Human beings have hitherto moved around the world, “carrying” various luggage and tools, and, by carrying various memories and stories at the same time, they have constructed cultures and languages made up of various mixed elements. As our time is symbolized by the division, conflict and war, and it is now increasingly becoming difficult to share a story with the other, can a “festival” become the space for carrying and sharing those stories? As we quietly put in our pocket a pebble, the oldest medium for humans and a symbol of resistance, we will re-consider a performing arts festival as the place for sharing with the audience the memory and story of the other, while resisting the division.

The festival consists of three programs: “Kansai Studies,” a program that researches the Kansai region, where the festival is rooted, and aims to cultivate a foundation for future creation; “Shows,” a lineup of experimental performing arts and exhibitions from around the world; and “Super Knowledge for the Future [SKF],” a series of talks and workshops that explore the relationship between experimental performing arts and all kinds of different topics beyond the world of art.

Dates

October 3rd (Sat) – October 25th (Sun) 2026

Venues

ROHM Theatre Kyoto, KYOTO ART CENTER, Kyoto Art Theater Shunjuza, THEATRE E9 KYOTO, Kyoto City University of Arts Art Gallery, Kyoto Prefectural Citizens’ Hall ALTI, Kyoto City Kuretake Culture Center and other locations

Organized by Kyoto International Performing Arts Festival Executive Committee
[Kyoto City, ROHM Theatre Kyoto (Kyoto City Music Art Cultural Promoting Foundation), KYOTO ART CENTER (Kyoto Arts and Culture Foundation), Kyoto Performing Arts Center at Kyoto University of the Arts, THEATRE E9 KYOTO (Arts Seed Kyoto)],
General Incorporated Association Kyoto Experiment