A warm welcome to the FAVORITEN Festival 2026!

At the heart of the festival are encounters – between people, perspectives and artistic approaches. The performing arts are all about coming together, both during the rehearsal process and in the performance itself. Whether on stage or in public spaces – without an audience, we can’t do anything.
Every two years, Dortmund becomes a meeting place for the independent arts scene, featuring plenty of theatre, dance and performance. We present a selection of aesthetically innovative and remarkable performances from across North Rhine-Westphalia. This is where artists and their work meet a curious audience.
We look forward to surprising experiences, unexpected encounters and lively conversations!

PUBLIC RETREATS

Under the title Public Retreats – Retreat into Society, we are exploring current social issues. In a time of systemic breakdown and change, existing norms and values are being renegotiated – particularly the relationship between private and public life:
Why is everyone so exhausted? How do we recover? Who can afford to take a break?
Who has the energy to get involved? Who has no choice but to take a step back? How do we navigate these crises in solidarity? Who needs our support?
We do not aim to provide definitive answers to these questions at the festival – rather, we want to explore them further together and open up new spaces for reflection.
We look forward to a celebration of the arts and of encounters!

Jonas Leifert and Rika Sakalak
Artistic direction