Theatre and Dance NI is delighted to announce the three productions selected to take part in Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from Northern Ireland at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026.
Three major works, created by some of Northern Ireland’s leading theatre, dance and arts organisations, will take part in theSpotlight on Theatre and Dance from Northern Ireland, event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, on 18 August 2026. The event is an industry development and networking initiative delivered by Theatre and Dance NI (TDNI), in collaboration with Belfast International Arts Festival, and supported by British Council Northern Ireland and The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Now in its eighth year, the Spotlight event shines a light on exceptional quality theatre and dance work created by artists and arts organisations from Northern Ireland. Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the biggest arts marketplace in the world and taking part in the Spotlight event is an unparalleled opportunity for Northern Ireland-based artists to connect and network with international arts industry figures with a view to having their work toured nationally and internationally. The Spotlight event also offers opportunities for media engagement, artistic development, and the possibility of future collaboration with national and overseas partners.
The three productions from Northern Ireland being profiled in 2026 includes,
- The Pitch by Philip Catherwood, produced by Moya Jane Productions
- Good With Faces, by OisĂn Kearney, produced by Gina Donnelly, supported by Culture Ireland
- ALIENS by Alessandra Celesia and Dumbworld
Watch the Spotlight 2026 launch video:
Niamh Flanagan, Executive Director, Theatre and Dance NI, said: “Congratulations to this year’s Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from Northern Ireland artists. Each of these productions demonstrates the creativity, originality and ambition that continues to make Northern Ireland’s theatre and dance sector stand out on the international stage. We are delighted to support them as they take their work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and connect with presenters, programmers and producers from across the world.
We’ve seen the impact these opportunities can have. Earlier this year, Karis Kelly’s Consumed, which participated in Spotlight in 2025, opened in Caracas, Venezuela as Consumidas after a connection made through the programme. It’s a fantastic example of how Spotlight can help Northern Ireland’s artists develop relationships that lead to exciting international opportunities. We look forward to seeing what this year’s artists achieve and following the conversations, partnerships and opportunities that emerge from Spotlight 2026.”
Caoileann Curry-Thompson, Development Officer for Drama and Dance, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added: “The Arts Council is committed to supporting opportunities for our artists to develop and for their work to be seen by audiences, locally, nationally and internationally. By attending this Spotlight event, a huge potential market is opened to our theatre and dance makers. After eight years, we can now see the positive global impact that taking part in this initiative has had with many works from NI having toured internationally in Australia, North America, New Zealand, Venezuela and beyond. Congratulations to all those taking part this year in this truly valuable initiative.”
In addition to these productions, four artists living and working in Northern Ireland will travel to Edinburgh as part of the Fellowship Programme. Designed to support artists, directors, and producers who are exploring future opportunities at the Fringe, the programme offers valuable access to the festival, networking, and industry insights. This year’s Fellows are:
- Una NicEoin, Executive Producer, Prime Cut Productions
- Stephen Kelly, Creative Director, c21 Theatre Company
- Heather Martin, founder & Creative Producer of Belfast Playwrights
- Mar Decena, Mexican dancer, choreographer, teacher, and multidisciplinary artist
Colm McGivern, Director, British Council Northern Ireland, added: “We are extremely proud to support the Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from Northern Ireland at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the professional artists taking part in the Fellowship programme. Northern Ireland has an abundance of creative talent and it’s vital for them to have opportunities to reach a global audience and forge lasting connections with artists and arts organisations overseas.”
Chris McCreery, Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Belfast International Arts Festival, commented: “One of the great privileges of leading Belfast International Arts Festival is seeing first-hand the appetite that exists internationally for work from Northern Ireland. Through partnerships like Spotlight and our own international showcase at the festival, we’ve welcomed programmers and presenters from across the world and seen home grown productions repeatedly selected for touring and presentation internationally.
The quality of the work isn’t in question. Artists from here are creating bold, distinctive and internationally relevant work that stands confidently on the world stage. What initiatives like Spotlight do is create the opportunities, relationships and visibility that allow that work to reach new audiences and build lasting international partnerships.
Edinburgh remains one of the most important meeting places for the global performing arts sector, and Spotlight provides an invaluable platform to showcase the extraordinary creativity emerging from Northern Ireland. We’re proud to collaborate with Theatre and Dance NI, British Council Northern Ireland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland to help ensure our artists and their stories continue to travel far beyond these shores.”
Explore more details on Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from Northern Ireland 2026.