The last three days concentrate the energy of the entire edition: theatre and dance performances, public-space performances, academic encounters, projects for children and teenagers, exhibitions, immersive installations, performances in the metropolitan area, Elizabethan atmosphere and concerts in Shakespeare Village.
A prestigious moment at the close of the edition is the International Shakespeare Award conferred to the British director Sir Gregory Doran, former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company and a key figure on the contemporary Shakespearean stage. The distinction celebrates his remarkable contribution to the promotion and reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s work. His presence in Craiova will be marked with the conference “My Shakespeare: A Director’s Journey Through the First Folio” on Friday, 29 May, and the performance “Venus & Adonis by William Shakespeare” (31 May), created together with Simon Russell Beale.
On the Shakespeare Core stages, audiences will discover titles and artists exploring different aesthetics, from “Macbeth” directed by Sewan Latchinian (Hamburg Kammerspiele, Germany), to “Richard III” created by Itay Tiran (Gesher Company, Israel), “Hamlet Take Away” by Gianfranco Berardi and Gabriella Casolari (Italy), and “The Comedy of Errors” directed by Sânziana Stoican (Nottara Theatre, Romania). The universe of the great playwright is also revealed through dance in productions like “Hamlet” by Walter Matteini and Ina Broeckx (imPerfect Dancers Company, Italy) and “Nothing in the Name of the Father, the Son and Freedom” by Michela Lucenti (Balletto Civile, Italy). The performances take place at the Marin Sorescu National Theatre Craiova, Colibri Theatre, the Students Cultural House, the Craiova Military Circle (Army House), Ramada Plaza Hall and other venues. Lats tickets are available on the website www.craiovainternational.com.
Shakespeare Squares and Shakespeare Metropolitan are the sections that transform public space into a stage accessible to all. The squares in central Craiova, Promenada Mall Craiova and localities such as Șimnicu de Sus – Albești, Mischii and Ghercești become meeting places for performances, parades, performative interventions and events for all ages. Wonderwalks, “Mariolino Plays Yorick”, “Poetic Streets”, “Follow the Lovers – Shakespeare in Motion”, “Ganda – The Rhinoceros”, “Desdemona’s Handkerchief” and “King Lear” extend the festival beyond the theatre auditoriums and confirm one of the edition’s key aims: bringing culture closer to people in the places where the city lives its everyday life.
Academics & More brings to the foyer of the National Theatre encounters that build bridges between critical thinking and artistic practice, such as the conference “Shakespeare: How and Why, in the Era of Artificial Intelligence”, moderated by Octavian Saiu with guests Vlad Drăgulescu, President of the Festival, and Michael Dobson, Director of the Shakespeare Institute in the United Kingdom (29 May), and “Re-reading, Re-writing, Re-inventing Shakespeare: The Freedom of a Festival’s Spirit, between East and West” – Danny Yung (Hong Kong) in dialogue with Octavian Saiu (30 May).
“The Hidden Soundtrack of Shakespeare. Exploring the Musicality of Shakespearean Verse” with Sarah Spring (30 May) offers new perspectives on the works of the great dramatist, while the dramatic debut with the verse text “To Shake the Spear(e) for Will” by Alexandru Mogoșeanu concludes the series (31 May). In addition, the second Shakespeare Editorial weekend presents new book launches covering a wide spectrum of Shakespearean research and Romanian theatrical memory.
For children, teenagers and families, the final days bring performances, games and participatory formats through Shakespeare Kids, Shakespeare Teen, Shakespeare University and more. Young and older spectators will be able to watch “Bubu Dreams”, a production by the Comic Opera for Children presented at Promenada Mall Craiova (29-31 May), and discover projects by young artists and students. Through such initiatives, Shakespeare remains accessible, alive and close to all generations.
Shakespeare Village is one of the most vibrant venues of the festival. During the day, the Elizabethan village hosts performances, artisan workshops, children’s activities, games and direct encounters with the world of Shakespeare’s era. In the evening, the space transforms into a venue for concerts and community, featuring Alternosfera, Subcarpați, Horia Brenciu & HB Orchestra, Helda, Mihail, Omul cu Șobolani, DJ Anii ’80, DJ Darko & T0bitza, Ian Crist – Acum și Expir Electric Rock, and DJ Gius. The Village connects past and present in a format where the festival is experienced late into the night.
In addition, the public can visit the festival’s recurring events at any time: the Costume Exhibitions and “To Be, or Not To Be” at the Marin Sorescu National Theatre, “To Mint, or Not To Mint” (Promenada Mall Craiova), “WILL MATTERS / Will Gives Rise to Matter” (ARta Gallery), the Shakespeare Teen multimedia installation in Mihai Viteazul Square, and the “Shakespeare’s Residents” exhibition (GLORIÆ Art Gallery).
The 2026 edition presents the most extensive programme in the festival’s history, with over 500 performances and events across more than 60 venues in Craiova and the metropolitan area, transforming the city for 11 days into an open stage built from encounters between artists and communities. The theme WILL matters is a reflection on will as a creative energy: the force through which what we think, imagine and dream becomes reality.
The Craiova International Shakespeare Festival 2026 thus confirms the vision of an edition built as a total urban experience: a festival in which Craiova becomes the setting, stage and community, and the public participates in the transformation of the city through art. On 1st of June, the celebration continues with Craiova Days!
The full programme, remaining tickets and information about access to Shakespeare Village are available on the festival’s official website: www.craiovainternational.com.
Follow us on: Facebook / YouTube / TikTok @shakespearefestivalcraiova and Instagram @shakespearefestival.
Organisers: Shakespeare Foundation, Marin Sorescu National Theatre Craiova
Financed by: Craiova City Hall, Ministry of Culture, Dolj County Council
Main Partners: NEPI Rockcastle, Promenada Mall Craiova
Main Sponsors: CEC BANK, Garanti BBVA, UniCredit Bank, STAMFORD AvK
Energy Partner: PPC
Sponsors: Aqua Carpatica, Drinks&More, Banca Transilvania, BCR, Popeci Auto, Supermedical, Exim Banca Românească, Inspire Cinema, SyncRO Soft, Orange, Beefeater, Rovere Mobili, Elpreco
Partners: Romanian Cultural Institute, British Council, University of Craiova, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Research, National University of Theatre and Film “I.L. Caragiale”, Ramada Plaza Craiova, Rotary Club Craiova Probitas, InLan Dimensions, Expo’70 Fund, RAT Craiova, Eco Urbis Craiova, “Angela Hondru” Romanian-Japanese Studies Centre, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova
Media Partners: Voyo, Kiss FM & Magic FM & Rock FM, Radio România, Radio România Oltenia, Cărturești Bookshops, Agerpres, Libertatea, news.ro, A’ List Magazine, urban.ro, Gen, Adevărul, Zile și nopți, Vorbitorincii, Itsy Bitsy, Observator Cultural, Klarmedia, Cineplexx, Phoenix Media, New Age Advertising Agency
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Initiated in 1994 by the visionary Emil Boroghină, the Craiova International Shakespeare Festival is the world’s most important thematic festival of its kind. Over the years, it has brought to Craiova Shakespearean creations signed by Peter Brook, Robert Wilson, Robert Lepage, Eugenio Barba, Thomas Ostermeier and Yukio Ninagawa, along with companies from over 70 countries, helping establish the city as a global meeting point for renowned theatrical aesthetics and practices.
