ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Korean Theater Takes Center Stage at Avignon Festival

festival-fair · 2026-07-19

The 2026 Avignon Festival showcases a significant representation of Korean theater, highlighting works by Han Kang and Lee Hye-young, in addition to a performance featuring Isabelle Huppert. This year, the emphasis on Korean language productions provides a fresh linguistic perspective, differing from earlier editions where English and Arabic were not as prevalent. According to The New York Times, only a few productions in English were presented in 2023, while last summer's Arabic contributions primarily consisted of dance performances, making the spotlight on Korean works especially remarkable.

Key facts

  • The Avignon Festival in 2026 focuses on Korean language productions.
  • Works by Han Kang and Lee Hye-young are featured.
  • Isabelle Huppert performs at the festival.
  • In 2023, English was represented by only a handful of productions.
  • Last summer, Arabic-related offerings were mostly dance shows.
  • The Korean focus is described as opening an inviting window.
  • The festival is held in Avignon, France.
  • The New York Times reported on the festival on July 16, 2026.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • Avignon Festival
  • The New York Times

Locations

  • Avignon
  • France

Sources