International Theatre Festival – Theatre Biennale
International avant-garde theatre in Venice
About Biennale Teatro
Venice and World Theatre
The International Theatre Festival, known as Biennale Teatro, is one of the oldest and most prestigious theatre events in the world, organized by La Biennale di Venezia. Every year, it brings the best of the international contemporary scene to Venice, featuring both established masters and emerging avant-garde artists.
Venues and Stars
The festival takes place in the spaces of the Arsenale — Teatro alle Tese, Tese dei Soppalchi, Sale d'Armi, Teatro Piccolo Arsenale — and in the city's historic theatres, from the Teatro Malibran to the Teatro Goldoni, with its headquarters at Ca' Giustinian. Performances, premieres, talks, and encounters with leading figures of the scene make up a packed program.
Awards and Training
As is tradition, the Biennale Teatro awards the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement and the Silver Lion, recognizing major figures and emerging talents. Alongside the main program, Biennale College Teatro offers training courses for young artists, actors, and theatre critics under 30, reaffirming the festival's commitment to research and generational renewal.
Biennale Teatro — edition 2026
The fifty-fourth edition of the Biennale Teatro takes place from June 7 to 21, 2026, under the direction of Willem Dafoe, with the title "ALTER NATIVE".
The program includes 158 events and 470 artists, featuring performances from the international scene, premieres, talks, and productions by young artists from Biennale College Teatro, spread across the Arsenale and the city's historic theatres.
Programme Biennale Teatro 2026
Direction and Theme
Director: Willem Dafoe. Edition Title: "ALTER NATIVE".
Awards
- Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement: Emma Dante, theatre and opera director
- Silver Lion: Mario Banushi, 27-year-old Greek-Albanian director
Numbers and Content
158 events and 470 artists, with performances from the international contemporary scene, talks, and encounters with protagonists, plus productions from Biennale College Teatro, the training program for emerging artists. International calls for young theatre critics and actors under 30 are planned.
Venues
Teatro alle Tese, Tese dei Soppalchi, Sale d'Armi, Teatro Piccolo Arsenale, Ca' Giustinian, Teatro Malibran, and Teatro Goldoni.
Highlights Biennale Teatro 2026
Prices Biennale Teatro 2026
Practical information — Biennale Teatro
Getting Here
Venice is accessible by train (Santa Lucia station) and by plane (Marco Polo airport). The festival venues can be reached on foot and by vaporetto (water bus).
Tickets
Tickets and passes are available exclusively on the labiennale.org website, where the full program can also be downloaded.
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Where does it take place — Biennale Teatro
Arsenale e teatri storici di Venezia
Ca' Giustinian, San Marco 1364/A, 30124 Venezia