In 2026, Montreal will once again host the Biennale CINARS, the international crossroads for the performing arts. From 9 to 14 November 2026, artists, presenters and curators from around the world will gather to discover and showcase the latest innovations in dance, theatre, circus, music, puppetry and interdisciplinary performance.
“Biennale CINARS remains a welcoming hub in Montreal where contemporary performing arts practitioners from Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Americas come together. It’s like one big family.”
For artists and programmers alike, the Biennale offers a platform to be discovered and to connect internationally. Since 1984, it has brought together global performing arts professionals across the city’s major cultural venues, offering performances, workshops, networking events and conferences.
For 2026, CINARS returns with a bold new look, while maintaining its dedication to showcasing and exporting Quebec, Canadian and international performance worldwide. Artists from across the globe are invited to share their work with an international audience of more than 330 programmers and curators from all continents.
Call for artists: Showcase your work at Biennale CINARS 2026
The Montreal International Performing Arts Conference is a unique opportunity for artists to present their work to an international audience of programmers, curators and collaborators. The official programming call for applications is now open, inviting artists from around the world to share full-length works or excerpts in dance, theatre, circus, interdisciplinary arts, puppetry and music.
“We have transformed Biennale CINARS by offering full-length performances, thereby respecting artistic quality and helping programmers make informed choices..”
An international panel of performing arts professionals will select works for the official 2026 programme. Selected showcase applications must be performed live before a public audience at Biennale CINARS 2026, offering artists a platform to be seen by global decision-makers and to create lasting connections within the international performing
arts community.
Explore, connect, inspire: discover the directions for Biennale CINARS 2026
“The Biennale is an opportunity to discover the performing arts of today, which will be the new voices of tomorrow. We are seeing more and more hybrid shows emerging that appeal to all audiences. Concerts with circus acts or screenings, more intimate and large forms of performance created by artists of the new generation. These artists are better at creating and staging concepts that appeal to a wide audience. Often influenced by new technologies, they are democratising and enriching the dialogue between artists and all audiences.”
6 reasons to attend Biennale CINARS 2026
- Reveal contemporary voices – Experience full-length works in dance, circus, theatre, music and interdisciplinary arts that challenge, disrupt and inspire, from intimate venues to large stages.
- Embrace new dramaturgies and hybrid forms – Discover innovative writing, cross-disciplinary approaches and hybrid aesthetics reshaping the performing arts landscape.
- Explore contemporary puppetry – Witness bold and imaginative puppet theatre, combining objects, shadows, light and technology in dialogue with
other forms. - Vibrate to original music – Enjoy interdisciplinary, cross-cultural and experimental music performances that foster dialogue between traditions and innovation.
- Marvel at youth performances – See dazzling productions for young audiences and families that showcase creativity across all disciplines.
- Foster diverse networking – Connect with international artists, programmers and presenters through unexpected encounters, new conference formats and professional exchange opportunities.
With performances ranging from large stages to intimate spaces, complemented by free OFF activities, Biennale CINARS 2026 offers experiences to inspire discovery at every turn. In 2024, over 1,300 artists, programmers and presenters from more than 40 countries took part in more than 120 multidisciplinary shows, with more promised for 2026. To discover more about Biennale CINARS 2026 or to apply, visit cinars.org/en/biennale.
