GTF 2026 - Open Call

Hello, hello everyone! A very warm welcome to Galway Theatre Festival’s Open Call for Festival 2026! 

With Festival 2026 fast approaching, we at Galway Theatre Festival renew our promise to support innovative, high-quality work from inception to production and to continue working in pursuit of a sustainable and equitable arts infrastructure in Ireland. 

This year, we’re delighted to present four strands:

• Strand 1: Theatre is Everywhere (Full Productions)
• Snáithe 2: Glór Bheo (Irish Language Full Productions)
• Strand 3: Made-In Galway (Work-in-Progress)
• Strand 4: Shared Ground (Culture & Community Focused)

You’ll find links at the bottom of this page with more details about each strand and how to apply.

GTF aims to have an expansive view & curated approach to what a festival can be - encouraging experimentation, innovation and outreach. We envision Galway as a vibrant hub for emerging and innovative theatre; a place where bold ideas push boundaries and challenge both creators and audiences within an inclusive, multilingual, and culturally diverse community. Galway Theatre Festival fosters a space where artists can take risks and new ideas can take root.

For GTF 2026, we will prioritise the following:

• Supporting high-quality, full-scale productions that demonstrate ambition to form enduring partnerships, tour and to continue production at a national and international level.

• The launch of a new strand: Snáithe 2, Glór Bheo (Irish Language Full Productions), dedicated to supporting the development & platforming of Irish language theatre. This strand recognises Galway Theatre Festival’s unique position on the fringes of Ireland’s largest Gaeltacht, and aims to nurture high-quality Irish language work, contributing to a vibrant Irish-language theatre landscape both locally and nationally. We are particularly interested in projects that reflect the linguistic diversity of Galway City and County and that strengthen the visibility of Irish language performance within the Irish theatre ecology.

• Supporting artists and works-in-development that are innovative and experimental in nature, explore contemporary-relevant subject matter, and illustrate ambition to develop to a high-quality level (During this phase, Galway Theatre Festival is committed to supporting the developmental process and such works should prioritise qualitative development, not final showings. Good art takes time, and its vital artists are afforded and encouraged to pursue appropriate development opportunities).

• Supporting work that increases engagement with: the Irish language, Gaeltacht areas, rural communities in the West, Arts & Disability, Arts & Young People, Arts & Older People,and Arts & Minority Groups.

If you have an idea you would like to discuss with the GTF team before submitting, please get in touch at gtfsubmissions@gmail.com.

The deadline for applications is 10pm Monday 10th of November 2026.

DOCUMENTS:  

Call for Applications & FAQs 2026

Gloach i gCóir Iarratais & FAQs 2026

Open Call Application Form 2026

Glaoch Oscailte 2026

Sample Budget Template