ZANT 2026

ZANT is Ulm’s new international dance festival, launched in 2025 and taking place each July at ROXY, one of southern Germany’s leading cultural centers. For four days, ZANT transforms Ulm into a lively meeting point for artists, audiences, and partners from across Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and abroad.The festival was founded with a clear vision: to strengthen contemporary dance in Ulm by creating an annual platform that is both locally rooted and internationally connected. ZANT builds on the long-term work of TanzLabor ROXY, which since 2017 has developed residencies, productions, and exchanges that give independent dance artists space to research, create, and present their work. With ZANT, this ongoing commitment expands into a festival format that brings together different strands of TanzLabor’s activities into one cohesive and celebratory program.ZANT presents a diverse range of performances, from regional dance makers to internationally renowned choreographers. It highlights emerging voices alongside established names, with formats spanning full-length evening productions, site-specific works, and shorter presentations in accessible contexts. A key focus of the festival is showcasing the creativity and diversity of Baden-Württemberg’s dance scene, while also connecting it to national and international networks.Beyond performances, ZANT includes participatory and discursive formats: workshops for professionals and the public, community projects, and a symposium designed to foster dialogue across generations, practices, and cultural backgrounds. Initiatives such as #ShowMeYourMoves!, Pop-Up Tanz, and TANZ – Made in Ulm are integrated into the festival, each offering unique ways for artists and audiences to meet. From open-air stages and informal showings to in-depth discussions, ZANT emphasizes accessibility and exchange.The festival also embraces Ulm’s decentralized role in the cultural landscape. Situated between Stuttgart and Munich, Ulm offers a space outside major metropolitan centers where new collaborations and networks can flourish. ZANT positions the city as a vital contributor to contemporary dance, while also strengthening its identity as a host for cross-regional and international encounters.Sustainability is another guiding principle. ZANT prioritizes train travel for artists, collaborates with local accommodations and catering providers, and uses adaptable staging formats that can move between indoor and outdoor spaces depending on weather. This ecological awareness reflects both Ulm’s civic values and the festival’s long-term outlook.Ultimately, ZANT is more than a festival: it is a platform for exchange, experimentation, and community. It creates visibility for contemporary dance in Ulm, provides opportunities for artists to grow and connect, and invites audiences into inspiring and unexpected experiences. By combining professional excellence with participatory formats, local engagement with international perspectives, ZANT establishes itself as a festival that is dynamic, inclusive, and forward-looking.