Deadline: 15-Aug-2026
The Guest Performances in Germany Funding Program supports festivals, theatres, and organisers in Germany that wish to invite theatre and dance ensembles from countries receiving German development assistance. The programme provides financial support for eligible travel expenses and shipping fees, helping international artists present their work to German audiences and connect with the German arts scene.
Programme Overview
The Guest Performances in Germany Funding Program supports cultural exchange through theatre and dance.
The programme is intended for festivals, theatres, and organisers based in Germany that plan to invite theatre or dance ensembles from cooperation countries receiving German development assistance.
Through this support, artists from eligible countries can present their productions to German audiences and engage with the wider German performing arts sector.
Programme Purpose
The purpose of the programme is to promote international artistic exchange, cultural collaboration, and public engagement through guest performances in Germany.
The programme helps reduce financial barriers linked to international travel and production logistics by supporting travel expenses and shipping fees for eligible theatre and dance ensembles.
It also strengthens visibility for artists from cooperation countries and encourages dialogue between international performers and German cultural institutions.
Key Focus Areas
The programme focuses on theatre, dance, international exchange, and cultural cooperation.
Key focus areas include:
- Guest performances in Germany
- Theatre productions
- Dance productions
- International artistic exchange
- Cultural collaboration
- Performing arts presentation
- Support for ensembles from cooperation countries
- Engagement with German audiences
- Connection with the German arts scene
- Travel support for artists
- Shipping support for performance-related materials
- Superregional cultural visibility
Funding Support
The Theatre and Dance Department provides financial support for travel expenses and shipping fees.
Funding may support:
- Travel expenses for eligible theatre ensembles
- Travel expenses for eligible dance ensembles
- Shipping fees related to guest performances
- Single guest performances
- Multiple guest performances within one festival or event
- Several participating artists under one collective application
The funding amount is intended to cover eligible travel and shipping costs. When several performances are included in one application, funding may be provided on a proportional basis.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants must be based in Germany.
Eligible applicants include:
- Festivals in Germany
- Theatres in Germany
- Organisers in Germany
Applicants must be inviting theatre or dance ensembles from cooperation countries receiving German development assistance.
Eligible Participants
The invited participants must be theatre or dance ensembles from eligible cooperation countries.
Eligible participants may include:
- Theatre ensembles from countries receiving German development assistance
- Dance ensembles from countries receiving German development assistance
- Artists participating in a guest performance hosted by a German festival, theatre, or organiser
The programme is not designed for applicants outside Germany to apply directly unless they are part of a supported invitation arrangement led by an eligible German host.
Eligible Activities
The programme supports guest performances by theatre and dance ensembles in Germany.
Eligible activities may include:
- A single guest performance
- Multiple guest performances at one festival
- Several artists participating in one event
- Theatre performances for German audiences
- Dance performances for German audiences
- Cultural exchange activities connected to the guest performance
- Shipping of performance-related materials
Collective Applications
Applications may cover more than one guest performance or multiple artists within one festival or event.
For collective applications, applicants must provide the required information for each participant as specified in the application process.
Funding may be calculated proportionally when several performances or artists are included.
Important Travel and Booking Conditions
Applicants must not make firm bookings before submitting an application.
This means applicants should avoid confirmed bookings for:
- Flights
- Hotels
- Accommodation
- Other requested travel components
Applicants should wait until the appropriate stage of the application process before confirming travel or accommodation arrangements.
Travel to German-speaking countries is not eligible for support under this programme.
Eligibility Requirements
Projects must meet the programme’s artistic, organisational, and visibility requirements.
Eligible applications should demonstrate:
- Artistic quality
- Organisational relevance
- Superregional visibility
- Clear connection to theatre or dance
- Participation by eligible ensembles from cooperation countries
- A German-based host organisation
- Compliance with sustainability requirements for travel
- No confirmed travel or accommodation bookings at the time of application
Sustainability Requirements
Proposed travel arrangements must comply with the programme’s sustainability requirements.
Applicants should consider responsible travel planning and ensure that requested travel support is necessary, justified, and aligned with the programme’s conditions.
Strong applications should show that travel arrangements are practical, appropriate, and environmentally responsible where possible.
What Is Not Eligible?
The programme has specific exclusions.
Ineligible requests include:
- Travel to German-speaking countries
- Applications where firm flight bookings have already been made
- Applications where firm hotel or accommodation bookings have already been made
- Requests that do not involve eligible theatre or dance ensembles
- Projects without a Germany-based festival, theatre, or organiser
- Projects that do not demonstrate artistic quality, organisational relevance, or superregional visibility
Why This Programme Matters
International guest performances help audiences experience diverse artistic voices and cultural perspectives.
This programme matters because it supports theatre and dance ensembles from cooperation countries receiving German development assistance and enables their work to reach audiences in Germany.
By supporting travel and shipping costs, the programme helps German cultural organisers present international productions, strengthen artistic exchange, and build connections between artists and the German performing arts scene.
How the Programme Works
The programme works through host-led applications from Germany-based organisations.
