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Festival Contemporary theatre Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

MESS International Theatre Festival

Founded in 1960, MESS turns Sarajevo into an international stage for contemporary theatre, engaged writing and performance forms that question the present.

Official MESS Festival logo

MESS is one of Southeast Europe’s historic performing-arts festivals. Since 1960, it has connected Sarajevo with contemporary theatre writing and international companies.

A stage open to the world

Theatre, performance, dance and hybrid forms bring Bosnian artists, regional stages and international productions into dialogue. Selected work often combines aesthetic research with social engagement.

Editorial note

The last fully documented edition ran from 4 to 10 October 2025. Official 2026 dates have not yet been confirmed.

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