The city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the heartbeat of the International Black Theatre Festival (IBTF), welcomed many artists, actors, actresses, playwrights, directors, producers, students, and theatre enthusiasts from across the nation and around the world.
The biennial festival, which was founded by the late Larry Leon Hamlin and produced by the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, has earned a reputation as one of the world’s premier celebrations of Black theatre. The 2026 festival, which was held from July 27th to August 1st, continued that tradition by presenting a dynamic lineup of stage productions, films, poetry, educational workshops, seminars, celebrity appearances, and community events that celebrated the richness and diversity of the Black theatrical experience.
Winston-Salem coins itself as the “Holy Ground” of the International Black Theatre Festival; Photo Credit: The Exclusive Press and Visit Winston-Salem
This year’s festival featured an impressive collection of productions from professional theatre companies and college universities, representing communities across the United States.
Among the featured productions were August Wilson’s Fences, presented by the North Carolina Black Repertory Company, and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, produced by BNS Productions of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Left to right: The Legend of Buster Neal and August Wilson’s Fences, were among the many production plays shown during the International Black Theatre Festival, and Searching for Willie Lynch with the cast and crew gather for a photo following their performances; Courtesy of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company and Charlene Funderburk/Facebook
Festival audiences also enjoyed:
• The Legend of Buster Neal—North Carolina Black Repertory Company
• Their Eyes Were Watching God—North Carolina Central University Theatre Program
• The Bluest Eye—The Ensemble Theatre (Houston, Texas)
• Chester Gregory: Being Black on Broadway—Lucid Life Theatre (Los Angeles, California)
• Searching for Willie Lynch—Layon Gray American Theatre Company (New York City)
• Topdog/Underdog—Norfolk State University Theatre Company
• A Fiddler’s Tale by Wynton Marsalis, featuring acclaimed actress Phylicia Rashad with the Gateways Chamber Players
• Everybody—North Carolina A&T State University Theatre Program
• Marvin: Marvin Gaye Revue—Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe (Sarasota, Florida)
Festivalgoers had opportunities to attend workshops, panel discussions, film screenings, poetry events, networking sessions, block parties, and conversations with some of the industry’s most respected artists. The festival also created a platform for emerging performers and theater companies to showcase their work.
One of the festival’s highlights was the presentation of the Sidney Poitier Lifetime Achievement Award to acclaimed actress and director Phylicia Rashad, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to theater, television, and film. Throughout the week, audiences also had opportunities to engage with acclaimed actors, directors, playwrights, producers, and educators whose work continues to shape Black theatre.
For the author, the IBTF felt like a family reunion, networking opportunity, leisure experience, and a celebration of Black storytelling that bridges generations through the performing arts. As the purple curtains for another remarkable festival come to a close, anticipation is already building for the return of the IBTF in 2028.
