AECFest2026: NEW PARTNERSHIP UNVEILED

The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and SPRING Performing Arts Festival join forces for the 8th edition of the Asia-Europe Cultural Festival (AECFest), taking place in Utrecht, the Netherlands, from 14 to 23 May 2026. 

AECFest 2026 will be presented in collaboration with SPRING Performing Arts Festival, marking an important milestone in the festival’s journey as a platform for cultural exchange and artistic collaboration between Asia and Europe. Hosted for the first time in the Netherlands, this new edition reinforces AECFest’s commitment to fostering dialogue through contemporary artistic practices. 

The collaboration between ASEF and SPRING is rooted in a shared commitment to supporting cultural dialogue and enhancing international collaboration in the arts. As part of SPRING’s wider programme, AECFest 2026 will present a curated selection of works and encounters that foreground Asia–Europe artistic perspectives. The programme will span a wide range of arts forms, including dance, theatre, film, installations, video art, and multidisciplinary performances, featuring artists from Australia, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Viet Nam. 

For the 3rd consecutive year, AECFest will be hosted within a prestigious international festival platform, following previous collaborations in Italy and China. Conceived as a “festival-in-a-festival,” AECFest will present a curated selection of works within SPRING’s wider programme, offering audiences an immersive experience of transnational perspectives and artistic collaboration. 

Together, SPRING and ASEF invite audiences on a transformative journey celebrating human creativity, diversity, and cross-cultural dialogue.  

SPRING Performing Arts Festival, internationally recognised for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach, provides an ideal setting for AECFest 2026. With its focus on contemporary creation, experimentation, and international collaboration, SPRING offers audiences the opportunity to engage with global artistic practices and explore the possibilities of cross-continental dialogue. 

The full programme of AECFest 2026 will be unveiled on 16 March 2026. 

Follow our channels for updates on this upcoming edition, which promises to captivate, inspire, and unite audiences.