Culture budget 2026: Massive losses for the independent performing arts

Funding for the Fonds Darstellende Künste (Performing Arts Fund) will be stabilized at approximately €8.59 million in the 2026 federal budget. At the same time, numerous nationally relevant and structurally effective networks and projects will lose federal funding – despite a record budget of €2.57 billion for culture.

Central networks and programmes for the independent performing arts – besides explore dance also the Alliance of International Production Houses, the Federal Network flukks+ e. V. (successor organisation to flausen+ gGmbH), as well as the Network of Independent Theatres (NFT)  – are no longer eligible for federal funding, despite the great commitment of the actors themselves, the Performing Arts Fund and numerous partners. Komplexx Figurentheater and FESTIVALFRIENDS are also affected, as they – like five other networks – will no longer receive federal funding due to the expiry of the ‘Verbindungen fördern’ programme.

In view of these developments, we appeal to the Minister of State for Culture to take responsibility and adhere to the objectives of the coalition agreement. This agreement stipulates the stabilisation and systematisation of cultural funding: the independent arts are to be strengthened and made fit for the future.

The complete elimination of central structures contradicts this mandate. We therefore ask the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, Wolfram Weimer, to bridge this gap in the 2026 budget and correct it in the 2027 budget – thereby averting the dismantling of the creative infrastructure of the independent performing arts.

First signatories:

– explore dance
mit: fabrik (moves) Potsdam
Fokus Tanz München
HELLERAU – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste | Dresden
K3 – Zentrum für Choreographie | Tanzplan Hamburg
Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm | Frankfurt (a.M.)
PERFORM[D]ANCE | Stralsund)

– FESTIVALFRIENDS
– Fonds Darstellende Künste
– Bündnis internationaler Produktionshäuser e.V.
mit: FFT Düsseldorf
HAU Hebbel am Ufer | Berlin
HELLERAU – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste | Dresden
Kampnagel | Hamburg
Künstler*innenhaus Mousonturm | Frankfurt (a.M.)
PACT Zollverein | Essen
tanzhaus nrw | Düsseldorf

– KompleXX Figurentheater
mit: Deutsches Forum für Figurentheater und Puppenspielkunst | Bochum
Figurentheater Osnabrück
Figurentheater-Kolleg | Bochum
Puppenspielkunst | Berlin
Kreatives Puppenatelier – Therapeutisches Figurenspiel | Halle (Saale)
Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Puppenspiel | Erfurt
Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst – Studiengang
Figurentheater | Stuttgart
Tearticolo | Klotten
Theater der Nacht | Northeim
Theater Niridu | Süsel
UNIMA Deutschland
Verband Deutscher Puppentheater (VDP)
Westflügel Leipzig

– NFT Netzwerk Freier Theatermit: LICHTHOF Theater | Hamburg
mit: LOFFT – DAS THEATER | Leipzig
PATHOS Theater | München
Produktionshaus NAXOS | Frankfurt (a.M.)
Schwankhalle | Bremen
td Berlin
Theater im Depot | Dortmund
Theater RAMPE | Stuttgart
Theaterwerkstatt Pilkentafel | Flensburg
WUK Theater Quartier| Halle (Saale)
Zeitraumexit | Mannheim

– flukks+ e.V. (Nachfolgeorganisation von flausen+gGmbH)
mit 31 Mitgliedstheaterhäuser in 14 Bundesländern)

– andcompany&co
– Ariel Efraim Ashbel and friends
– Gob Squad Arts Collective
– Heinrich Horwitz
– Tanja Krone
– She She Pop – Performance Kollektiv

Further supporters are warmly invited to get in touch: kommunikation@fonds-daku.de.