Radio France International (RFI) has officially opened submissions for its prestigious 13th annual RFI Theatre Prize 2026, continuing its mission to discover and promote exceptional theatrical talent from French-speaking regions worldwide. The competition specifically targets emerging playwrights aged 18-46 from Francophone Africa, Lebanon, Haiti, the Caribbean, Indian Ocean nations, and the Middle East, creating a unique platform for voices from the Global South.
Submissions will remain open until midnight on April 27, 2026, with applicants required to submit original, unpublished French-language plays containing at minimum 15 numbered pages. In a notable inclusion policy, the competition also welcomes nationals from eligible countries who have resided in France for less than four years and hold valid residence permits or refugee status, acknowledging complex political circumstances that might otherwise exclude talented writers.
The selection process will identify approximately twelve shortlisted works based on literary merit, dramatic quality, and creative originality. These finalists will proceed to jury evaluation ahead of the ultimate winner announcement scheduled for September 2026 in Limoges during the ‘Les Zébrures d’automne’ festival organized by ‘Les Francophonies – Des écritures à la scène’.
Beyond the prestige of the award itself, the RFI Theatre Prize offers comprehensive professional development support including: a creative residency at Villa Saint Louis Ndar in Senegal; a stage development residency at Centre Dramatique National de Normandie-Rouen; financial grant from Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (SACD); writing residencies in Limoges and Paris through Institut français and Théâtre Ouvert; RFI media promotion and broadcast opportunities; and a public reading during the Avignon Festival’s ‘Ça va, ça va le monde!’ series.
Prospective applicants must carefully review competition guidelines and thoroughly proofread their submissions before sending completed texts with registration forms to prix.theatre@rfi.fr. Official rules and entry forms are available for download through RFI’s partnered platforms.