Voila! Theatre Festival Opens Artist Applications for 2026 Edition

Voila! Theatre Festival has opened artist applications for its 2026 programme, inviting theatre-makers working across languages, cultures and performance styles to bring their work to London this November.

Celebrated for its panlingual and genre-defying programming, the annual festival offers a platform for companies creating bold, internationally minded work. The 2026 edition will take place across ten London venues including The Cockpit, Arches Lane Theatre, Barons Court Theatre, Canal Cafe Theatre, Theatre Deli, Etcetera Theatre, The Playground Theatre, The Space Theatre, Theatro Technis and Upstairs at the Gatehouse.

Since its launch, Voila! has championed theatre that crosses linguistic and cultural borders, creating a space where artists can experiment, collaborate and connect with new audiences. The festival encourages companies to take creative risks - whether that means presenting a new piece of work, touring to the UK for the first time, or translating a play into a new language.

The programme regularly features a wide range of performance styles, from devised theatre and bilingual comedy to puppetry, circus, dance, music and stand-up, reflecting the international and multidisciplinary nature of the festival.

Festival Directors Fae Fichtner and Katharina Reinthaller said: “We are excited to embark on another panlingual theatre adventure bringing together artists and audiences across the capital. We’re proud to have seen so many Voila! shows successfully grow and tour the world and can’t wait to be the launchpad for many more.”

Previous participants include Elsa Couvreur, whose show The Sensemaker premiered at Voila! before going on to tour internationally. Reflecting on her experience, she said: “Participating in Voila! gave me the opportunity to explore new ways of expressing myself creatively. The festival hosted the premiere of what has now become my signature show, The Sensemaker. This solo show has now been performed over 100 times in six different languages and has won 14 international awards so far. Voila! is where it all began.”

Voila! Theatre Festival is produced by The Cockpit and supported by City of Westminster College, part of United Colleges Group.

Voila! Theatre Festival will run from 2nd to 22nd November across ten London venues. Artist applications will close on 13th April. Find out how to apply here: www.voilafestival.co.uk