KUALA LUMPUR: The Theatre Faculty of the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) will host Festival Teater Antarnusa 2026 (FTA 2026) at the Aswara campus, here, from July 16 to 19.
The four-day festival is expected to serve as a dynamic platform bringing together theatre practitioners, industry figures and emerging artistes from five neighbouring countries to celebrate the diversity of the regional theatre landscape.
Held under the theme "Tanda. Temu. Tamu.", FTA 2026 is positioned as a holistic platform for cultural interaction while promoting greater appreciation of contemporary theatre.
Visitors are expected to experience the richness of regional cultures, modern aesthetics and the creativity of theatre practitioners through a wide range of programmes throughout the festival.
FTA 2026 will open with an official ceremony at the Aswara Orchestra Hall on July 16, officiated by Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot.
The event will from 9am to 10pm daily, featuring theatre workshops
led by regional artistes aimed at nurturing talent and enhancing participants'
understanding of the performing arts.
The festival will also feature the Work in Progress programme, an interactive sharing and performance session showcasing the creative process behind the scenes while exploring new theatrical works.
Another highlight will be Kedai Cerita Runcit, a series of short site-specific monodramas offering audiences an alternative and unconventional theatre experience.
Using casual venues as performance spaces, the productions go beyond entertainment, serving as platforms for artistic dialogue, the exchange of ideas and stronger collaboration within the creative community.
The Showcase programme will feature large-scale contemporary theatre performances by invited artistes and theatre groups from Malaysia and abroad.
Aswara said the festival reflects its proactive role in strengthening arts and cultural education, not only at the academic level but also as a catalyst for a more progressive and competitive creative arts industry.
The festival also serves as a platform to elevate Malaysia's arts and cultural heritage on the international stage while exploring contemporary theatre without compromising the authenticity of traditions that define the region.
To ensure the arts remain accessible to all, admission to all FTA 2026 activities is free, except for the Showcase performances, which require a RM10 entry fee.
Seat reservations can be made via the CloudJoi platform.
-nst online.
