Open call: Munich Biennale Festival 2026

Organisers are seeking innovative proposals for music theatre projects thematically centred on martial arts. The selected project will premiere at the Munich Biennale in May 2026 and will be presented at Styriarte Graz in June and July 2026.

This call invites professional groups or teams of artists (up to five members) to oversee all theatrical elements, including composition, text, direction, staging, dramaturgy, set design, conducting, video, and more.

The Munich Biennale/Styirarte Graz can offer the chosen project a budget in the region of €23 000 (about $25 200 gross) for production, premiere and ongoing performance space will be provided free of charge and will include technical equipment, a technical director for set-up and rehearsals, as well as a seven-piece vocal-instrumental ensemble. The same is true for the venue in Graz. On top of that, the team will be offered a mentor specialising in martial arts as well as someone to provide dramaturgical advice. Envisaged are three performances for the Munich Biennale and three performances as part of Styriarte Graz.

Criteria for participation

• The call is open to the public and is directed at professional teams of artists (max. 5 members) from all countries. Eligible to apply are teams of artists who are active in the fields of composition, text, direction, staging, dramaturgy, set design, conducting, video and beyond.
• The project must engage significantly with the subject of "com-bat sports/martial arts". In particular, submissions that incorporate the physical, gestural and/or the ritual aspects of martial arts are welcome.
• The project must premiere at the Munich Biennale. Projects that have already been realised may not be submitted.
• The music theatre piece should be 30 to 40 minutes long without an interval.
• ⁠Concepts aimed at an intergenerational audience, i.e. children and young people as well as adults, are welcome.
• ⁠It is hoped that the project team will engage with key players from the martial arts community in both Munich and Graz. This engagement could be reflected in the performance.
• The project team will receive dramaturgical support from one person who will be available during the development process and the final rehearsals.
• The project team will also receive mentoring support. The mentor will work alongside and advise the project by means of three consultation sessions (one of which will be in person) and will actively be on hand to advise.
• ⁠Orchestration: the Munich Biennale/Styriarte Graz will provide a seven-piece vocal-instrumental ensemble. Rare instruments are possible (max. two). Ideally, the line-up would include both vocal and instrumental components.
• The project must be suitable for the spatial and technical possibilities of the "schwere reiter" in Munich. The organisers will provide the project team with a technical manager at the venue.
• ⁠Part of the development of the concept must include the production’s capacity to tour.
• Approximately days are allocated for rehearsals in Munich, and approximately days for the get-in or adaption rehearsals in Graz.
• It will not be possible to use the orchestra pit.
• ⁠As far as possible, the project team should be available to take part in any aspect of communication connected to the project.
• The project team undertakes to keep the Munich Biennale fully informed of the status of the project. Independent communication activities must be coordinated with the Munich Biennale.
• ⁠A detailed list of all estimated production costs is expected to be provided as part of the application.

Required documentation:

• All application documents have to be submitted in English. The application must include the following:
• ⁠Exposé: a concept describing the music theatre project (max. 10 000 characters including spaces; optional: attachments with graphics or photos).
• Biographies of the members of the project team (each one max. 1 500 characters).
• ⁠The contact details for one contact person from the project team
• Details of the exact cast.
• Timeline of the production schedule (starting with the announcement of the winning project in March 2025).
• Details about potential sponsors or partners.
• Costing plan: A budget of the estimated production costs (as detailed as possible) is expected as part of the application. Adherence to the budget framework is a key assessment criterion for the competition.
• The following expenditure and income items must be included:
  • Remuneration for the project team.
  • Additional costs for technical equipment over and above that provided in the technical rider.
  • Rental costs for any rehearsal rooms during the development phase.
  • Other production-specific costs.
  • ⁠Any additional financing (not a prerequisite).

Interested artists should apply here before 15 November 2024. A seven-member international jury will choose one project from the submissions. The winning project will be announced in March 2025.

View the original call here.