Welcome to
Rampenlichter Festival!

The selection of productions is based on a wide range of criteria, with the aim of representing the greatest possible diversity within the festival. This includes a broad spectrum of production contexts, project constellations, as well as the diversity of artistic forms and themes. Particular attention is given to the specific qualities of works created with children, as well as works created by young people or young adults. 

We aim to present a balanced mix of children’s productions and youth productions, as well as a range of artistic formats such as dance, theatre, performance, and dance theatre. In addition, we strive for diversity in terms of mixed-ability groups, inclusive productions, and thematic variety. 

Rampenlichter productions are characterised by strongly reflecting the artistic perspectives of young people. This is evident in the artistic realisation, including texts, compositions, and aesthetic choices. 

In the case of co-productions between adults and children or young people, the artistic participation and active involvement of the young participants is essential. This must be clearly stated and described in detail in the application form.

The application period for the 15th Rampenlichter Festival runs from November 1, 2026 to January 11, 2027. Applications can be submitted via our website during this time. 

The link to the application form will be active from November 1, 2026 until January 11, 2027 (midnight). We must receive the complete application by this deadline in order for it to be considered. The application must include a binding confirmation of attendance from all participants for the two-week festival period; any necessary arrangements must be made in advance. 

If you don’t want to miss the application period, we recommend subscribing to our email newsletter and following us on Instagram. To sign up, simply send an email to info@rampenlichter.com. 

As part of the application, a video recording of a rehearsal or performance in a wide shot must be submitted. There is no need to edit the video; it may also show an excerpt of the work in progress. What matters is that the selection committee can gain an impression of the artistic concept, the working methods, and the collaborative process. 

The video must be provided via a link and must be downloadable. Suitable platforms include Vimeo, YouTube, or SwissTransfer. 

In addition, photos or project materials can be submitted. 

As part of the application process, the person completing the application form must confirm that the entire group will be fully available for the entire festival period (2nd and 3rd week of July 2027). If necessary, this availability must be arranged in advance with schools, workplaces, and legal guardians in order to submit a binding application.

Inclusive productions should apply via the standard application form on rampenlichter.com between 1 November 2026 and 11 January 2027.   

We are constantly striving to reduce barriers to application and participation and will support you wherever we can. Of course, supervisors or support persons can travel with all groups as part of the group. Our venues and accommodation are fully accessible.   

If you have any questions or require further discussion, please contact Stephanie Riedle from our team:  

Stephanie Riedle 
s.riedle@culture-clouds.de 
Tel. +49 (0) 89 52300695 

No. The piece does not have to be fully completed, but you must be able to give a clear impression of what it will look like.  

For the planning of the festival schedule, it is important to know the final duration of your piece already with your application. The duration stated in your application is binding. 

You can therefore submit your concrete idea along with a meaningful rehearsal video, as long as the performance duration is clearly defined. 

There is no strict requirement for the length of a piece. However, it should be a full piece and not, for example, a single choreography (e.g. only 5 minutes long), as individual choreographies are not suitable for our programme. Likewise, pieces with a duration of 90 minutes or more are very difficult to accommodate, especially since the programme also includes morning performances for school classes. 

Shorter pieces are combined into a double performance during the festival (e.g. one piece of 15 minutes and another of 35 minutes). Full-length pieces are presented on their own. 

There are practical limits in festival operations, for example when rehearsal, setup, or technical installation times are very long. Each group can be allocated a maximum time slot of 6 hours for technical setup and rehearsal combined. 

Please feel free to contact us in advance if you are unsure about the duration of your piece. 

You can also take a look at the lighting and stage plan from the last festival to better assess whether your piece is feasible at Rampenlichter: 

• Rampenlichter 2025 lighting plan (final).pdf 

• Technical rider_Rampenlichter.docx 

All applications are reviewed and decided upon during a selection process lasting several days. The selection is made by a joint committee consisting of the festival’s leadership team and the youth team. 

