Ruhrtriennale arts festival begins in Germany

The Ruhrtriennale arts festival has commenced in Germany, running from August 20 to September 20, 2026. Under the motto ‘Longing for Tomorrow’, the festival features 30 productions and 119 events across several cities, including Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, Dortmund, and Gladbeck.

The festival opened with the music theater production ‘Rebel Rebel’, featuring songs by David Bowie. This season marks the final term for artistic director Ivo Van Hove, who will be succeeded by American opera director Lydia Steier in November.

Other highlighted performances include ‘Emily - No Prisoner Be’ featuring mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, a four-hour performance titled ‘Balkan Erotic Epic’ by Marina Abramović, and choreographic works such as ‘Landless’ and ‘OPUS’ by Christos Papadopoulos. The event involves approximately 600 artists from 45 countries performing at eleven different venues throughout the Ruhr region.