Stories, artists and communities through tradition and contemporary perspectives
 

From 14 to 30 May 2026, the third edition of the International Theatre Festival Presente Indicativo | Milano Crocevia (Milan as a crossroad) reflects a lively, multicoloured and elaborate geography.
 

Il Piccolo, Theatre of the City, il Piccolo, Theatre of Europe: ever since it was founded, in 1947 – celebrations for its Eightieth anniversary are currently being planned –, and since the Ministerial Decree of 1991 that recognised its international outlook, the Piccolo has represented a cross between its authentic metropolitan roots and a tireless urge to go beyond, representing a constantly and enthusiastically active threshold for and onto the world.

For the 2025/26 season, whose motto, Complemento di relazione (Expressions of relationship), sums up its aim of examining ties, bonds and associations, the paths taken by the Festival, interwoven with those of fellow events such as the Festival d’Avignon, Ruhrtriennale, Romaeuropa and Wiener Festwochen, are plotted by the Associate Artists for the 2025/27 period; both foreign – Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker (Belgium), Caroline Guiela Nguyen (France), Tiago Rodrigues (Portugal), Łukasz Twarkowski (Poland), Thomas Verstraeten (Belgium) – and the latest acquisitions from Italy – Daria Deflorian, Niccolò Fettarappa, Lino Guanciale and Parini Secondo). Twelve performances are staged at Teatro Studio Melato, Teatro Strehler, Teatro Grassi and the Chiostro Nina Vinchi, with excursions into the city. Of these, eight are co-productions (five international), two world premieres and three Italian premieres.

The opening day of the Festival, which for this edition is preceded by an inaugural celebration in the company of the artists, is taking place on 14 May, the same date on which, 79 years earlier, the curtain of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano was raised for the first time ever. Now an established date in the theatrical calendar, the Piccolo Day offers a programme of activities covering the entire day: a special edition of the Benvenuti al Piccolo! events, a Walk_Talk linking the most important locations in this veritable “citadel of culture” (Triennale di Milano, Accademia e Pinacoteca di Brera, Teatro alla Scala and Teatro Grassi), and, in the afternoon, the presentation of the new book, co-published with il Saggiatore, dedicated to Bertolt Brecht.

As always, the entire city is involved in the process of preparation for the Festival, with readings in municipal halls, universities, libraries, bookshops and social centres in the various districts of Milan. During the Festival, a full and parallel programme is offering encounters, workshops, walks, book presentations, a criticism workshop and a magazine, offering a close-up examination of the main figures of Presente Indicativo. The piazza in front of the Teatro Strehler is once again a place for encounter and exchange, with the laPiazza programme of DJ sets, live performances, music and a bar organised by mare culturale urbano.

Lastly, the international aspect of Presente Indicativo provides the perfect context for the second edition of Interesse pubblico, our three-year observatory on the present-day role of the spectator and the transformations observed in the way that theatre is seen, experienced and shared. In the wake of the October 2025 convention dedicated to I pubblici della Milano che cambia (The audiences of an evolving Milan), the focus of the period of study in May 2026 will be international audiences.

Presente Indicativo | Milano Crocevia is organised under the High Patronage of the President of the Italian Republic, with the support of Fondazione Cariplo, Intesa Sanpaolo (Main Partner) and Pirelli (Partner).

Browse the Festival Programme
Download the Festival Programme (text-only version)
Listen to the Festival playlist
 

THE PROGRAMME

The shows are surtitled in Italian and English