13 Finalists Announced for 2026 RFI Theatre Prize
The 2026 RFI Theatre Prize has announced its 13 finalists, selected from 142 submissions across 11 countries, predominantly African. The winner will be revealed on September 27, 2026, at the Zébrures d'automne festival in Limoges. The shortlisted playwrights, aged 26 to 47, include three women. Their works address themes such as corruption, LGBTQ+ rights, violence against women, press freedom, and historical memory. Notable finalists include Abou Gueye (Senegal) for 'Le Live', a play about a journalist's live-streamed corruption exposé; Éric Digbé (Côte d'Ivoire) for 'Gòor-jigéen', which follows a murdered gay man; and Nathalie Hounvo Yèkpè (Benin) for 'Pour une gorgée d'Atoumo', exploring the slave trade's legacy. The prize is organized with partners including SACD, Institut français, and Théâtre Ouvert.
Key facts
- 13 finalists selected from 142 submissions across 11 countries
- 17% of submissions were by women
- Finalists aged 26 to 47
- Winner announced September 27, 2026
- Prize ceremony at Zébrures d'automne festival in Limoges
- Plays address corruption, LGBTQ+ rights, violence against women, press freedom
- Partners include SACD, Institut français, Théâtre Ouvert
- Submissions predominantly from African countries
Entities
Artists
- Abou Gueye
- Éric Digbé
- Fidéa Abimbola Suarez Djenontin
- Laurence Essoham Gnaro
- Gaël Tchêgoun Houkpatin
- Nathalie Bidodessi Hounvo Yèkpè
- Rodrigue Isamaliki
- Joubert Joseph
- Edouard Dublin Mboko
- Gloire Ngoyi
- Alexandro Christi Nicolas
- Issan Giska Ntsila
- Hermine Eliane Yollo Mingele
- Elise Blaché
- Delphine Brual
- Françoise Cousin
Institutions
- RFI
- SACD
- Institut français
- Institut français du Sénégal à Saint-Louis
- Francophonies - Des écritures à la scène
- Théâtre ouvert - Centre national des dramaturgies contemporaines
- Centre dramatique national de Normandie-Rouen
- Compagnie Phoenix
- CENE littéraire
- La Case des Lucioles
- Lansman Éditeur
- éditions de l’appartement
- éditions Miezi
- Miezi ASBL
- Le Nouvelliste
- École Normale Supérieure de Port-au-Prince
- Radio Umoja
- TAMA
Locations
- Limoges
- France
- Senegal
- Saint-Louis
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Benin
- Abomey-Calavi
- Cotonou
- Togo
- RDC
- Sud-Kivu
- Kiliba
- Haïti
- Port-au-Prince
- République du Congo
- Brazzaville
- Pointe-Noire
- Cameroun
- Congo-Brazzaville