From 3 to 12 September 2026, Rome becomes one of the best places to observe, experience and question the present with the 21st edition of Short Theatre, the international festival dedicated to contemporary creation and the performing arts. Ten days in which art, critical thinking and politics come together in an expansive programme that invites audiences to explore and connect different languages, geographies and perspectives.
More than 65 events will take place across the festival, bringing together around 40 companies, artistic projects and key figures from the contemporary scene. The programme traces the artistic geographies of the present, travelling from the Global South and East to Europe and featuring artists from Italy, Spain, France, Poland, Hungary, Algeria, Libya, Eritrea, Cameroon, Rwanda, Mexico and China.
Founded in Rome in 2006, Short Theatre has developed into a distinctive space for research, exchange and encounter, reflecting the complexity of a constantly evolving performing arts landscape. Performances, shows, installations, talks, workshops, concerts and DJ sets come together in a deliberately layered programme, where forms and disciplines overlap and audiences can engage with different artistic practices, ideas and creative processes.
The 2026 edition is conceived and organised by AREA06, with Silvia Bottiroli, Silvia Calderoni, Ilenia Caleo and Michele Di Stefano as Artistic Directors, and Roberta Zanardo and Matteo Angius as General Directors.
Short Theatre 2026 is supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture – Directorate-General for Performing Arts and the Lazio Region – Live Performance. The festival is promoted and supported by Roma Capitale – Department for Culture and Coordination of Initiatives Related to Holocaust Remembrance Day – Department of Cultural Activities, in collaboration with Zètema Progetto Cultura, and is produced by Associazione AREA06 – ETS, with the support of Azienda Speciale Palaexpo, Fondazione Mattatoio – Città delle arti, and Teatro di Roma – Teatro Nazionale.
The programme is subject to change.
Informations
Giovedì 3 settembre 2026, dalle ore 18.00 alle ore 22.00
Orto Botanico
Venerdì 4 settembre 2026
ore 14.00 e 14.30
Muna Mussie
Cinema Troisi
ore 18.30
Chiara Bersani
Michel: The Animals I Am
La Pelanda
ore 19.00 e 22.45
Myriade #1: Asmaa Jama & Gouled Ahmed
Except this time nothing returns from the ashes
La Pelanda
ore 19.30
Mélissa Guex
DOWN (single version)
La Pelanda
ore 20.30
CLASSE
Eszter Salamon e l’empatia poetica in tempi di fascismo
La Pelanda
ore 21.30
Myriade #2: Dorothée Munyaneza / Compagnie Kadidi
Toi, moi, Tituba…
La Pelanda
ore 23.00
SALON
Myriade #3: GILDAA
La Pelanda
Sabato 5 settembre 2026
ore 14.00 e 14.30
Muna Mussie
Cinema Troisi
ore 19.00
CLASSE
Paul B. Preciado e l’ANTIFA love
La Pelanda
ore 20.00
Chiara Bersani
Michel: The Animals I am
La Pelanda
ore 21.00
Alberto Cortés
El corazón de Ester
Teatro Vittoria
ore 21.00
Eszter Salamon
Dance for Nothing (revisited)
La Pelanda
ore 22.30
Betty Tchomanga / GANG
Decolonial (Hi)stories #Mulunesh
La Pelanda
ore 23.00
SALON
Safffo
La Pelanda
Domenica 6 settembre 2026
ore 18.00
El Conde de Torrefiel
CAMERA
La Pelanda
ore 19.00
Betty Tchomanga / GANG
