Unfolding Kafka Festival is a biennial international performing arts platform founded and directed by Jitti Chompee, dedicated to strengthening Thailand’s contemporary arts ecosystem through long-term international collaboration. Over the past twelve years, the festival has played a vital role in fostering artistic exchange, developing professional networks, and positioning Thailand within the global contemporary performance landscape.

For its 6th edition in 2026, Unfolding Kafka Festival introduces a new and more ambitious model—shifting from a presentation-based festival to a co-creation and co-investment platform. This expanded approach is designed to generate deeper artistic impact, attract international investment, and create sustainable economic outcomes for Thailand’s performing arts sector.

Rather than focusing solely on finished works, the 2026 edition emphasizes early-stage collaboration, bringing together Thai and international artists, producers, curators, and institutions from the development phase through public presentation. Each project is supported by structured feedback sessions, critical dialogue, and strategic planning aimed at international touring, long-term partnerships, and future investment.

This model aims to:

• Accelerate the creation of contemporary performance works with international touring potential

• Encourage early-stage investment from festivals, institutions, and funding bodies

• Transform the festival into a market-facing platform rather than a one-off event

At a time when global attention toward Southeast Asia’s creative practices is rapidly growing, Thailand stands at a critical moment in redefining its contemporary performing arts infrastructure. Unfolding Kafka Festival 2026 responds directly to this context by positioning Thailand as a regional hub for choreographic research, artistic innovation, and international collaboration—connecting artistic excellence with cultural policy, economic development, and global visibility.

Unfolding Kafka Festival is a biennial international performing arts platform founded and directed by Jitti Chompee, dedicated to strengthening Thailand’s contemporary arts ecosystem through long-term international collaboration. Over the past twelve years, the festival has played a vital role in fostering artistic exchange, developing professional networks, and positioning Thailand within the global contemporary performance landscape.
For its 6th edition in 2026, Unfolding Kafka Festival introduces a new and more ambitious model—shifting from a presentation-based festival to a co-creation and co-investment platform. This expanded approach is designed to generate deeper artistic impact, attract international investment, and create sustainable economic outcomes for Thailand’s performing arts sector.
Rather than focusing solely on finished works, the 2026 edition emphasizes early-stage collaboration, bringing together Thai and international artists, producers, curators, and institutions from the development phase through public presentation. Each project is supported by structured feedback sessions, critical dialogue, and strategic planning aimed at international touring, long-term partnerships, and future investment.

This model aims to:
Accelerate the creation of contemporary performance works with international touring potential
Encourage early-stage investment from festivals, institutions, and funding bodies
Transform the festival into a market-facing platform rather than a one-off event
At a time when global attention toward Southeast Asia’s creative practices is rapidly growing, Thailand stands at a critical moment in redefining its contemporary performing arts infrastructure. Unfolding Kafka Festival 2026 responds directly to this context by positioning Thailand as a regional hub for choreographic research, artistic innovation, and international collaboration—connecting artistic excellence with cultural policy, economic development, and global visibility.

Unfolding Kafka Festival is a biennial international performing arts platform founded and directed by Jitti Chompee, dedicated to strengthening Thailand’s contemporary arts ecosystem through long-term international collaboration. Over the past twelve years, the festival has played a vital role in fostering artistic exchange, developing professional networks, and positioning Thailand within the global contemporary performance landscape.
For its 6th edition in 2026, Unfolding Kafka Festival introduces a new and more ambitious model—shifting from a presentation-based festival to a co-creation and co-investment platform. This expanded approach is designed to generate deeper artistic impact, attract international investment, and create sustainable economic outcomes for Thailand’s performing arts sector.
Rather than focusing solely on finished works, the 2026 edition emphasizes early-stage collaboration, bringing together Thai and international artists, producers, curators, and institutions from the development phase through public presentation. Each project is supported by structured feedback sessions, critical dialogue, and strategic planning aimed at international touring, long-term partnerships, and future investment.

This model aims to:
Accelerate the creation of contemporary performance works with international touring potential
Encourage early-stage investment from festivals, institutions, and funding bodies
Transform the festival into a market-facing platform rather than a one-off event
At a time when global attention toward Southeast Asia’s creative practices is rapidly growing, Thailand stands at a critical moment in redefining its contemporary performing arts infrastructure. Unfolding Kafka Festival 2026 responds directly to this context by positioning Thailand as a regional hub for choreographic research, artistic innovation, and international collaboration—connecting artistic excellence with cultural policy, economic development, and global visibility.