Performing arts and cultural developments in Central America

The performing arts and cultural sectors in the Dominican Republic and Guatemala continue to evolve. In the Dominican Republic, media initiatives like ‘Somos Así y Así Somos’ support national audiovisual archives, while the musical theater industry works toward sustainability by meeting rising audience expectations.

Cultural activity in the Dominican Republic has expanded significantly. The IX National Theater Festival (Fenate 2026), dedicated to actress Olga Bucarelli, is scheduled for October 22 to November 1, 2026. Under the slogan ‘El teatro llega a ti’, the festival aims to decentralize the arts by bringing 32 shows and 75 performances to various provinces, including Santiago, Puerto Plata, and Moca.

Further cultural developments in Santo Domingo include a season of five plays at Microteatro throughout September exploring themes of family and desire, and a performance by the group Aljadaqui at Parque Colón, which attracted over 4,000 attendees. Additionally, the country will host the 12th Ibero-American Museum Meeting from September 14 to 16, 2026. Organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Ibermuseos Program, the meeting will focus on ‘Shared heritages, common futures’, addressing topics such as climate change risks and the use of artificial intelligence in museum narratives.

In Guatemala, musical productions such as ‘Supera a tu ex en 48 horas’ remain part of the regional performing arts landscape.