Sibiu Becomes the World's International Stage for Ten Days: FITS 2026 Begins with Spectacular Performances, Installations, Concerts and Hundreds of Street Artists from Around the Globe

Today marks the opening of the 33rd edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival. As every year, FITS presents an extensive outdoor programme alongside its indoor performances, bringing internationally acclaimed artists such as Fanny Ardant, Milo Rau and Cristian Mungiu to Sibiu.

This year's edition promises an unforgettable programme, featuring an impressive selection of outdoor performances that will transform the city over the next ten days. Once again, the Grand Square will host spectacular large-scale productions and concerts designed to warm our SOUL.

Zali (Switzerland), Troula (Spain) and Plasticiens Volants (France) are just a few of the companies set to amaze audiences during the Festival's two weekends. The programme also includes striking visual installations, circus performances, breathtaking acrobatics and productions full of humour.

The Small Square will host a monumental cardboard structure created by artist Olivier Grossetête in collaboration with Rondocarton. The installation will be on display throughout the first Festival weekend, from 19 to 21 June. From 22 to 28 June, the Small Square will become a vibrant space dedicated to street performances for all ages, with events scheduled throughout the day and evening.

"This year we are bringing artists who perform on the world's greatest stages even closer to our audience. It is a great joy to open the Festival with a concert conducted by Maestro Cristian Măcelaru. It is a gift we offer to our audience with all our SOUL. Another surprise this year is the Military Bands Festival, an event presented for the first time as part of FITS, which we hope will become a lasting tradition. With more than 848 events, we warmly invite audiences to discover everything we have prepared over the past year," said Constantin Chiriac, President of FITS.

One of the major new additions to this year's outdoor programme is the Military Bands Festival, bringing together eight military bands from across Romania for performances throughout the city. Between 19 and 24 June, audiences will be able to enjoy concerts on Nicolae Bălcescu Pedestrian Street, the Thalia Hall Esplanade, the courtyard of the Brukenthal National Museum, Sub Arini Park (The Dome) and the History Museum – Casa Altemberger. Participating ensembles include the Military Bands of the Brăila, Buzău, Focșani, Cluj-Napoca, Constanța Naval Forces, Iași and Sibiu Garrisons, as well as the Representative Military Band of the Romanian Ministry of National Defence.

The Festival also extends beyond Sibiu, with contemporary circus performances scheduled in the nearby towns of Avrig, Săliște and Șura Mare.

As in previous years, the Grand Square Stage will host concerts by some of Romania's most beloved artists and ensembles:

Nicolae Bălcescu Pedestrian Street will come alive with musical parades, samba and batucada rhythms, as well as the mesmerizing Tanoura dance from Egypt. Huet Square will offer a rich programme of performances for audiences of all ages in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.

The stages in Habermann Square and Sub Arini Park will present a wide variety of performances, ranging from flamenco and dance to breathtaking acrobatics and contemporary circus. Continuing a cherished Festival tradition, Theatre Square will once again become the setting for the spectacular multimedia drone and light shows celebrating both the opening and closing of FITS.

Circostrada General Assembly Comes to Sibiu for the First Time

This year, Sibiu will also host, for the first time, the General Assembly of Circostrada, the European network dedicated to contemporary circus and outdoor performing arts.

The programme includes a series of professional conferences held at the Ramada Hotel, organised in collaboration with the Sibiu Performing Arts Market (SIPAM).

This year's edition of the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, held under the theme SOUL, takes place from 19 to 28 June and features more than 848 indoor, outdoor and online events.

More information about the FITS 2026 programme is available at sibfest.ro and through the official FITS mobile application.