Tup-theaterfest 2026 – Grillo Theater, Essenbach

About this event

The TUP-Theaterfest is an annual open-day festival organized by Theater und Philharmonie Essen (TUP) in which all five artistic divisions present excerpts, previews, workshops, and encounters across a single afternoon and evening. The 2026 edition will take place on Sunday, 4 October 2026 at the Grillo-Theater in Essen with free admission, using both the outdoor square and the interior spaces (foyer, backstage, and main auditorium). Highlights include the cross-division Trailer Show for the 2026/27 season, a large-scale costume exhibition, readings for children and adults, guided backstage tours, and hands-on insights into the craft of theatre-making. All TUP divisions take part: Aalto Musiktheater, Aalto Ballett Essen, Schauspiel Essen, the Essener Philharmoniker, and Philharmonie Essen.