Eight days, 36 performances, artists from 15 countries, 20 venues, and thousands of spectators — this was the 16th edition of the Euroregional Theatre Festival TESZT, organized by the Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre in Timișoara.
There is something absurd about hearing lines like “Widen your eyes, bring grief to the heart / Come like a shadow and depart as one” in a renovated outbuilding of Timișoara’s former textile factory. It isn’t some old playwright haunting the place; a royal drama is taking shape among the concrete walls, in the Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre’s rehearsal room on Arad Street. Next door, the fox terriers of an animal‑abusive dog breeder bark, and further off the iron‑framed windows of an abandoned factory gape empty, every pane smashed. Even murderous intent takes on a rusty hue here, I think as I cycle into the factory yard.
The 16th edition of the TESZT Festival continues until May 30 with performances from Romania and abroad, revolving around the theme of this year’s edition: DIVERGENCES. Under the umbrella of this multilayered topic, the selection invites reflection on conflict, borders, loneliness, finding a home, and human rights.
Street performances for the whole family: from Argentina and Brazil at TESZT16 Euroregional Festival
The 2026 edition of the TESZT Festival TESZT Festival brings a series of street theatre performances to the squares of Timișoara as part of its 16th edition, with the aim of extending into the city’s fabric and getting closer to local residents between May 23–30. The events are free of charge and can be enjoyed in the city’s iconic public squares — Piața Unirii Union Square, Piața Victoriei Victory/Opera Square, Piața Libertății Liberty Square, and Piața Sfântul Gheorghe St. George Square.
To ease navigating the festival program, the TESZT Festival provides shuttle transport from the city center to the two peripheral venues — the Uzina de Teatru - UTT (Theatre Factory – UTT, Calea Aradului 48) and Cinema Unirea (Intrarea Plantelor 1, Piața Doina).
Spectators are kindly asked to check information at the ticket office and follow the ushers’ instructions. Access to the shuttle bus is only permitted with a performance ticket or festival badge.
A theatre festival does not begin on stage, nor does it end there. It already exists in the queue in front of the box office, in the breaks between performances, in encounters, in applause, or even in tomato throwing. This year, we would like to capture reflections of TESZT16 through a series of aftermovies — from YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
The Transylvanian Hungarian Cultural Association (EMKE) has awarded the Poór Lili Prize to Enikő Éder, an artist of the Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre in Timișoara.
The international theatre festival “Femmincity – Women for Women” is organized by the Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre in Timișoara as part of a project co-funded by the European Union through the CERV program. The performances will take place in the Studio Hall of the Hungarian Theatre between May 24–28, with two shows daily at 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM, followed by discussions with the audience.
I am an actor principally know as a film actor. But my roots are deeply in the theatre. I was a member of the Wooster Group from 1977-2003 creating and performing original pieces at The Performing Garage in NYC and touring throughout the world. I have also worked with Richard Foreman, Robert Wilson and Romeo Castellucci. Now, I am the Artistic Director of The Venice Theatre Biennale. This appointment, the events in the world, and my desire to return to theatre work has strongly formed my belief in the unique positive power and importance of the theatre.
TESZT – Euroregional Theatre Festival Timișoara – 2026
Season: DIVERGENCES | Festival Theme: FRONT LINES
The “Csiky Gergely” Hungarian State Theatre of Timișoara launches a new platform dedicated to groups of young theatre creators. The aim of the inkuBATOR program is to offer young artists, from the very beginning of their artistic paths, the opportunity to confront different theatrical perspectives and forms, as well as strong and distinctive artistic thinking within a large-scale festival framework.
