Invitation for TFA Alumni: Join the EFA Arts Festivals Summit 2026 in Budva (Montenegro)

The Alumni community of The Festival Academy is warmly invited to join the annual Arts Festivals Summit 2026, hosted by Theatre City Budva and organised by the European Festivals Association (EFA), from 16 to 19 May 2026 in the beautiful coastal town of Budva, Montenegro.

In today's world, genuine opportunities for dialogue and collective thinking require time and space. The European Festivals Association, together with the Theatre City Budva, invite you for 4 shared days with a maximum of 250 Festival colleagues and supporters from Europe and all over the world. Over the last 74 years, EFA has generated a vast array of debates, conversations and outcomes for an ever-increasing variety of professionals: EFA members, young festival managers, emerging artists, representatives of cities, regions, European authorities, and many others. After a successful Summit 2025 in Edinburgh, we will all meet in Budva to discuss, think, and propose new ideas and projects. We will discover each other’s wisdom - and the wisdom within the region - during this year’s Summit and its many encounters: whether in plenary, in small groups, one-to-one or eye-to-eye.

Register now by filling in the registration form, plan your trip and join 250 festival makers for the Arts Festival Summit 2026.

Practical Information

Participation Fees: Participation is free for Alumni of The Festival Academy, meaning anyone who has previously participated in one of TFA’s training programmes. This grants you full access to the Summit programme.

Accommodation and travel are not covered.

Accommodation: We will stay at Avala Hotel in Budva. The cost is 125€ for a single room and 175€ for a double room, which you can select during the registration process. Cheaper hotels are also available in the city.
Travel: For European citizens/residents it might be worth looking into initiatives such as Culture Moves Europe, a scheme offered by the European Commission for artists, creators and cultural professionals. Currently there is an open call for applications, you can find more information here: Culture Moves Europe call.
Check out the practical information guide to see here how to reach Budva, know more about the Summit hotel and venues, restaurants, what to discover around Budva, and who should request a visa.
Please note that Montenegro is outside of the European Union and the Schengen zone. Check here the visa regulations and entry requirements: www.gov.me/en/article/visas and write to Ernest (EFA) if you need an invitation letter to request for a visa: ernest@european-festivals.eu

Stay tuned for keynote speakers and further programme developments which will be announced in the next days on EFA's website.