Opening

The Impulse Festival for performance, theatre and dance opens its 2026 edition at FFT Düsseldorf. To mark the occasion, we invite you to a shared evening – with welcoming addresses from supporters, long-time collaborators and allies of the festival, alongside conversations, music, as well as drinks and finger food.

The opening takes place within the installative setting of Dávid Koronczi’s dinner performance "BRUCHOVRAVY," thus creating, from the outset, a space between encounter, atmosphere and artistic practice.

7:30–9:00 pm, FFT Foyer
Opening: Welcoming remarks, music and exchange – welcome to Impulse 2026.

Welcoming remarks by

Franziska Werner, Artistic Direction Impulse Festival 

Kathrin Tiedemann, Artistic Direction FFT 

Lord Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller, Düsseldorf

Dr. Michael Reitemeyer, Head of the Culture Department at the Ministry of Culture and Science (MKW) NRW 

Maria Bering, Deputy Head of Department at the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (German: Stellvertretende Amtschefin bei Der Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien, BKM)

Artistic intervention by Julia Nitschke, performance artist, curator and self-appointed Minister for Nuances and Utopian Corrections

Magda Szpecht, director, Warsaw (Poland)

Vera Schöpfer, Director NRW KULTURsekretariat

Music: DJ Gianni  


Welcome to Impulse 2026!

We are, of course, particularly excited about this year’s opening productions:

The striking performance "She stands in the Middle of the Battlefield" by Polish director Magda Szpecht will kick things off at 6:00 pm. Following the official opening, the festival also invites audiences to round off the evening with the energetic dance piece "TOIL" by Sheena McGrandles.