Imatra will once again be filled with theatre art – the Black and White Theatre Festival will be held from 21 to 25 July 2026.

The Black and White Theatre Festival will be held in Imatra again from 21 to 25 July 2026. The festival brings together top international artists and theatre lovers from all over the world. Performances will be held at Theatre Imatra, Kulttuuritalo Virta, Valtionhotelli, Festival Club and outdoors at Koskenpartaa and Inkerinaukio.

The program features a diverse range of performing arts, from cabaret to contemporary dance, street theater to fire art and children's theater. The event brings approximately 95 artists and performers from 15 different countries to Imatra.

– The Black and White Theatre Festival offers an opportunity to see high-quality international theatre art in a small town, which is not available elsewhere in Finland. Such an international coverage is also exceptional nationwide, says the chairman of the Black and White Theatre Association. Katri Lätt.

Cabaret brings a new art form to the festival

This year's program will feature a particularly interesting new addition, as cabaret will be coming to the festival for the first time. The audience will be able to experience two international cabaret performances: London Cabaret Club's Roxie Rocks Chicago and Lithuania's Nijinsky Cabaret Club's The Aurora Borealis.

“The program includes some truly amazing international performances, so it’s difficult to name a single highlight. However, cabaret brings a completely new art form to the festival and offers the audience a unique experience,” says Lätt.

The festival will close with Susanna Leinonen Company's impressive Pain Killer, which will also feature artists from Imatra. The event will culminate in a spectacular international fire theatre performance, which Lätti says will bring a new kind of visual spectacle to Inkeri Square.

International culture and experiences for the entire city

The festival program will be organized at several different venues around Imatra. Performances will be seen at, among others, the Imatra Theatre, the Cultural Centre in Virta, the State Hotel, the Festival Club, Koskenpartaa and Inkerinaukio.

On the Koskenpartaa promenade, the public can enjoy international street theater, street musicians, and other free programs. There are experiences for all ages, and the event is accessible to all.

– The festival is open to everyone. Even if you don't go to see the indoor performances, it's worth coming to experience the international street theater, street musicians, fire art, children's theater and the unique festival atmosphere, Lätt encourages.

The festival strengthens Imatra's appeal

The Black and White Theatre Festival is one of Imatra's most significant international cultural events. The event increases the vitality and attractiveness of the city and strengthens Imatra's position as a cultural city.

– The festival attracts tourists from all over Finland and abroad and brings artists from all over the world to the city. At the same time, Imatra gains international visibility as artists take their experiences of the city with them around the world, says Lätt.

The full program of the Black and White Theatre Festival can be found on the event's website at https://blackandwhitetheatre.fi/festivaalin-ohjelma-2026/.

The Black and White Theatre Festival is the major event partner of the City of Imatra in 2026.

For more information:

Chairwoman Katri Lätt, Black and White Theatre Association, black and white theatergmail.com (black and white theater[at]gmail[dot]com)

Black and White Theatre - Imatra