festival
site-specific
a imerzního divalda

festival
site-specific
a imerzního divalda

Festival of the South Bohemian Theatre, which turns South Bohemia into a stage.

Each performance takes place in an environment that is not just a backdrop, but an important part of the experience. Streets, cities, industrial halls, and unexpected corners are transformed into stages, giving the productions a new dimension. After a successful pilot year in 2024, which attracted more than 20,000 spectators, South Specific is entering its first official year in 2026 – and invites you to be there.

This is the largest project within the framework of České Budějovice – European Capital of Culture 2028. You can look forward to more than forty performances by thirty-one artistic ensembles. We officially kicked off the festival on May 1–3 with the opening weekend of Festival Bites, which offered a diverse preview of the program and accompanying events. 

Tickets for all performances are now on sale.

Festival Tapas

We officially kicked off the festival on May 1–3 with the opening weekend of “Festival Tapas,” which offered a diverse sampling of performances, discussions, workshops, live music, and various open-air event formats. Did you miss the Festival Tapas, or have they left you craving more unconventional experiences? Come nourish your soul at the South Specific Festival anytime from May through September 2026.

May–September 2026

Premieres

News from this year’s South Specific Festival

As part of the festival’s first official edition, we have prepared eight festival premieres for you. During the opening weekend, the Little Theatre presented the premiere of Lighthouses at the End of the World, and just one day later, the South Bohemian Theater’s drama troupe presented the unique production Dream of a Realm of Beauty. The South Bohemian Theater Ballet will head to Český Krumlov in July with the world premiere of The Cremator, while the South Bohemian Theater Opera will bring the Revolving Auditorium to life with the musical hit The Little Prince, penned by an Oscar-winning author. Guest companies will also present their premiere productions. The Oskar Nedbal Theater will present the Hrzán Cabaret, and from the Temporary Collective, you can look forward to Lost Movements. The Continuo Theater will travel to Týn nad Vltavou this time with its Hotel Fatigue. In Jindřichův Hradec, the Musaši Entertainment Company will organize a Garden Festival.

Find out more

Immersive Theater Lab

Workshops

The Immersive Theater Lab is a new platform focused on the education and development of creators of immersive and site-specific projects.

It is designed for anyone who wants to engage the audience as an active partner and explore new forms of theatrical expression beyond the traditional stage. The laboratory consists of three workshops with an international scope. “Bordel L’Amour – Make the Audience a Co-Creator,” led by Jakub Čermák and Barbora Šupová, focuses on intimate participation and one-on-one interactions. The workshop “Building a World” will take place in August 2026 in Litschau, Austria, and, led by Lin Kleingarn and Rebekah Wild, is dedicated to creating immersive worlds as living, functional environments. The third part, “The Borderline – Authorial Acting in Immersive Theater,” led by Vojtěch Bartoš and Lukáš Brychta, focuses on acting without a fixed script and working with unpredictability. All workshops include public work-in-progress presentations.

Find out more

Festival merchandise

Head to the festival in your own unique style

South Specific festival isn’t just about what you’ll see and experience. It’s also about what you wear and what you bring with you. Get ready with our new festival merchandise!

Don’t want to go thirsty during the festival? A stainless steel bottle will keep you hydrated on sweltering summer days all the way through to the evening performances. Plus, you can bundle up at Jižní Svéráz even on chilly summer evenings filled with culture, thanks to stylish shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets. Handbags, wallets, phone cases, and ticket holders made from banners and tarps that have outlived their original purpose will make a splash not just in the South Bohemian Region.

Find out more

Festival program

June

July

August

September

South Specific Festival announces the results of the international open call for 2028

As part of the South Specific Festival’s first open call, an incredible 108 projects were submitted for the call for international co-productions of new site-specific and immersive projects. ? The dramaturgical board selected a total of 5 projects for the shortlist for the year 2028. We warmly congratulate the selected projects and thank everyone else for their projects. 

The selected projects are:

 Witch Trials / Čarodejnické procesy: CZ + DE (Geisslers Institute, z. ú.)

Exploding the Orchestra – Maninyas: AT (The Freestyle Orchestra)

Soluble Dreams: UK (Audileum)

Between Worlds / Mezi světy: CZ + IT (Sladovna Písek, o. p. s.)

Procession of lights: GEO (Untitled Tbilisi)

What will South Specific 2026 be like? Get in the mood with the brand-new promo for this unique festival by the South Bohemian Theater, which will bring more than 30 venues across South Bohemia to life this year.

Media reviews

Divadelní noviny 19. 5. 2026

Lidové noviny 10. 7. 2024

Právo 15. 5. 2024

Českobudějovický Deník 15. 5. 2024

Mf Dnes 14. 5. 2024

Divadelní noviny 14. 5. 2024