International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra enters its 35th edition with a new vision and leadership
International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra enters its 35th edition with a new vision and leadership.
International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra, the key cultural event in Slovakia with a long tradition and major international acclaim, is launching preparations for its 35th edition of the Festival that has been shaping Slovak culture space for three and a half decades. The current preparations are accompanied by a smooth generational change in the Festival leadership and a return to the traditional autumn date: The Festival will be held from 25 to 30 September 2026.
Divadelná Nitra is both only a domestic showcase and a respected European event, as well as a unique platform that has been building international reputation of Slovak culture for 35 years.
Jubilee as a symbol of continuity: from volunteering to leadership
The entry into the anniversary Festival edition is associated with a change in the post of Director of the Association Divadelná Nitra who also serves as the director of the eponymous name. Darina Kárová, the Festival founder and long-time Director stepped down. Her successor, Anna Šimončičová, assumed her post on 1 September 2025 by the appointment of the Board of Directors.
Darina Kárová reflects on the Festival journey since its inception: "The idea of launching an international theatre festival in Slovakia was born, characteristically, in the Spring of 1990 when windows and doors to the world were open. I implemented its concept in the autumn of 1992. The Festival quickly gained reputation both at home and internationally. Over the of 34 years, the quality of the programme, the professionalism of the organisation and the independence of the Festival have been maintained
despite politically or economically extremely adverse periods: a non-governmental, non-profit entity has always had a difficult time in Slovakia."
The story of the new Director reflects the history of the Festival itself and its ability to shape new generations of specialists. After leaving Divadelná Nitra, many have found employment in leading posts in culture in Slovakia and internationally. Anna Šimončičová embodies the new generation of cultural managers raised by the Association. She has made a remarkable journey within the structures of Divadelná Nitra – from serving as volunteer while pursuing her culture studies at the University of Nitra to a key managerial post. After taking up the position of Office Manager, she worked her way up to Deputy Director, specialising primarily in strategic project management. She oversaw prestigious international collaborations, such as Be SpectACTive!; she led the production and implementation of the Festival main programme, and was involved in the creation and management of the culture centre bod.K7. During her doctoral studies, Anna focused on festivals as a contemporary form of celebration, their socio–cultural effects and their relationship with cultural heritage. In 2020–2022, she was member of the preparatory team for the candidacy of the city of Nitra for the 2026 European Capital of Culture.
The smooth handover of the Festival leadership is the result of the Association's long-term strategy to build a stable institution. Divadelná Nitra thus proves its ability to provide space for a new generation of culture managers directly within its ranks. This step ensures the safeguarding of the Festival values and the continuity of key international partnerships that the institution has been building for over three decades.
In connection with this continuity, Darina Kárová adds: "I consider the handover of the post of Director to a generation younger and more experienced colleague in the jubilee 35th Festival edition to be downright symbolic. I believe that Anna Šimončičová, together with her team, will preserve the best traditions of Divadelná Nitra and, at the same time, will enrich it with a new dimension. Moreover, she will bring her own unique style to communication with partners while maintaining all the challenges and decisiveness. After all, she is, too, is a Leo!"
Institutional stability and reinforced professional background
Changes in leadership during the preparations for the 35th anniversary of the Festival are also accompanied by the strengthening of the bodies of the Association Divadelná Nitra, which guarantees its professional weight and continuity. Darina Kárová continues to act as the Chair of the Association, having replaced in the post the recently deceased Soňa Šimková. Silvia Hroncová, a respected culture manager and former Minister of Culture, was elected Vice-Chair. From 2025, additional members of the Board of Directors include leading figures within different areas of culture and creative industry: Lujza Bakošová, Slavka Civáňová, Dáša
Čiripová, Katarína Figula, Ján Balaj, René Parák, and Ján Šimko. Oversight of the Association activities will be carried out by a new Supervisory Board that, too, includes influential names in Slovak culture: theatre theorist and journalist Zuzana Uličianska, actor and culture manager Ivan Gontko and dramaturge and translator Martina Vannayová.
More than just a festival: a stable pillar of culture life
Association Divadelná Nitra has become a permanent part of the Slovak culture scene over the decades of its presence. In addition to the Festival, the Association carries out year-round activities in living culture, learning projects for young professionals and the general public; it is also an active member of prestigious international networks. The steadiness of the Association and its ability to smoothly transform within the changing environment are an important example of professionalism and long-term institutional sustainability in the Slovak context.
Return to tradition: jubilee edition back to September dates
On the occasion of its anniversary, the Festival is returning to its Autumn dates tradition, after two years of being held in June. The 35th edition will take place from 25 to 30 September 2026. The main reason for resuming the Autumn date is to better integrate the Festival into the theatre season, to enhance the effective coordination with the repertoire of domestic and international theatres, and facilitate communication with the audience and cooperation with volunteers.
New artistic concept and good-ancestor philosophy
The artistic direction of the jubilee edition is led by the curators Romana Štorková Maliti and Miroslav Zwiefelhofer to strengthen the Festival profile as a unique platform connecting Slovak and international stage.
The Festival will build on the extraordinary success of the Just Created section from previous edition that presented three Slovak stage works in their world premières: The Blaho Uhlár Institute production The Abyss, the Debris Company project Crescendo, and the co-production of the ensembles Bez javiska and Divadlo Pôtoň The Living Garden She Left Behind. The line evidences the specific place of Divadelná Nitra as the spur and co-producer of contemporary domestic works, making the Festival a vital driver of the new artistic values.
The 35th edition communication will delve deeper into the Good-Ancestor philosophy. At the time of short-term goals and quick solutions, the Festival intends to open space for long-term thinking. "Being a good ancestor means realising that our decisions today – both artistic and social – shape the world for those who come after us. Divadelná Nitra is thus asking what legacy we are leaving for future generations. Can we create with a sense of responsibility towards the future? It is a challenge to perceive culture not as immediate consumption, but as a permanent investment in the memory and conscience of society," concludes Anna Šimončičová, the new Director of the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra.
BIO Mgr. Anna Šimončičová, PhD. Director of the Association Divadelná Nitra and Director of the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra
Anna Šimončičová is Slovak culture manager, specialist in cultural events and international cultural cooperation. She has a long experience in contemporary theatre and culture policy. She studied cultural and tourism management at The Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, where she received her PhD at the Department of Culture Studies in 2017. During her studies, she focused on festivals as a contemporary form of celebration, their socio–cultural effects and their relationship with cultural heritage.
Since 2014, she has been part of the preparations for the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra, where she started as a volunteer during her studies. Within the Association, she is primarily involved in Festival management, audience development, coordination of the Artistic Board and international projects. Since 2018, she has served as Deputy Director of the Association.
From 1 September 2025 she is Director of the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra and of the Association Divadelná Nitra.
In 2018–2022, she oversaw the preparation and implementation of the European participatory project Be SpectACTive! Dedicated to facilitating arts, international residencies and audience participation. In 2020–2022, being responsible for performing arts and audience development, Anna was team member for the candidacy of the city of Nitra for the title of European Capital of Culture. In 2021, she oversaw the development of the new Nitra-based culture and community centre bod.K7.
In her professional activities, she focuses on bridging the institutional and independent culture, supporting international cooperation and creating space for contemporary artistic reflections on current issues. She believes in the key role of culture and art in shaping an active civil society and sustainable development of the cultural context.
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