WESTWIND 2026

Westwind, the festival for young audiences, is coming to Münster—and bringing a breath of fresh air!

WESTWIND 2026 considers itself as a festival and a workshop, as a space to perform and a space to explore. It invites audiences to theatre experiences that take a stance, to discussions that challenge us, and to workshops that not only impart knowledge, but courage and new perspectives as well. Junges Theater Münster and echtzeit-theater Münster will assume artistic directorship of the 2026 edition of the festival—two different theatre companies that make theatre for young audiences in very distinct ways coming together to pursue a clear, unified vision. They are additionally joined by Theater in der Meerwiese, Theater im Pumpenhaus and other artistic partners working together to further advance the diversity and quality of art for young audiences in Münster. Junges Theater Münster, as a firmly established division of the Münster municipal theatre, and echtzeit-theater, as an independent ensemble with a clear focus on young audiences, are consciously joining forces: by working together, they demonstrate how diverse theatre can be, not only artistically but also structurally—whether anchored in a city theatre or freelance in the independent scene. Both stand for theatre that asks questions, opens up perspectives and creates spaces where young people can discover themselves—and get to know each other. Junges Theater Münster tells stories that not only depict what is, but also sketch out what could be. They explore new horizons and find beauty in unexpected places. echtzeit-theater focuses on radical closeness: direct, open, experimental. There, theatre does not mean simply watching, but also reflecting, having a say and getting involved. At the heart of the festival are ten outstanding productions from NRW, selected by a committee of experts out of an array of applications submitted by independent ensembles, municipal theatres and state institutions. Complementing this selection, an international programme from a variety of countries will feature exciting productions for different age groups. The festival is accompanied by a themed programme of supporting events: workshops, round-table discussions, panels and lectures as well as the Next Generation programme, offering opportunities for exchange, education and participation. Children and teens are not merely the audience of tomorrow—they can actively shape the theatre of today: as spectators, as participants, as providers of ideas. We will place this focus at the centre of our programme. Performing arts for young audiences, with all of its various structural facets and artistic modes of expression, is not merely a “nice-to-have”. It is loud. It is necessary. It is alive. WESTWIND 2026 invites you to experience this together. In Münster. On stage. In the city. In conversation. In person.

The Westwind Festival 2026 is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia and the City of Münster, as well as the Fritz Terfloth Foundation, Münster.