Theatre Festival Boulevard once again closes out the summer in 's-Hertogenbosch with its 42nd edition. From Thursday 6 to Sunday 16 August, the festival welcomes around 120 performances (including 20 premieres), shows and workshops at twenty locations in and around the city. Artists from the Netherlands and abroad, and stories that move you. It is a temporary community that comes together anew each year at the festival heart at the foot of Sint-Jans Cathedral and far beyond. Ticket sales start on 23 June 2026.
 

In a Community of Wonder

'In a community of wonder' remains this year's motto for Boulevard. Wonder as a radical choice to keep yourself open. In encounters, in looking at the world including at what is difficult.
 

A glimpse of the diverse programme

The festival opens a wide window onto the contemporary dance and theatre world. Ten Palestinian dancers bring traditional folk dance dabke together with hip-hop and capoeira in Badke(remix) by Amir Sabra & Ata Khatab (laGeste | Stereo48), creating an explosive mix. English company Lost Dog also breathes new life into old material: in Ruination, they rewrite the myth of Medea with lightness and humour, as spoken text gradually gives way to movement, supported by live music that effortlessly shifts between pop and opera.

Not only myths and folk tales take centre stage — personal journeys are given a platform too. Linde Schöne explores in Linde Schöne Has Failed what it means to turn thirty without your dreams having come true. For the very youngest, there is Knight Robin (6+) by Dear T., a story about love and a brave knight. And with Comp. Marius and Het Scheldeoffensief, Shakespeare's classic gets a contemporary twist: in their adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, the story is told through the eyes of different generations.

An absolute highlight of the summer is the return of Schweigman&. With KLEI, they build a landscape of ten tonnes of clay and five hundred litres of water — a performance that lets you feel what it is like to be part of something greater than yourself, and how vulnerable yet powerful a body can be when it surrenders to the earth. KLEI can be seen in the Brabanthallen, one of this year's special venues, alongside Fort Isabelle and Onder de Moriaan.
 

Spiritual Emergency Kit

We seek out depth and draw inspiration through other means as well. The Spiritual Emergency Kit is for everyone and consists of post-show talks, a talk show and working sessions.

In Boulevard's talk show, you hear the stories behind the festival. Every other day, Yahmani Blackman welcomes guests on the Torenpodium, from visitors to makers and organisers. The talk show features interviews with artists, artistic contributions and a behind-the-scenes look at the festival.
 

The continuation of Tent Paars and IK MAAK MEE

Following a successful debut in '24 and '25, both Tent Paars and IK MAAK MEE return for another edition. Tent Paars, the vibrant pavilion for street culture and hip-hop on the Parade, builds on the specially designed stage by set designer Eddy van der Laan. The programme is once again developed in collaboration with Cypher HQ and Arjuna Vermeulen from Den Bosch.

IK MAAK MEE, the meeting place for children aged two to ten on the Parade, continues to grow with Huisje73, new workshops, a foraging route and even more activities to take part in. Families can also hop aboard a little train by Theater Artemis for Arty Farty in the Playground (ALL AGES), and b-boy Remses Rafaela uses his body to tell a story about fear and growth in ANOCHI (4+).
 

Into the neighbourhood with Lijn73

The Lijn 73 programme brings artists, performances and audiences together in the Kruiskamp. Special artistic projects include De Salon tussen Zorg en Zuchten by Stormkamer, a theatrical city conversation about an ever more urgent question: how do we care for one another in a society where we increasingly seem to stand on opposite sides? And Corpo Máquina Society's Dancing with the Trees, in which children from Den Bosch are rooted like trees.
 

Free programme and accessibility

As in previous years, this 42nd edition features an extensive free programme, including a daily musical close with a live band at 11 pm. Boulevard has facilities for people with visual, auditory, cognitive, intellectual and/or physical disabilities.

Finally, Boulevard offers a varied selection of restaurants, food trucks, terraces and special bars.
 

Campaign image

This year the festival once again collaborates with Den Bosch artist Rogier Roeters. Roeters created an image that stands for plurality of voices and encounter, representing the diversity of the festival, the makers, stories, perspectives, audiences and emotions that Boulevard brings together.
 

Practical information

• Date: Thursday 6 to Sunday 16 August 2026
• Location: 's-Hertogenbosch (20 locations, including the festival heart on the Parade)
• Ticket sales: From Monday 23 June 2026 via festivalboulevard.nl/programma
• Programme: Approximately 120 theatre and dance performances, concerts and workshops
   

Theatre Festival Boulevard is made possible in part by: Municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch, Province of Noord-Brabant, Fonds Podiumkunsten, VSBfonds, Fonds 21, het Cultuurfonds, Vriendenloterijfonds, Dioraphte, Vlaanderen verbeelding werkt, Jeugdfonds Sport en Cultuur, Jan van Hoof galerie, Zin in Den Bosch, and the Friends and Close Friends of Boulevard.

Press contact
For photos and questions, please contact Florien Smits via de button below.