International Improv & Playback Theatre Festival 2026 – #MeetInNigeria
Join the first-ever International Improv & Playback Theatre Festival in Africa – a week of storytelling, learning, and social impact.
The International Improv & Playback Theatre Festival 2026 (#MeetInNigeria) is a historic first — Africa’s inaugural International Improv and Playback Theatre Festival.
Taking place from 21–27 June 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, this week-long gathering brings together artists, educators, humanitarian and development practitioners, corporate leaders, and community facilitators from across Africa and the world.
Participants will experience hands-on workshops and masterclasses in improvisation, Playback Theatre, and applied theatre for storytelling, social change, mental health, and leadership. The festival also features live interactive performances where real stories are transformed into spontaneous theatre.
Beyond the stage, the festival creates space for connection, collaboration, and exchange through networking sessions, community engagement, and shared learning with international facilitators and local practitioners.
Scholarships are available to support inclusion and reduce financial barriers to participation.
This is a space where creativity meets community, learning meets action, and stories become tools for change.
Good to know
Highlights
- 2 hours 30 minutes
- all ages
- In person
- Free parking
Refund Policy
Location
Abuja
Abuja
Abuja, Federal Capital Territory
How do you want to get there?
Agenda
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Optional Pre-Festival Cultural Experience: Nigerian Worship & Music Culture
Visiting artists and international participants are invited to experience the energy, music, spontaneity, and collective expression of a contemporary Nigerian church service. In many Nigerian worship spaces, music, singing, dance, storytelling, and audience participation unfold dynamically in the moment, creating a powerful example of improvisation within community life and spiritual practice. This optional cultural experience offers guests an opportunity to observe and engage with the rhythms, performance traditions, and communal atmosphere that shape an important part of Nigerian social and cultural life. Participants are welcome to attend as observers or participate at their own comfort level.
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Pre-Festival Workshop: MC Workshop for Improv Shows (FREE)
Learn the art of hosting and facilitating live improv performances with confidence, presence, and spontaneity. This interactive pre-festival workshop explores what it means to MC an improv show — from engaging audiences and introducing performers to managing energy, transitions, and unexpected moments in real time. Through guided exercises and live practice, participants will develop practical skills in stage presence, audience connection, communication, timing, and improvising under pressure. You’ll learn how to create a welcoming atmosphere, support performers, and keep a show flowing naturally and confidently. Beyond performance, the workshop is valuable for facilitators, educators, trainers, event hosts, humanitarian practitioners, and anyone working with groups or public engagement. Whether you are new to improv or already performing, this workshop offers a fun and supportive space to strengthen your voice, leadership, and ability to connect with people in the moment.
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Festival Night: Opening Ceremony (FREE)
Join us for the official opening of the International Improv & Playback Theatre Festival 2026 as we welcome international guests, facilitators, performers, and participants from around the world to Abuja for seven days of creativity, storytelling, and connection. The evening will feature live improv and Playback Theatre performances, artist introductions, community celebration, and a cocktail reception designed to create space for exchange, networking, and shared experience. We are honored to welcome special guests including Barr. Hannatu Musa Musawa, Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, and Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Honourable Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, alongside artists, educators, humanitarian practitioners, and cultural leaders from around the world. Come celebrate the beginning of an unforgettable international gathering where theatre, storytelling, and human connection meet.