The process includes:
- A festival, theatre, or organiser in Germany identifies an eligible theatre or dance ensemble from a cooperation country.
- The applicant plans a guest performance or multiple performances in Germany.
- The applicant prepares the required information for each participating ensemble or artist.
- No firm travel or accommodation bookings are made before application submission.
- The application is submitted for support toward travel expenses and shipping fees.
- The proposal is reviewed based on eligibility, artistic quality, organisational relevance, visibility, and sustainability.
- Approved support helps cover eligible travel and shipping expenses.
- The guest performance takes place before German audiences and supports artistic exchange.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear application that explains the planned guest performance, invited ensemble, artistic relevance, organisational context, and funding need.
Application Preparation Steps
- Confirm applicant eligibility
Ensure the applicant is a festival, theatre, or organiser based in Germany. - Confirm ensemble eligibility
Check that the invited theatre or dance ensemble comes from a cooperation country receiving German development assistance. - Define the guest performance
Describe the planned theatre or dance performance, including its artistic concept, format, and relevance for German audiences. - Demonstrate artistic quality
Provide information that shows the artistic strength and professional quality of the invited ensemble. - Show organisational relevance
Explain why the performance fits the festival, theatre, event, or organiser’s programme. - Explain superregional visibility
Describe how the performance will reach audiences or cultural networks beyond a purely local context. - Prepare travel and shipping details
Include estimated travel expenses and shipping fees without making confirmed bookings before applying. - Provide participant information
For collective applications, record the required information for each participant as specified in the application process. - Address sustainability requirements
Ensure proposed travel arrangements comply with the programme’s sustainability expectations. - Submit before making firm bookings
Do not confirm flights, hotels, or other travel components before the application has been submitted.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid actions that may make the request ineligible.
Common mistakes include:
- Booking flights before submitting the application
- Booking hotels before submitting the application
- Applying for travel to German-speaking countries
- Inviting ensembles that are not from eligible cooperation countries
- Submitting an application without clear artistic quality
- Not explaining organisational relevance
- Failing to demonstrate superregional visibility
- Leaving out participant details in collective applications
- Requesting unsupported costs beyond travel expenses and shipping fees
- Not addressing sustainability requirements for travel
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application should clearly show why the invited performance is artistically valuable and relevant for German audiences.
Applicants should:
- Present a strong artistic case for the ensemble
- Explain why the performance matters in the German cultural context
- Show how the event promotes international exchange
- Demonstrate the organiser’s capacity to host the performance
- Provide clear estimated travel and shipping costs
- Avoid confirmed bookings before submission
- Highlight audience reach and visibility
- Explain how the performance connects with the German arts scene
- Provide complete participant information
- Show responsible and sustainable travel planning
Key Terms Explained
Guest Performance
A guest performance is a theatre or dance production presented by an invited ensemble at a festival, theatre, or event outside its usual location.
Cooperation Countries
Cooperation countries are countries that receive German development assistance and are eligible under the programme’s international cultural exchange focus.
Superregional Visibility
Superregional visibility means that a project has relevance or audience reach beyond a local area, helping the performance gain wider cultural attention.
Shipping Fees
Shipping fees refer to costs related to transporting performance materials, stage items, costumes, technical equipment, or other necessary production items.
Artistic Quality
Artistic quality refers to the creative strength, professional standard, originality, and cultural value of the proposed performance.
Organisational Relevance
Organisational relevance means that the proposed guest performance fits the host organisation’s programme, audience, mission, and cultural objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Guest Performances in Germany Funding Program?
It is a funding programme that supports festivals, theatres, and organisers in Germany that invite theatre and dance ensembles from countries receiving German development assistance.
Who can apply?
Festivals, theatres, and organisers based in Germany can apply.
Who can be invited through this programme?
The invited ensembles must be theatre or dance ensembles from cooperation countries receiving German development assistance.
What costs can be supported?
The programme supports travel expenses and shipping fees associated with eligible guest performances.
Can one application include multiple performances?
Yes. Applications may cover a single guest performance or multiple guest performances and artists within one festival or event.
Are collective applications allowed?
Yes. Collective applications are allowed, but the required information for each participant must be recorded as specified in the application process.
Can applicants book flights before applying?
No. Applicants must not make firm bookings for flights, hotels, or other requested travel components before submitting an application.
Is travel to German-speaking countries eligible?
No. Travel to German-speaking countries is not eligible for support under this programme.
What qualities should a project demonstrate?
Projects should demonstrate artistic quality, organisational relevance, superregional visibility, and compliance with sustainability requirements.
What is the purpose of the programme?
The programme aims to promote artistic exchange, international collaboration, cultural engagement, and the presentation of theatre and dance productions to audiences in Germany.
Conclusion
The Guest Performances in Germany Funding Program supports festivals, theatres, and organisers in Germany that wish to host theatre and dance ensembles from cooperation countries receiving German development assistance. By covering eligible travel expenses and shipping fees, the programme helps bring international performing arts to German audiences, strengthens cultural exchange, and creates opportunities for artists to engage with the German arts scene.
For more information, visit Goethe-Institut.