Contact Festival Freiburg

About this event

The Contact Festival Freiburg is one of Europe's most established Contact Improvisation festivals, bringing around 250 dancers together for an intensive week at the Wentzinger Sporthallen in Freiburg (August 13–19, 2026), with a teachers' meeting preceding it August 8–13. The 2026 programme offers four parallel intensive tracks to choose from at registration: Benoît Lachambre (CA) explores ecosomatics and energy as CI language in 'Energy Flow as CI Bodies'; Brenton Cheng (US) builds on fundamental technique toward full body/mind availability and decision-making in 'Where to Go From Here'; Sabine Parzer (AT) integrates developmental movement and somatics with CI in 'Release.Activate.Connect'; and Hugh Stanier (UK) and Vega Luukkonen (FI) co-teach 'Home in the Body — Relational Motion,' building a tool kit of core CI principles from stillness and listening. Daily open classes are offered by Jesus Alonso (ES), Vicky Ola Hasia (UA), Luca Pacella (IT/AR), Anna Wallin (SE), Bari Kim (KR), Zoë Solomons (UK), Francesca Frewer (CA), and Marta Iucci (IT), spanning principles, somatics, and technique. Facilitated labs run throughout the week. Evening jams are accompanied by live music from Simon Ölsner (DE) and Martín Dalesson (AR). All prices include the full week's programme, full board with vegetarian/vegan organic meals, and overnight accommodation in one of the studios or in a tent. €5 of each fee supports climate neutralisation. Work exchange places (approx. €100–150 reduction) are available for those travelling from far away with financial need. The festival organising team is Daniela Schwartz, Barbara Stahlberger, and Eckhard Müller. Contact: info@contactfestival.de