshape established understandings of research and knowledge in the performing arts. The conference will feature keynote presentations by Jelena Novak (Portugal), curator and researcher in contemporary opera; Diāna Zandberga, Vice-Rector of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, pianist and researcher; and Piersandra di Matteo (Italy), curator, dramaturg and researcher.
The working language of the conference will be English.
Conference programme: https://www.jvlma.lv/en/research/conferences-1/liminal-practices-in-contemporary-academia-between-artistic-research-and-research-in-the-arts
On 6 November, from 15:00 to 17:00, everyone is invited to attend the discussion “No Time for Drama” at the Karamazov Hall of the Theatre House “Zirgu pasts” of the Latvian Academy of Culture.
Why is it important to create new plays today when the world already has so many outstanding works of drama? What journey does a new play take from the author’s initial idea to the stage, and what happens to the text once it enters the theatre? The discussion will explore the role of new playwriting in contemporary theatre, its risks and opportunities, and why it is important to keep creating new stories rather than relying solely on established works. The discussion, held in English, will be moderated by playwright Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce.
On 7 November, from 15:00, playwrights from the Baltic States will present their brand-new, yet-to-be-staged plays and ideas for future productions at a play-reading event at the Eduards Smiļģis Theatre Museum of the Latvian Academy of Culture. The authors’ works and the discussions that follow will offer an insight into the spirit of our times and invite reflection on how the Baltic experience and perspectives on the world are expressed in contemporary playwriting. The discussions between playwrights and the audience, held in English, will be moderated by Laur Kaunissaare (Estonia) and Evarts Melnalksnis.
The event will be held in English. Admission is free with a ticket – available on the “Biļešu paradīze” website and at its ticket offices.
An essential part of the Baltic Drama Forum is its programme of local theatre productions, which gives international guests an opportunity to discover the diversity of Latvian theatre and its current artistic explorations. The programme will be complemented by a guest performance, “The Oval”, by the Šiauliai State Drama Theatre, further strengthening the forum’s international dimension and encouraging the exchange of experiences between Baltic theatres. The performance will be in Lithuanian, with Latvian and English surtitles.
Tickets: https://www.bilesuparadize.lv/lv/event/179257.
The Baltic Drama Forum is a programme of events dedicated to theatre, organised on a triennial basis, with each edition taking place in one of the three Baltic States. Its aim is to foster new collaborations and cultural connections among theatre professionals across the Baltic region, as well as to strengthen the links between theatre practice and theory.
The Baltic Drama Forum is financially supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and the Riga City Municipality. The event is organised by the Latvian Theatre Workers Union.