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Tabori Prize 2026
This year, the Fonds Darstellende Künste will award the Tabori Prize for the 17th time. Germany's highest award for the independent performing arts will be presented on April 17, 2026, as part of the “Theaterpreis des Bundes” at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
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All Funding Programs for 2026 online
The Fonds Darstellende Künste has published all funding programs and deadlines for 2026. Artists, groups, and institutions can now apply for the programs that suit them. Find out about the requirements, discover opportunities, and get started right away!
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Massive losses for the independent performing arts
Numerous nationally relevant and structurally effective networks and projects are losing federal funding—despite a record budget of €2.57 billion for the cultural sector. The independent performing arts sector across Germany is facing a critical turning point.
Current application deadlines
News
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Tabori Prize 2026
This year, the Fonds Darstellende Künste will award the Tabori Prize for the 17th time. Germany's highest award for the independent performing arts will be presented on April 17, 2026, as part of the “Federal Theater Prize” at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.
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Theaterpreis des Bundes 2026
The Fonds Darstellende Künste has once again been entrusted with awarding the Theaterpreis des Bundes. The application process for the upcoming edition is now closed. For the latest information, visit:
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Supporting children and young people – creating prospects for the future
In a joint appeal, the program partners of “Kultur macht stark” (Culture Makes Strong) present a remarkable assessment of the federal program and call for its continuation beyond 2027.
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Culture budget 2026: Massive losses for the independent performing arts
Funding for the Fonds Darstellende Künste (Performing Arts Fund) will be stabilized at approximately €8.59 million in the 2026 federal budget. At the same time, numerous nationally relevant and structurally effective networks and projects will lose federal funding – despite a record budget of €2.57 billion for culture.
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THE ART OF STAYING MANY
What is “THE ART OF STAYING MANY” in times of social division? Actors Tina Pfurr and Hauke Heumann embark on a cinematic journey through eight cities, gathering powerful voices from the worlds of art, politics, and science in Dresden, Erfurt, and Berlin. Between market stalls and box seats, new housing developments and Weimar Classicism, they seek out the common threads that connect the arts in history, the present, and the future.
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Die Vielen
The Fonds Darstellende Künste is a co-signatory of the Declaration of the Many (DIE VIELEN).
Latest blog posts
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Fond kicks off funding year 2026 – an overview
15 Jan 2026
The Fonds Darstellende Künste (Performing Arts Fund) is kicking off its 2026 funding year with new programs – but also new challenges. Steffen Klewar, program director at the Fonds, presents all of the funding programs in this video.
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Funding year 2026: Fund responds to new challenges
08 Jan 2026
Although funding for the Fonds has been stabilised in the 2026 federal budget, this cannot compensate for the consequences of the complete cancellation of nationwide projects and networks. In order to safeguard artistic work despite foreseeable deficits and structural gaps, the Fonds is making adjustments to its funding program.
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“Not appropriate”: Why cuts to the culture budget threaten the independent scene
04 Dec 2025
Funding for the independent performing arts is falling from €22 million (2024) to €8.5 million – a cut of two-thirds. Holger Bergmann warns that this jeopardizes cultural freedom and innovative strength. The Fonds is calling on the BKM to take countermeasures.
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© Boris Barukcic
Review: Funded Projects in 2025
02 Dec 2025
In our annual review, we provide an insight into the wide range of projects that were realized in 2025 in all of the funds' funding programs. The compiled image gallery presents a selection of supported productions, premieres, and events, illustrating the breadth and quality of the artistic practice that was made possible by the Fonds' funding. View now on Instagram.
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Joint appeal from the independent performing arts
01 Dec 2025
The culture and media budget allocated to the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM), Minister of State Wolfram Weimer, will increase to around €2.57 billion in 2026 – yet essential structures of the independent performing arts remain unsecured.
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Art requires freedom and courage
15 Oct 2025
The Fonds managing director, Holger Bergmann, looks back on two intensive days of events, the results of the individual workshops, important insights from the panel discussions and statements: Art needs freedom and courage to face current social challenges, art needs stable funding beyond the logic of individual projects – and it needs “alliances that are bigger than ourselves.”
About the Fonds
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Funding
With its funding lines, the Fonds continues the specific support of the independent performing arts.
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Consulting
The Fonds Darstellende Künste not only supports projects, but is also a service and consulting partner for independent artists, collectives and institutions. The office advises interested parties and artists on aspects of the application process as well as on structural and organizational issues beyond the scope of its own funding programs.
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The Fonds Darstellende Künste
For over 40 years, the Fonds Darstellende Künste has been one of the six federal cultural promotion funds supporting the art and cultural landscape of the Federal Republic of Germany, with a special focus on promoting the independent performing arts.
Planning, applying for, and implementing cultural projects for young people in a discrimination-sensitive manner | #8 Discrimination-sensitive application process
10 February 2026, 02:00 PM - 04:00 PMFormat: Workshop
The series of nine workshops focuses on various aspects of discrimination-sensitive project design and provides practical tips for concrete implementation. The eigth event in the series deals with the topic:
“Discrimination-sensitive application process”
morePlanning, applying for, and implementing cultural projects for young people in a discrimination-sensitive manner | #9 Raising awareness of queer realities
02 March 2026, 02:00 PM - 05:00 PMFormat: Workshop
The series of nine workshops focuses on various aspects of discrimination-sensitive project design and provides practical tips for concrete implementation. The ninth event in the series deals with the topic:
“Raising awareness of queer realities”
more