OPEN CALL FOR INDUSTRY PITCH / PROJECTS IN PROGRESS 2026 - SARAJEVO THEATRE SHOWCASE 2026

Sarajevo Theatre Showcase connects contemporary theatre practices from Southeast Europe with international professionals, institutions and future presentation opportunities. Within this framework, Industry Pitch / Projects in Progress 2026 is designed for theatre projects currently in development that are ready to enter a professional market context.

The programme offers selected teams the opportunity to present their project to invited regional and international professionals including producers, festival representatives, artistic directors, curators, programmers, theatre leaders, institutions and potential co-production or development partners. 

Sarajevo Theatre Showcase 2026 will take place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from September 11 to 13, 2026.

About the Industry Pitch / Projects in Progress Programme

Industry Pitch / Projects in Progress is a professional platform for theatre makers and production teams developing new works and looking for the right conditions to move those works forward.

It is intended for projects that already have a defined artistic direction and development trajectory, but need further support in order to be realised, positioned internationally, or connected with relevant co-production, residency, presentation, dramaturgical, mobility or development opportunities.

Industry Pitch is not only a presentation format. It is a professional exchange and matchmaking format designed to help projects enter the right room at the right time – and meet the people most relevant to their next concrete steps.

Why Apply

Many strong theatre projects emerge without sufficient access to networks, international visibility, development contexts, or the right kinds of professional encounters. Industry Pitch is designed precisely for projects that may already have artistic substance and momentum, but still need the right framework, partners, or conversations in order to move toward production, co-production, circulation or further development.

By applying, selected teams gain more than a public presentation slot. They enter a curated professional environment in which their project can be:

• better articulated and positioned
• prepared for a professional pitch context
• introduced to relevant regional and international professionals
• matched with partners aligned with their current needs
• embedded in the wider STS ecosystem, including encounters with other programme participants, artists, professionals and invited guests

Selected participants will also be able to attend other STS programmes and events through their accreditation and engage not only with invited professionals, but also with participants from across the broader STS platform.

Pitch Master

The 2026 Pitch Master is Hazim Begagić (Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Hazim Begagić is a producer, university professor and researcher in the field of performing arts and cultural policy. He holds degrees from Sarajevo, Bologna, Siena and Zagreb, and served for a decade as director of the Bosnian National Theatre Zenica and the International Festival of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Drama. Over the course of his career, he has led and produced more than 100 artistic projects and international co-productions, while also working as a festival programmer, jury member, author and cultural policy expert. He currently leads the Cultural Studies programme and heads the Department for Cultural and Tourism Studies at the University of Zenica.

Selected participants will be expected to take part in 1–2 online preparation sessions with the Pitch Master prior to STS 2026.

Eligibility

Applications are open to professional theatre makers, companies, collectives, producers, organisations and co-production teams from: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia. 

Eligible projects may include works in development across different contemporary theatre forms and formats, including text-based theatre, devised work, physical theatre, dance, documentary theatre, performance-based and interdisciplinary projects.

Projects must be:

• currently in development
• artistically defined enough to be presented in a professional context
• intended for future production, presentation, circulation or further partnership development
• submitted by an authorised representative of the project team

Projects that have already premiered, or already have a confirmed premiere date before STS 2026, are not eligible for this call.

Particular attention will be given to projects that:

• clearly articulate why this is the right moment to enter Industry Pitch
• identify concrete partnership or support needs
• show awareness of what they can offer within a professional exchange
• are likely to benefit from targeted matchmaking and international positioning

What Participation Includes

Selected projects receive:

• presentation within the official Industry Pitch / Projects in Progress 2026 programme
• preparation support through online sessions with the Pitch Master
• participation in a curated pitch session
• access to a more focused semi-closed professional setting
• direct exposure to invited regional and international professionals from multiple countries
• opportunities for targeted networking and matchmaking within the STS/NTM framework
• inclusion in official STS professional and communication materials
• festival accreditation with access to the wider STS programme

The organisers provide:

• accommodation with breakfast
• festival lunch during programme days
• festival accreditation

Please note: travel costs are not covered by the organisers.

Team Attendance Requirement

The Industry Pitch format requires the on-site presence of:

• the producer, or the designated production representative, and
• one representative of the artistic team

during the programme in Sarajevo.

Timeline

Application deadline: May 31, 2026 (23:59h)
Industry Pitch / Projects in Progress programme: September 11–14, 2026
Arrival day and opening night: September 11, 2026
Pitch session: September 12, 2026

Meetings and matchmaking: September 12 and 13, 2026
Departure day: September 14, 2026

All applicants will be informed about the results by email.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the official online application form.

Before starting the form, applicants are encouraged to check the application form and prepare all required information and materials in advance. The form includes detailed descriptions and guidance to help applicants understand what kind of responses are expected in each section.

Supporting materials are optional, but applicants may submit non-expiring links to project dossiers, pitch documents, videos, visual materials, script excerpts or other relevant documentation. Materials should support, not replace, the written application. If links are password protected, the password must be provided. If Google Drive is used, access must be set so that the material can be viewed by anyone with the link.

Incomplete applications or applications that do not follow the submission guidelines will not be considered.

For any questions regarding the application process, applicants may contact:

[email protected]
[email protected]

To learn more about the wider Sarajevo Theatre Showcase platform and its 2025 edition, visit our website. 

We look forward to discovering new projects in development and helping position them within the professional context of Sarajevo Theatre Showcase 2026!