The leadership team includes: 

• Alexander Wenzlik (Artistic Director; dancer, choreographer, cultural and dance educator) 

• Anna Wurzbacher (Managing Director; graduate cultural manager (FH), facilitator for child and youth participation processes) 

• Elisabeth Hagl (Festival founder; M.A. in education, theatre educator, member of the board of trustees of the German Children’s and Youth Theatre Center) 

• Sebastian Korp (Festival founder, theatre educator) 

The committee is complemented by the youth team, consisting of around seven young people aged 12 to 19. They contribute their perspectives as young audience members and co-creators. Many of them have their own experience in dance, performance, or theatre and have been familiar with the festival for several years. 

A central element of the selection process is the equal participation of the youth team: 

• One piece is selected exclusively by the youth team. This decision is made democratically by the young people, without any veto power from the adults. The selected piece is firmly included in the festival program. 

• In addition, the youth team contributes further favorites to the selection process. These are discussed in the joint plenary session of the leadership team and the youth team. In this way, the vote of the young people is bindingly incorporated into the final program decision and has a lasting impact on the festival. 

The selection is guided by several criteria. Particularly important to us are: 

• as high a level of participation of children and young people as possible in all artistic processes, 

• a wide diversity of artistic approaches and aesthetic forms, 

• different institutional contexts (e.g. independent groups, schools, theatres, socio-cultural initiatives), 

• the visibility of groups with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, 

• the themes addressed and their relevance, 

• the artistic and aesthetic quality of the works, 

• as well as the age of the performers with regard to a balanced program composition. 

Our guiding principle in the selection process is to highlight the diverse ways in which children and young people express their perspectives on the world through art. We are looking for bold, distinctive artistic voices and aim to create exciting and enriching encounters between a diverse range of groups from Germany and around the world. 

It is important for us to emphasize that a rejection is not a devaluation of your artistic work, and we do not provide individual feedback on the selection. Out of an average of around 80 applications, we invite approximately 12 pieces, with a wide range of criteria playing a role. 

For example, if relatively few pieces by children apply, they have a proportionally higher chance of being selected, as we are committed to including at least two children’s pieces. 

As a festival, exchange and encounters between many different young artists are particularly important to us. Therefore, we also invite those who are not selected to still take part in the festival self-organized.  

Rampenlichter aims above all to raise the visibility of the great diversity of artistic work by children and young people and to offer them a stage. At the same time, fostering exchange and encounters between diverse young artists during the festival is especially close to our hearts. 

For this reason, we warmly invite especially local (Munich-based) groups and young artists to take part in the festival even if they are not selected. You can receive a free festival pass, allowing you to attend all performances at Rampenlichter. 

In addition, we would like to invite you to participate in a dance or theatre workshop as part of our ArtExchange programme. The four-hour workshop is led by a professional dance or theatre educator and brings together different groups of children and young people in mixed constellations. 

You will need to pay for your own travel costs and meals, but if it is possible for you to join, we are very happy to meet you! Applying is definitely worthwhile! 

Participation in Rampenlichter is shaped not only by the presentation of performances, but above all by the opportunity for young artists to meet, connect, and work together creatively. Through a variety of encounter formats, groups exchange ideas, experiment and try out new approaches, learn new techniques from and with each other, and reflect on their own artistic practice. 

Each group receives an individual ArtExchange program and will be mixed with other participating groups. The program includes attending performances by other productions, workshops led by or for other groups or students, workshops by professional dance and theatre educators, as well as various discussion formats. Participation in the ArtExchange program is mandatory for the entire group. Accompanying persons are not included as participants. 

Rampenlichter covers the costs of accommodation (including breakfast) for national and international groups for the entire group, including accompanying persons. 

All groups, including those from Munich, will receive drinks and snacks throughout the day, as well as festival catering with a warm lunch and dinner on the festival grounds. 

In addition, the costs for public transportation in Munich will be covered where needed. Any applicable royalties and GEMA fees will also be paid by Rampenlichter.

Unfortunately, Rampenlichter is unable to cover travel costs to and from the festival. These must be paid by the participating groups themselves. 

Likewise, no production costs, fees, or artist remuneration can be paid. 

Rampenlichter takes place in the Theater schwere reiter, in the Pathos Theater, and in various rooms in the Kreativquartier München.

Rampenlichter is intended to be a festival by and for all children and young people, which is why we are committed to making the festival increasingly inclusive and removing barriers to access. This applies both to participation for children and young people with disabilities as well as unrestricted access to the festival grounds for visitors.