RUTA – REGIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL
Between the 29th January and the 3rd February 2026, the Ljubljana City Theatre will host RUTA, the regional theatre festival for the fifth time – a unique event that since 2019 has brought together six theatre companies from six cities of former Yugoslavia.
Since December 2024, the Cultural Centre Tivat, which represents the Montenegrin theatre scene, has also been a member of Ruta. In addition, the Belgrade Drama Theatre, the Skopje Drama Theatre, the Sarajevo Chamber Theatre 55, the Ulysses Theatre from Zagreb and Brijuni, and the host – the Ljubljana City Theatre – will also take part in the festival.
The central aim of the RUTA festival has been clear from the start – to strengthen cultural ties across national borders and to create a space for artistic collaboration. Over the years, the festival has become a recognised event that is not only a celebration of theatre, but also an opportunity for artists, technical teams and loyal audiences to come together.
Within the Ruta network, other joint projects are also being developed alongside the festival events. Among them is the new international co-production The Life of Provincial Playboys After the Second World War or We Want What’s Foreign and Won’t Give Away What’s Ours, directed by Ivan Penović, which will bring together the Ljubljana City Theatre, the Belgrade Drama Theatre, the Skopje Drama Theatre and the Budva City Theatre.
Welcome to the Ruta Ljubljana 2026 festival stop!