Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Unveils 2026 Season Lineup — Opening Its Doors to All

From a neighborhood gathering place to a window onto the world 

Aichi Prefectural Art Theater (Aichi Arts Center) announced its 2026 programming lineup in February. With this lineup, we are committed to expanding opportunities for people to naturally gather and encounter the performing arts — making the theatre a more open and accessible presence in the community. 

Theater Wonderland

As a new initiative to create a public square for all, we will be hosting Theater Wonderland from 2 – 3 May. Over two days, we will simultaneously open the Main Theater, the Concert Hall with its world-renowned pipe organ, and the black-box Mini Theatre — inviting visitors to freely move between concerts, performances, and newly commissioned contemporary dance works. Theater Wonderland is designed so that anyone can drop in with ease and experience the theatre as a place to simply spend time — including those who have had little opportunity to engage with the performing arts. It truly embodies what we envision this theatre to be: a public square for all. 

Il Cimento dell’Armonia e dell’Inventione (Photo credit: Anne Van Aerschot)

Hofesh Shechter_Company_Theatre of Dreams (Photo credit: Todd MacDonald)

Beyond that open and welcoming experience, we also see ourselves as a window into the world through our international programming. In 2026, we will be presenting cutting-edge dance works from the global stage, including Il Cimento dell’Armonia e dell’Inventione by Rosas/A7LA5 and Hofesh Shechter‘s Theatre of Dreams — offering audiences the chance to encounter new perspectives and values through the body. 

From experiences rooted in everyday life, to expressions that connect us to the world — it is that continuum I hope to nurture. 

— Eri Karatsu, Artistic Director, Aichi Prefectural Art Theater 

Artistic Director, Eri Karatsu (Photo credit: Atsuko Chiba)

Constellation ~ Connecting Worlds with Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Dance Project ~ 

Since 2024, Aichi Prefectural Art Theater (Aichi Arts Center) has been developing Constellation — an ambitious dance platform that brings together dancers and choreographers spanning ballet, contemporary dance, and street styles as “Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Dance Artists.” Like stars forming a constellation, these artists resonate with one another, building a creative hub for exchange and collaboration. 

The project has already produced four original works, with several presented at YPAM (Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting), the prominent performing arts market where industry professionals gather from across Japan and abroad — earning widespread recognition. 

Giselle A Summary (Photo credit: Thalia Theater, Fabian Hammerl)

From Hamburg to Utrecht: Giselle: A Summary Goes International 

One standout work, Giselle: A Summary by Hana Sakai, made its international debut in February 2026 at the Lessingtage at Thalia Theater in Hamburg, Germany — selling out every performance and receiving glowing reviews from local press. The production now heads to Utrecht, Netherlands, for a performance in May. 

Giselle A Summary (Photo credit: Thalia Theater, Fabian Hammerl)

About the Work 

Dance — Hana SAKAI × Toshiki OKADA: “Giselle: A Summary” 

A co-production between Aichi Prefectural Art Theater and Dance Base Yokohama (DaBY), this performance deconstructs and reimagines Giselle — one of classical ballet’s masterpieces — to probe the very possibilities of the form. Conceived and produced by Artistic Director Eri Karatsu, the work was created by Hana Sakai, a former principal dancer of the New National Theatre Ballet and Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Dance Artist, in collaboration with Toshiki Okada, the director of the acclaimed theatre company chelfitsch. 

In the piece, Sakai takes on the persona of a YouTuber, narrating the story of Giselle while exploring her own complex relationship with a role she has danced throughout her career. The interplay between stage and online space draws audiences into an utterly captivating world. The work was created as the first production of the Constellation project, supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs under its Japan Creator Support Fund. More information can be found on https://aichi-constellation.com/en.