The first edition of the International Performing Arts Festival (FESTAE 2026) is set to officially launch this Friday, 15 May 2026, transforming Santo Domingo into the cultural epicenter of the Caribbean. The event will integrate theater, music, dance, and academic workshops, aiming to bridge the gap between local talent and the global stage.
Produced and directed by the award-winning actor and producer Fausto Rojas, FESTAE 2026 will bring together artistic proposals from Argentina, France, Colombia, and Equatorial Guinea, alongside premier Dominican productions. Rojas, who previously served as the director of the National Theater Company, emphasized during a press conference that this project serves as a vital platform for the growth of the Dominican Republic’s creative industry and its positioning within the international performing arts circuit.
Over five days (15–19 May), the event presents seven major shows, including four international productions and three national stagings. The venues include the Eduardo Brito National Theater, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Nuryn Sanlley Amphitheater, Cristo Park, Rock’n Rolla in the capital city and the Centro León in Santiago.
Opening day schedule: 15 May 2026
The inaugural day features a diverse lineup across several high-profile venues:
•2:30pm: The educational component begins at the Sala Carmen Heredia of the National Theater with the workshop “The Tragic Pleasure of the Clown,” led by the internationally acclaimed Argentine master Gabriel Chamé Buendía.
•5pm: The festival moves to the recently inaugurated Cristo Park for a family-oriented performance of “Jumelag” by the French company Imperial Kikiristan. This performance is part of a series of four free shows designed to decentralize cultural access.
•8:30pm: The evening’s main stage event takes place at the Sala Carlos Piantini of the Eduardo Brito National Theater with a contemporary adaptation of Federico García Lorca’s “The House of Bernarda Alba” (La Casa de Bernarda Alba), performed by Colombia’s Elemental Teatro.
• 10pm: The first day concludes with a concert by David Almengod and Marakandé at the Juan Lockward Theater Café.
Over five days (15–19 May), the international roster features:
• “El equilibrista” (Argentina)
• “Jumelag” (France)
• “La Casa de Bernarda Alba” (Colombia)
• “El percusionista” (Equatorial Guinea), a piece by Gorsy Edu that combines dance and orality and has been performed in over 11 countries across three continents.
The Dominican selection highlights the country’s top-tier creative exports. Notably, “Yago, yo no soy el que soy” (National Theater Company) and “Pinocho” (Teatro Guloya) were selected for the prestigious Red Eurolatinoamericana de Artes Escénicas (REDELAE) catalog. The dance program is headlined by “Reactor Antígona,” a contemporary reinterpretation by legendary choreographer Marianela Boán.
Economic and cultural impact
Beyond the artistic showcase, FESTAE 2026 is designed to stimulate the local “orange economy” (creative economy) and promote cultural tourism. By partnering with Banco Popular Dominicano, the French Embassy, the Mayor’s Office of the National District (ADN), and X-102, the festival seeks to establish a sustainable model for recurring international events in the region.
Logistics and tickets
Tickets are available through Uepa Tickets, CCN Servicios, Supermercados Nacional, Jumbo, and the National Theater box office. Prices are tiered to ensure accessibility for different demographics, consistent with the festival’s mission of cultural inclusion.
Read more:
DR1 News
El Dia
Uepa Tickets
13 May 2026