Craiova International Shakespeare Festival 2026: London Preview

An absolute joy to welcome Vlad Drăgulescu at Romanian Cultural Institute in London to get a peek preview of the 15th edition of the Festival, about to start in less than two weeks' time. This is the biggest Shakespeare festival in the world, this year offering 450 shows and events across the city of Craiova.

Centre stage will be theatre productions from 71 countries. In a conversation with Director Aura Woodward, Vlad Drăgulescu, President of the festival, has also highlighted its community approach with new sections dedicated to children of all ages, adults and elderly in care homes. The festival has also created a platform for visual arts and music, with a strong innovation component to enable immersive experiences and connections with Shakespeare, digital paintings and music inspired by his work.

Romania’s Ambassador HE Laura Popescu joined us last night and spoke eloquently about Shakespeare as a bridge between Romania and the United Kingdom, demonstrating the power of culture to bring people together.

The International Shakespeare Festival will take place from 21 – 31 May in Craiova under the motto “WILL matters”.

Photography Georgiana Giunca