2026 Homo Novus Festival

The International Festival of Contemporary Theatre “Homo Novus” is Latvia’s leading festival of contemporary performing arts and one of the largest in the Baltic region. Taking place in Riga, it brings together new and established artists whose work reflects a deep curiosity and critical view of the modern world. Alongside a diverse programme of performances, the festival offers space for creative experiments, reflection, and learning. Since 1995, eighteen editions have been held in Daugavpils and Riga, featuring more than 350 guest performances and producing dozens of new works.In 2026, the festival continues its exploration of contemporary stage art while introducing new curatorial and collaborative approaches grounded in care, respect, and sustainability. The year’s guiding theme is relaxation and slowing down — an invitation to nurture empathy, attentiveness, and inclusion among artists, audiences, and the festival team.The programme will feature around twenty performances and performative events designed to encourage reflection rather than excess, focusing on mindful presence, shared experience, and sensory engagement. Many works will explore new ways of being together — through tactile, spatial, and immersive encounters, inventive use of public and natural spaces, and forms that invite proximity and vulnerability.The festival also continues to strengthen its commitment to accessibility and inclusion, offering relaxed performances, quiet spaces, and environments welcoming to families and neurodiverse audiences. Expanding beyond Riga, the festival will connect with local communities and audiences across Latvia and abroad, creating encounters that extend the spirit of care and curiosity beyond the stage.