Decolonial (Hi)stories #Dalila
La Pelanda
ore 20.30
Alberto Cortés
El corazón de Ester
Teatro Vittoria
ore 20.30
Cristina Kristal Rizzo
Sentimental1
La Pelanda
ore 22.00
CLASSE
Daniel Blanga Gubbay e la danza come sputo
La Pelanda
ore 23.00
SALON
Daniel Blanga Gubbay
La Pelanda
Lunedì 7 settembre 2026
ore 17.00
CLASSE
Giulia Paganelli, Nina Ferrante, Maddalena Fragnito, Claudia Durastanti, Carlotta Cossutta,
Viola Lo Moro
La Pelanda
ore 18.00
Antonio Tagliarini
Pairadaëza #Mattatoio
La Pelanda
ore 18.00, 19.00 e 20.00
Giorgina Pi / Nicole De Leo / Bluemotion
Il chiaro di luna in cucina è un segno di Dio. Omaggio a Anne Carson
La Pelanda
ore 20.30
Maya Oliva
In perpetual blooming, despite the gods
La Pelanda
ore 21.30
Cristina Kristal Rizzo
Sentimental1
La Pelanda
ore 22.30
SALON
Vanasay Khamphommala
La Pelanda
Martedì 8 settembre 2026
Muna Mussie
MUCIV-Museo delle Civiltà
ore 18.00
Antonio Tagliarini
Pairadaëza #Mattatoio
La Pelanda
ore 19.00
Maya Oliva
In perpetual blooming, despite the gods
La Pelanda
ore 20.00
Daria Deflorian
CAMERA
La Pelanda
ore 21.00
CLASSE
Marco Baravalle e l’arte oltre la cattura
La Pelanda
ore 22.00
Aymeric Hainaux & François Chaignaud
Mirlitons
La Pelanda
ore 23.00
SALON
Biagio Caravano
La Pelanda
Mercoledì 9 settembre 2026
Muna Mussie
Cinema Impero #Roma
MUCIV-Museo delle Civiltà
ore 18.00
Antonio Tagliarini
Pairadaëza #Mattatoio
La Pelanda
ore 18.30
Sara Leghissa
Frocy Express
La Pelanda
ore 19.30
Aymeric Hainaux & François Chaignaud
Mirlitons
La Pelanda
ore 21.00
Fabritia D’Intino & Agnese Banti
Comeback
La Pelanda
ore 22.00
CLASSE
Teodora Grano e le iconiche mostruose dell’horror
La Pelanda
ore 23.00
SALON
otay:onii
La Pelanda
Giovedì 10 settembre 2026
ore 15.00, 15.30, 16.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.30 e 18.00
Muna Mussie
Cinema Impero #Roma
Museo MACRO
ore 18.00
Adelita Husni Bey / LOCALES
Like a Flood
La Pelanda
ore 19.00
CLASSE
Adelita Husni Bey / Sara Alberani e le ecologie del sommerso
La Pelanda
ore 20.00
Nacera Belaza
L’Echo
Teatro India
ore 20.00
Sorelle di damiano
Variazione No.1
La Pelanda
ore 21.00
Mathilde Carmen Chan Invernon
BELL END
La Pelanda
ore 22.00
Sorelle di damiano
Variazione No.2
La Pelanda
ore 22.30
SALON
Lola Kola / Acetato
La Pelanda
Venerdì 11 settembre 2026
ore 15.00, 15.30, 16.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.30 e 18.00
Muna Mussie
Museo MACRO
ore 17.00
Ewa Dziarnowska
This resting, patience
La Pelanda
ore19.00
CLASSE
HABIBITCH e decolonizzare il dancefloor
La Pelanda
ore 20.00
Nacera Belaza
L’Echo
Teatro India
ore 20.00
Sorelle di damiano
Variazione No.1
La Pelanda
ore 21.00
Mathilde Carmen Chan Invernon
BELL END
La Pelanda
ore 22.00
Sorelle di damiano
Variazione No.2
La Pelanda
ore 22.30
SALON
Corps Citoyen
Sabato 12 settembre 2026
ore 17.00
Ewa Dziarnowska
This resting, patience
La Pelanda
ore 18.30
Giulia Crispiani
CAMERA
La Pelanda
ore 20.00
CLASSE
Françoise Vergès e l’arte come campo di battaglia
La Pelanda
ore 21.30
Claudia Castellucci / Compagnia Mòra
L’Infinito Carnale – Dialogo tra Antonio d’Egitto e Ilarione di Gaza
La Pelanda
ore 22.45
Sara Leghissa & Taquitojocoque
Serenata Lesbica
La Pelanda
ore 23.30
SALON
HABIBITCH + Taquitojocoque
Condividi
