500 days until the next SCHÄXPIR theater festival under new leadership

On February 10, the 500-day countdown to the next edition of SCHÄXPIR begins. The 14th edition of the international theater festival for young audiences will take place from June 24 to July 3, 2027, at various venues in Linz and will once again be organized in collaboration with trusted partners.

Julia Ransmayr, who has co-directed the festival with Sara Ostertag since 2017, will take over as artistic director of SCHÄXPIR 2027.

Governor Thomas Stelzer emphasizes: "Julia Ransmayr is a guarantor for getting young people excited about theater and giving them access to art and culture on an equal footing. For years, SCHÄXPIR has demonstrated how important contemporary theater is for young people—as a place for discussion, creativity, and shared experiences. Julia Ransmayr's appointment as artistic director for 2027 stands for high artistic quality, continuity, and at the same time a willingness to open up new perspectives. SCHÄXPIR thus remains a strong international flagship for Upper Austria as a vibrant cultural region."

Julia Ransmayr describes her artistic vision as follows: “Theater is a place where we can all be anything. We can change stories and tell our dreams. Together, we can create a future that already changes our present.”

Julia Ransmayr lives in Linz. She studied theater and cultural studies and works as a curator and cultural manager. A particular focus of her work is on the further development of institutions, opening up new spaces for theater, and providing social impetus.

The biennial international theater festival for young audiences, SCHÄXPIR, welcomed a total of 9,386 visitors in 2025 with a capacity rate of 83.78 percent.