The 16th International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFoK) is set to take place from 25 January to 1 February 2026 in Thrissur city, Kerala, reaffirming its position as one of India’s most significant international cultural events. Organised by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi under the Cultural Department of the Government of Kerala, the festival will bring together theatre practitioners, scholars and audiences from across the world to celebrate performance, dialogue and storytelling in its many forms.

The week-long festival will be hosted across multiple venues in Thrissur, with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi complex serving as the focal point. Key performance spaces will include the Murali Outdoor Theatre, K. T. Muhammed Regional Theatre, and other designated cultural venues across the city, transforming Thrissur into a vibrant, open stage for global theatre.

Dates, Theme and Structure

Event: International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFoK) 2026

Edition: 16th

Dates: 25 January to 1 February 2026

Venue: Thrissur, Kerala

Organiser: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Government of Kerala

The 2026 edition will be presented under the theme “Voices in the Silence”, a concept that reflects theatre’s enduring ability to articulate unspoken realities through movement, dialogue, visual language and performance. The theme highlights ITFoK’s emphasis on theatre as both artistic expression and social commentary, especially in a time marked by global uncertainty, conflict and transformation.

Performances and International Participation

ITFoK 2026 will feature 23 plays across approximately 46 performances, showcasing a carefully curated mix of international and Indian productions. Theatre groups from Argentina, Brazil, Armenia, Palestine, Slovakia, Spain, Japan and Denmark are scheduled to participate, presenting works that span classical theatre, contemporary experimentation and cross-cultural collaboration.

Indian theatre will be represented by productions from Kerala, Rajasthan, Assam, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, offering audiences exposure to diverse linguistic traditions, regional aesthetics and evolving performance practices. The programme aims to place Indian theatre in dialogue with global narratives, encouraging comparative engagement and artistic exchange.

Several international productions are expected to address themes such as identity, memory, political conflict, displacement and social change, reinforcing ITFoK’s reputation as a festival that privileges substance, experimentation and intellectual depth.

Organisation and Accessibility

Since its inception in 2008, the International Theatre Festival of Kerala has grown into one of Asia’s most respected theatre festivals. The event is fully organised and curated by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, with institutional support from the state’s cultural machinery.

For the 2026 edition, organisers have expanded the number of plays compared to previous years, reflecting renewed focus on diversity and scale. In addition to stage performances, the festival will also include cultural interactions, informal discussions and academic engagements, fostering dialogue between artists, scholars and audiences.

While tickets are required for major performances, several associated programmes and discussions will remain open to the public, ensuring wider access and community participation.

Cultural Importance of ITFoK

The International Theatre Festival of Kerala occupies a distinctive place in India’s cultural landscape. It functions not merely as a performance showcase, but as a space for cultural diplomacy, artistic exchange and critical reflection. By bringing global theatre traditions to a regional Indian audience, ITFoK contributes to expanding cultural literacy and deepening engagement with contemporary global issues.

The festival also reinforces Thrissur’s identity as a cultural capital of Kerala, complementing the city’s long-standing association with classical arts, festivals and literary traditions. Each edition attracts theatre enthusiasts, students and visitors from across India, adding to the city’s cultural and intellectual vibrancy.

Looking Ahead

As ITFoK 2026 prepares to open on 25 January, expectations are high for a festival that continues to push the boundaries of performance while remaining rooted in dialogue and inclusivity. With its expanded programme, strong international presence and thematic focus on unheard voices, the festival is poised to reaffirm its relevance in both Indian and global theatre circuits.

By sustaining conversations across borders, languages and artistic traditions, the International Theatre Festival of Kerala continues to position theatre as a living, evolving medium — one that reflects society, questions power and invites audiences to engage more deeply with the world around them.