ETC's annual high-level gathering where policy meets theatre.

Conceived as a space to bring the sector together and strengthen its collective voice, the European Theatre Talks aim to foster dialogue and exchange between theatre professionals, EU institutions, and policymakers.

European Theatre Talks 2026 - Festival d'Avignon

Thursday 9 July 2026

In a world increasingly shaped by fragmentation, theatre remains one of the rare spaces where multiple languages, perspectives and cultures can coexist in dialogue. This edition of the European Theatre Talks brings together artists, curators, festival representatives and policy voices from Korea and Europe to explore how international collaboration can be sustained across linguistic and cultural borders.

Focusing on language diversity, translation and intercultural exchange, the discussion examines how theatre networks and festivals can foster meaningful artistic cooperation between Europe and the World, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. From multilingual artistic practices to practical questions of mobility, accessibility and international external relations, the session asks how theatre can continue building connections in an increasingly divided world.

Organised in collaboration with the EU-funded cooperation project DoSeL – Drama of Smaller European Languages and in dialogue with the Asia-Pacific Festivals Connection Partner Network- APFC delegates, the programme of this year’s edition highlights the importance of multilingualism and international cooperation as central values for the future of performing arts and contributes to current European discussions around the future Culture Compass.

Speakers

• Georg Häusler, Director for Culture, Creativity and Sport in the European Commission
• Cláudia Belchior, Executive General Coordinator Centro Cultural de Belém, ETC President
• Kyu Choi, Artistic Director of Seoul Performing Arts Festival
• Rok Bozovičar, General Manager of Prešernovo Gledališče Kranj
• Kyung-Sung Lee, Director, Creative VaQi
• Chou Tung-Yen, Artistic Director of Very Theatre and Very Mainstream Studio
• Joyce Chiou, General and Artistic Director, National Theater and Concert Hall
• Anna Reece, Artistic Director of Perth Festival
• Heidi Wiley, Executive Director, European Theatre Convention
• Marina Maleni, Theatre Development Officer at Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC), ETC Board Member

Programme

10:30–10:40 Welcome and Context Setting

By Cláudia Belchior (ETC President, European Theatre Convention) and Georg Häusler (Director DG EAC, European Commission)

This opening segment introduces the political and artistic context of the discussion, highlighting the importance of multilingualism, international cultural cooperation and artistic exchange between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. It situates the conversation within broader European priorities around cultural diversity, mobility and international dialogue.

10:40–11:00 Theatre Beyond Borders:
Why International Cultural Networks Matter

Moderated Keynote Conversation By Kyu Choi (Artistic Director Seoul Performing Arts Festival, South Korea) and Rok Bozovičar (General Manager of Prešernovo Gledališče Kranj, Slovenia)

This keynote conversation explores how international theatre collaboration can move beyond occasional touring towards long-term artistic exchange and sustainable partnerships. Reflecting on experiences from Korea and Europe, the speakers will discuss how language, mobility and cultural context shape artistic collaboration and how festivals and networks can become spaces for deeper intercultural dialogue.

11:00–11:35 Translation, Language Diversity and Access

Panel Discussion By Rok Bozovičar (General Manager of Prešernovo Gledališče Kranj), Kyu Choi (Artistic director of SPAF), Georg Häusler (Director DG EAC, European Commission), Kyug Sung LEE (Director, Creative VaQi), Chou Tung-yen (Artist)

This panel focuses on language diversity as both an artistic practice and a cultural right. Expanding the notion of translation beyond surtitles and interpretation, the discussion examines how multilingual artistic processes, accessibility and intercultural communication shape contemporary performing arts collaboration between Europe and Asia-Pacific partners.

11:35–12:00 APFC Exchange Segment:
Building Sustainable Networks between Europe and Asia-Pacific

with Joyce Chiou (General and Artistic Director, National Theater and Concert Hall), Anna Reece (Artistic Director of Perth Festival), and Heidi Wiley (European Theatre Convention)

This exchange segment brings together delegates from the Asia-Pacific Festivals Connection (APFC) and European cultural networks for a forward-looking conversation on future collaboration models. Through a series of short interventions, participants will reflect on current challenges, successful cooperation experiences and future ambitions for artistic mobility and international partnership-building.

12:00–12:15 Closing Conversation & Audience Q&A: What Future for International Cultural Dialogue?

All speakers return to the stage for a collective discussion with the audience reflecting on the future of multilingual artistic collaboration and international cultural exchange.

12:15 -12:25 Looking Ahead:
Future Priorities for European and International Cultural Cooperation

By Georg Häusler (Director DG EAC, European Commission)

EU representatives share short forward-looking reflections on future priorities for multilingual artistic collaboration, international mobility and cultural cooperation between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The segment also invites the theatre sector to contribute to ongoing European discussions on the future European Culture Compass and international cultural relations.

12:25–12:30 Closing Remarks

Final reflections and concluding remarks by EC Representatives, ETC, DoSeL and invited representatives, summarising the main ideas emerging from the discussion and highlighting future perspectives for collaboration between European and Asia-Pacific cultural networks.

^{Ptoto: Det Norske Teatet, Prosessen mot menneska}