Support for International Theatre Festival Divadelná

The IETM General Assembly, held in Oulu Finland on 17 June 2026, expressed its support towards IETM’s longstanding member, the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra.

After 35 years of pioneering work, the festival has been excluded from public funding by the Slovak Arts Council, placing its upcoming jubilee edition in a severe financial crisis.

This unprecedented withdrawal of funding has also affected several other prominent independent cultural events across Slovakia.

The targeted nature of these funding cuts raises serious concerns about the future of key Slovak artistic institutions, venues, and companies, with potentially damaging consequences for the wider European performing arts landscape and community.

You can find the full statement from the Board of Directors of the Association Divadelná Nitra concerning the crisis of the eponymous international theatre festival below:

After a long time, the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra has, once again, found itself in immediate existential danger. In its 34 years of existence – with the exception of the administration of the Prime Minister Vladimír Mečiar in the 1990s – the state authorities have never entirely denied their financial support. That is up to now, 2026. By a decision of the Council of the Fund for the Support of the Arts.

The International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra is one of the foremost cultural events in Slovakia. Renowned for its mission of discovery, innovative nature, current social themes and programming excellence.

Shortly after was founded in 1992, the Festival became an influential platform for cultural exchange between the East and West. Recognised by distinguished theatre institutions and diplomatic missions, attended by eminent representatives of European performing arts, Divadelná Nitra acquired fine reputation, and became a tested and reliable brand on international landscape. In doing so, the Festival had to overcome countless organisational, economic and political challenges: non-governmental, non-profit entities never had it easy in Slovakia.

Numerous rising stars launched their careers on European stages with Nitra as a springboard. Many stage directors have, by now, become global names, such as Krzysztof Warlikowski and Grzegorz Jarzyna, Árpád Schilling, Kirill Serebrennikov, Dmitry Krymov, Alvis Hermanis, Andreas Kriegenburg, Gianina Cărbunariu, Jan Klata, and Kornél Mundruczó.

Divadelná Nitra hosted leading figures, directors and choreographers, such as Eimuntas Nekrošius, Petr Lébl, Jan Antonín Pitínský, Dimiter Gottschef, Sebastian Nübling, Herbert Fritsch, Johan Simons, Kama Ginkas, Nikolaj Koľada, Rodrigo García, Nigel Charnock, Milo Rau, Josef Nadj, Avshalom Pollak, Emma Dante, or Constanza Macras.

Many of the foremost theatres and ensembles from all over Europe accepted the invitation to perform at Divadelná Nitra. They include, inter alia, Needcompany, Forced Entertainment, Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg Platz Berlin, Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg, DeutschesTheater Berlin, Münchner Kammerspiele, Katona József Színház, Teatr.doc, Stary Teatr Kraków, TR Warszawa, National Theater Prague, and Dakh Daughters.

Throughout its 34 years, the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra brought 634 performances by Slovak and international theatres from 31 European and 4 non-European countries, as well as 1,965 accompanying events. The Festival drew nearly 400,000 visitors from Slovakia and abroad. Within the main programme, the Festival featured over 200 productions by Slovak professional theatres, thereby significantly contributing to the international profile of Slovak theatre production and its representatives.

Divadelná Nitra has achieved considerable success in international collaborations and participation in different co-production projects. Thus, nealry 20 co-production works have emerged under its own direction and in cooperation with international partners.

Youth at Divadelná Nitra represent yet another dimension that deserves a mention. Ever since its inception, they make their mark annually as volunteers, loyal spectators and participants in learning events.

During its 34 years, the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra has earned its firm place on European theatre landscape and has become indelibly carved in its history. It has become a unique opportunity to present local and regional activities to Slovak and international audiences, a sought-after place of encounter for the Nitra residents and its visitors – adults, children and youth. The cultural, diplomatic and economic significance of Divadelná Nitra for the city, the region and Slovakia is undisputable.

The 35th edition of the Festival is scheduled for 25 to 30 September 2026. The Festival management, staff, curators and partners are doing their utmost to keep the preparations going. Nonetheless, for the Festival to truly take place, the help of all supporters is needed.

We call upon cultural and social figures to raise their voices in defence of the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra.

We express our unity and solidarity with all cultural events that are similarly affected and compromised as Divadelná Nitra.

We are turning to the City of Nitra and the Nitra Self-Governing Region as the main co-organisers to support the 35th edition of Divadelná Nitra with their extraordinary input, thus rescuing the Festival for the future.

We appeal to all people who understand the importance of culture for the life of an individual and society, to those who are not indifferent to the current state of culture in Slovakia, to contribute at least a small amount to the preservation of what belongs to the cultural DNA of every developed country – the International Theatre Festival Divadelná Nitra.

We hope to see you in Nitra in September.

Members of the Board of Directors, Association Divadelná Nitra:

Darina Kárová, Chairwoman
Silvia Hroncová, Vice-Chairwoman
Lujza Bakošová
Slavka Civáňová
Dáša Čiripová
Katarína Figula
Ján Balaj
René Parák
Ján Šimko.

In Nitra on 5 June 2026