The Nová dráma/New Drama 2026 contemporary drama festival will not take place in its usual form
The contemporary drama festival Nová dráma/New Drama, which has been one of the most significant theatre events in Slovakia for more than two decades, will not take place in its usual format in May 2026. The festival’s organiser, the Theatre Institute, has been forced to modify the festival’s programme structure due to a recent budget reduction imposed by its founder, the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic. As a result, the main programme—the competitive showcase of the most compelling productions of contemporary drama by Slovak professional theatres—will not be held this year.
Since September of last year, the festival’s Dramaturgical Board has been visiting theatres across Slovakia and, over the course of five months, has viewed more than ninety productions. Nine productions from both state-funded and independent theatres from various regions of Slovakia were selected for the main programme. These selected works reflect a wide range of pressing contemporary themes, including society’s relationship to moral and intellectual authorities, the overlooking or marginalising of certain groups, violence against women, and care for the elderly.
The productions were scheduled to be presented during the festival week in Bratislava to the general public, professional audiences, and international guests. An international jury was to select the winner of the festival’s main award, the Grand Prix. This part of the festival will not take place. “I see the festival as a unique platform for new theatre, young people, and a vibrant dialogue between artists and audiences. All the more, I regret that we are unable to offer its full format this year,” said the festival’s honorary director, actress Zuzana Kronerová.
Despite this situation, the festival’s organising team continues to prepare a professional programme entitled New Drama Fragments. Drawing on the festival’s visual identity—featuring a flag as a symbol of the autonomy of creative practice and thought—the concept of “fragments” represents smaller units within a larger whole, symbolising islands of activity that make it possible to endure despite adverse circumstances.
New Drama Fragments programme will include:
- a masterclass by Czech director and playwright Petr Zelenka,
- an international conference entitled Theatre and Civic Dialogue,
- Trojboj – the finale of the DRÁMA 2025 competition,
- a discussion with the festival’s Dramaturgical Board on contemporary theatre.
The full programme and further information are available at www.novadrama.sk.
The organising team believes that, even in this limited format, it will be possible to maintain the continuity of the festival and to create a space for professional reflection and for meetings within the theatre community. Thank you for your understanding and support.
