International Shakespeare Festival

The International Shakespeare Festival in Gdańsk is one of Europe's most prestigious theatre events, now in its 30th edition in Poland's Tri-City. Organised by the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre and the Theatrum Gedanense Foundation, the festival has presented over 360 theatre companies from more than 40 countries. Throughout its history, productions by over 360 world-renowned directors have been showcased, including Peter Brook, Luk Perceval, Romeo Castellucci, Elizabeth LeCompte, Lev Dodin, Eimuntas Nekrošius, Oskaras Koršunovas, Tiago Rodrigues, Jan Lauwers, Roberto Ciulli, Robert Sturua, Silviu Purcărete, and Robert Lepage. 

The festival serves as a major international platform for exchanging theatrical practices, research, and dialogue surrounding Shakespeare's legacy among artists, critics, and diverse audiences. It is the only Polish festival - and one of just five in Europe - to receive the prestigious EFFE award from the European Festivals Association (EFA) in cooperation with the European Commission and the European Parliament. It plays a pivotal role in promoting Gdańsk and the Pomeranian region globally.

This international engagement is further embodied by the European Shakespeare Festivals Network (ESFN), initiated in 2010 and headquartered in Gdańsk. The network unites partners across Europe, including Poland, Germany, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, the UK, Armenia, Denmark, North Macedonia, Serbia, Italy, Ukraine, Spain, and Moldova. The festival combines international master showcases with competitions dedicated to Polish and emerging theatre: the Golden Yorick, the SzekspirOFF fringe section, and the New Yorick competition (introduced in 2023). 

It integrates artistic, educational, and interdisciplinary activities, including workshops, exhibitions, and meetings with global creators. The 30th jubilee edition (2026), titled "In Praise of Madness" and dedicated to founder Prof. Jerzy Limon, gathered 6,698 participants across 49 performances and 18 accompanying events. Highlights included a "Festival of Hamlets" (6 distinct stagings), masterpieces by Purcărete and Lepage, and 100% English-language accessibility, reinforcing Gdańsk as a vibrant capital of world theatre.