It is our great pleasure to announce that the 40th International Theatrical Festival VALISE will take place from 17 to 20 June 2027 at the Puppet and Actor Theatre in Łomża (Poland).

For forty years, VALISE has brought together theatre artists and companies from around the world. Artists from approximately 50 countries have come to Łomża to share their stories, traditions, and unique ways of expressing themselves through theatre. Among them have been artists from France, Spain, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Hungary, Israel, Japan, China, South Korea, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina. Their work has helped build the Festival’s rich history and made VALISE an important meeting place for artists and audiences from different cultures.

The 40th edition will be both a celebration of this remarkable history and an invitation to explore new artistic paths. Its theme, THEATRE – THE ART OF ENCOUNTER, expresses our belief that theatre has the power to bring people together beyond language, culture, and borders. Through the movement of a puppet, the gesture of an actor, sound of music or a moment of silence - the stage can speak a universal language. It allows us to share emotions, discover different points of view, and recognise what we have in common.

VALISE welcomes artistic diversity, bold ideas, and new forms of theatrical expression. We are particularly interested in performances that explore the rich possibilities of puppet theatre, visual theatre, and physical theatre. We invite artists who experiment with the relationship between the actor and the puppet, bring objects to life and seek new ways to tell stories about the world around us.

We believe that theatre is more than a performance presented on stage. It is a living encounter between the artist and the audience, between imagination and reality, and between different ways of seeing the world. The most memorable performances invite us not only to watch, but also to feel, reflect, and discover something new.

The city of Łomża will once again become an important part of this celebration. By bringing performances to theatre stages and public spaces, we hope to fill the city with the spirit of theatre and create opportunities for people of all ages to encounter the magic of live performance.

The Festival Regulations provide detailed information on the financial, technical, and organizational requirements. We kindly ask all participants to read the regulations carefully before submitting an application. Each theatre company may submit a maximum of two performances for the competition.

All application materials must be submitted by 15 January 2027 to dyrektor@teatrlomza.pl. The performances will be selected by the Qualification Board appointed by the Festival Director.

We look forward to welcoming artists and theatre companies to Łomża for this special anniversary edition. May the 40th VALISE be a celebration of imagination, artistic courage, and the extraordinary power of theatre to bring people together.

We look forward to meeting you at VALISE 2027!

Yours faithfully,

Jarosław Antoniuk

Director of the International Theatrical Festival VALISE

Read Regulations

Application Form