3 DAYS FREE concludes with a strong statement for the independent scene
Eight selected productions, two residencies, three workshops, four exchange and networking formats, as well as film, concert, and parties – with a diverse program and clear cultural policy impulses, the festival 3 DAYS FREE – Festival of Independent Performing Arts came to an end on April 18, 2026. It provided the independent performing arts scene of Baden-Württemberg with a platform to showcase its artistic diversity, spirit of experimentation, and cultural impact. With an overall attendance rate of more than 90 percent and numerous sold-out performances, the festival met with a strong response from audiences.
At the award ceremony on April 18, all invited productions of the 3 DAYS FREE festival received a main prize this year. The recipients were: O-Team, SoBo Productions, Nana Hülsewig, Eva Krause, Laura Oppenhäuser, River Roux, Cia Nadine Gerspacher, as well as Tyler Cunningham & Emilia Dorr.
“When funding decreases, competitive pressure increases. We wanted the opposite: no individual winners, but a collective statement. That is why, with the support of Lotto BW, we decided to share this year’s main prize among all productions – because only through solidarity can the independent scene remain capable of action,” said Bastian Sistig, Artistic Director of the festival.
Without increased funding, the future of the festival is more uncertain than ever
3 DAYS FREE 2026 makes one thing clear: the independent performing arts are a central part of an open, democratic society – and it is precisely under pressure that this field generates relevant artistic impulses and innovation for our society.
“Whether and how the festival – jointly funded by the City of Stuttgart and the State of Baden-Württemberg through the State Association of Independent Dance and Theatre Makers Baden-Württemberg (LaFT BW) – will continue is more uncertain than ever. If public funding for the festival is not increased again in the long term, it remains completely unclear whether and in what form a festival of independent performing arts for Stuttgart and Baden-Württemberg can continue to exist in the future,” said Sistig.
