Teatro Taborda hosts 19th Try Better, Fail Better festival

The 19th edition of the ‘Try Better, Fail Better’ festival, produced by Teatro da Garagem, will take place on September 26 and 27 at Teatro Taborda in Lisbon. The festival serves as a platform for emerging creators in theatre, dance, and performance, focusing on experimentation and risk-taking rather than competition.

Unlike many cultural events, the festival operates without juries, prizes, or winners. Instead, it provides selected projects with financial support of 1,750 euros, technical and production assistance, and an artistic residency period. The 2026 edition features four new multidisciplinary projects developed through an open call and a month-long residency.

Featured works include ‘Desafinada no Coração’ by Miriam Freitas, which blends contemporary clowning and physical theatre, and ‘Maria D. não sobe montanhas’ by Gustavo Antunes, which explores themes of grief and freedom through a mix of personal memory and fable.