Berlin to become an international hub for stage technology, performance design and theatre architecture
The German Association of Theatre Technology (DTHG), the OISTAT Centre in Germany, has successfully secured the bid to bring World Stage Design to Germany for the first time. World Stage Design 2029 will take place in Berlin in May/June 2029 in close synergy with SHOWTECH - the international trade show for theatre and stage technology. “The connection between World Stage Design and SHOWTECH as a central element of our concept creates a unique space in which artistic visions, technical expertise, and international perspectives meet directly,” explains Wiebke Pohl. “Berlin, with its exceptional density of theatres and its role as a cultural melting pot, offers the ideal stage for shaping a diverse, open, and multifaceted World Stage Design,” adds Viktoria Ebel. The two Managing Directors of DTHG Service GmbH presented the concept at World Stage Design 2025.
World Stage Design (WSD) is a leading international event held every four years, celebrating theatre design, architecture, and stage technology through exhibitions, talks, workshops, and performances. At its core is a competitive, juried theatre design exhibition showcasing both established and emerging designers from around the world - the only global theatre design competition dedicated to individual designers.
The programme is further enriched by the Theatre Architecture Competition (TAC), the Technical Invention Prize (TIP), and Scenofest - a festival celebrating theatre design through performances, workshops, and discursive formats. Under the umbrella of OISTAT (the International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians), World Stage Design brings together exhibitions, festivals, professional symposia, and international meetings, forming a global platform for theatre makers around the world.
OISTAT is a global network of theatre designers, architects, and technicians, with members in 54 countries to date, dedicated to fostering international exchange and cross-cultural dialogue across regions and disciplines. Since its launch in 2005, WSD has been hosted in six cities worldwide: Toronto, Seoul, Cardiff, Taipei, Calgary, and Sharjah.
“This is the first time we are bringing World Stage Design to continental Europe. DTHG is an outstanding partner with the experience and vision to realize this milestone for WSD,” states Wan-jung Wei, Executive Director of OISTAT. OISTAT President Aby Cohen emphasizes, “Berlin stands at the crossroads of East and West, a city where histories intersect and the principles that shaped OISTAT converge; where new artistic dialogues emerge. Bringing World Stage Design here underscores our commitment to global exchange and to celebrating the diversity that defines our field.”
OISTAT and DTHG will shape World Stage Design 2029 in close collaboration with national and international partners, as well as cultural and educational institutions. Further information on collaborations, partnerships, and the programme will be announced on an ongoing basis.
