ITFoK 2026 Set for January 25 to February 1

Speedy summary

• The 16th International Theater Festival of Kerala (ITFoK) will be held from january 25 to February 1, 2026.
• The announcement was made by cultural affairs Minister Saji Cherian during the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi awards ceremony.
• Renowned theatre director and educator Abhilash Pillai has been appointed as Festival Director for ITFoK 2026. This is his fourth term in the leadership role, following previous terms in 2009, 2010, and 2017.
• Mr.Pillai:

– Is a graduate of the School of Drama, Thrissur; post-graduate from National School of Drama; trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), London.
– Has directed numerous theatre festivals in india and abroad.
– Currently serves as Director at the School of Drama and Fine Arts, Thrissur.- Has won several awards including the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award.

• Other notable figures joining ITFoK’s directorate include:

– Anamika Haksar: Acclaimed director and activist.
– Ruwanthie de Chickera: Sri Lankan theatre expert.- Sreejith Ramanan & M.G.Jyotish, Malayalam theatre practitioners.

• An advisory committee comprising senior artists such as Ratan Thiyam, M.K. Raina, Anuradha Kapur and prof. B. Ananthakrishnan has been formed to guide curation efforts.

• Akademi secretary Karivellur murali stated that preparations are underway under this team’s leadership.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The announcement of ITFoK’s next edition underscores its growing reputation as a premier event for performing arts in India and globally. The appointment of Abhilash Pillai-a figure with extensive experience across domestic and international festivals-signals a strong focus on professionalism and artistic depth for the event’s curation.

The inclusion of prominent names like Anamika Haksar, Ruwanthie de Chickera alongside seasoned advisors such as Ratan Thiyam highlights an intention to make ITFoK truly interdisciplinary while fostering cross-cultural excellence in theatre practices across South Asia.with notable readiness already underway by the new team well ahead of time,this festival promises to set new benchmarks not only for theatrical innovation but also enhancing Kerala’s position on India’s cultural map internationally-a meaningful contribution toward advancing Indian arts on global platforms.

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