Reimagined Noorderzon 2026
attracts more than 150,000 visitors
On Sunday 30 August, the 36th edition of Noorderzon Festival of Performing Arts & Society came to a successful close in Groningen. From Thursday 20 August, Noorderzon presented eleven days of international performing arts, talks and lectures, literature, music and performances, receiving widespread praise from both press and audiences. Despite the rainy weather, the festival attracted more than 150,000 visitors and sold 7% more tickets.
In the Noorderplantsoen, visitors discovered a newly designed festival heart, enthusiastically received by audiences, with several new stages and more music, theatre and performance in the open air. Noorderzon was also present throughout Groningen city centre, with an international programme at Forum Groningen, Grand Theatre, SPOT/Stadsschouwburg and Niemeyer, as well as a late-night programme at Simplon. No fewer than 650 volunteers were indispensable to the success of the festival.
Transformed festival heart in Noorderplantsoen
This year, Noorderzon deliberately opted for a more spacious and accessible festival experience: art is for everyone. The Noorderplantsoen received a completely new look — one that was enthusiastically embraced — and was transformed into one large stage, with more installations, decoration, music and performances spread throughout the park. Around the pond, De Kraken became an iconic new central meeting place, with a stage in the water hosting daily performances. Along the Leliesingel, all the containers were brought together, while installations and performances appeared in public space throughout the park. Callisto remained a permanent home for free live music, while new stages De Kraken and De Dans, as well as unexpected locations throughout the park, welcomed emerging artists and roaming acts. The children's programme came into its own on the newly redesigned Speelweide.
International performing arts that challenge and inspire
The international theatre and dance programme, very well received by both press and audiences, brought artists from fourteen countries to Groningen with urgent, compelling stories told in innovative forms. The festival opened with Deaf Republic by Irish collective Dead Centre, an impressive contemporary fable about war, humanity and collective resistance. Mario Banushi presented RAGADA, a raw and poetic performance about birth, the body and memory. Greek choreographer Patricia Apergi and Polish artist Magda Szpecht both explored the changing position of women in contemporary society. Young Portuguese director Marco Mendonça and Catalonia-based choreographer Oulouy, of Ivorian descent, each in their own way opened up conversations around racial stereotyping and racial profiling. With 12 Last Songs, Quarantine created a one-off, twelve-hour portrait of Groningen.
&Society: space for dialogue and difference
In &Society, Noorderzon’s ‘think space’, art, journalism, science and personal stories came together. The programme explored the questions beneath the news: power, democracy, identity, radicalisation and the ways in which we live together. With guests including Arjen Lubach, Tatjana Almuli, Elmer (who stepped in for Lisa Loeb, who was unable to attend due to illness), Catherine de Vries, Qian van Binsbergen and Teun van de Keuken, conversations addressed pressing social issues. At a time of increasing polarisation, Noorderzon aims to be a place where different perspectives can coexist and where there is room for doubt. &Literaturia also brought writers, poets and thinkers together. With guests including Ellen Deckwitz, Philip Dröge, Ype Driessen and Cas and Michiel van der Pol, the programme explored literature, language, philosophy and current affairs. Conversations continued after the events, both inside and outside the venues, with an audience that was visibly engaged, curious and eager to keep thinking.
Quotes
Managing Director Rutger Gernandt: “We can look back on an incredibly successful edition. We have been overwhelmed with compliments from the media, visitors and artists. That makes us extremely proud and gives us a lot of confidence in the future. At the same time, we need to further strengthen the foundations of Noorderzon. The value of Noorderzon to Groningen is significant: we bring international art to the city, create space for local artists and provide a place where people meet and engage in conversation. We look forward to continuing to build a strong and sustainable future for Noorderzon together with Groningen.”
Artistic Director Mark Yeoman: “We’ve had a fantastic year. The international theatre and dance programme received the best press and reception we’ve had in years. And all the changes to our beautiful festival heart in the Noorderplantsoen have worked out incredibly well. It’s always a risk to change things, but it has worked so well. New stages such as De Kraken and De Dans, an improved Callisto stage, a redesigned children’s area, a beautiful Container Street along the Leliesingel… plus a fresh new design for the park that has lifted everything to a whole new level. In short: a minor reinvention of the festival. For me personally, this is one of our best editions so far.”
About Noorderzon
Art you can’t ignore, encounters you don’t want to miss. From 20 to 30 August 2026, Noorderzon Festival of Performing Arts & Society created a temporary world in Groningen for eleven days: international performing arts, local talent, talks and interactive performances across the city and in the Noorderplantsoen. A programme that challenges, inspires and shifts your perspective.
Noorderzon 2027 will take place from Thursday 19 to Sunday 29 August 2027.
Noorderzon in the press
“Once again, Groningen’s Noorderzon proves itself to be in a league of its own as an experimental international theatre festival.”
— Sander Janssens, De Volkskrant
“With a consistently outstanding international programme, (...) Noorderzon has for years been regarded in Groningen as one of the most interesting theatre festivals in the Netherlands. The opening performance Deaf Republic unmistakably confirms that status.”
— Sander Janssens, De Volkskrant
“Almost four decades on, Noorderzon is still a theatre festival to look forward to every year.”
— Elisabeth Oosterling, NRC
“It seems that Groningen’s Noorderzon Festival has pleasant surprises in store every edition, and the extraordinarily powerful Izithukuthuku by South African choreographer Vusi Mdoyi is a brilliant example.”
— Javier López Piñón, De Theaterkrant
“A packed festival rolls, sparks, burns and fights.”
— Eric Nederkoorn, Dagblad van het Noorden
