2026 Modern Works Festival

Back for its seventh year at Urbanite Theatre, the 2026 Modern Works Festival is a two-week celebration of new play development and women in theatre.

Urbanite’s Modern Works Festival is a bold invitation inside the creative process, where audiences experience new plays as they are being shaped. With a Festival Pass, you gain all-access entry to the work in progress, including staged readings of finalist plays, a kickoff celebration, guest speaker events, artist performances, and post-show conversations that bring audiences and creators into direct dialogue.

This festival is a vital part of Urbanite’s commitment to new work. Past finalists have gone on to full productions on the Urbanite stage, including A Skeptic and a Bruja, The Apiary, Westminster, Ahoy Hoy, and 1999. As a passholder, you are not just attending a staged reading. You are part of that journey. Your voice matters, with opportunities to vote for your favorite works and help shape which stories move forward. Experience theatre at its most immediate and alive.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2026
7:30pm Festival Headliner Production

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026
7:30pm Festival Headliner Production

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2026
2:00pm & 7:00pm, Festival Headliner Production

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2026
2:00pm Festival Headliner Production

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2026
7:30pm Kick Off Party-All Festival Artists & Pass Holders*
(light bites and cocktails provided)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026
2:00PM Staged Play Reading: Festival Finalist #1
5:00PM Staged Play Reading: Festival Finalist #2
7:30PM Festival Guest Speaker

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2026
2:00PM Staged Play Reading: Festival Finalist #3
5:00PM Staged Play Reading: Festival Finalist #1
7:30PM Staged Play Reading: Festival Finalist #2

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2026
2:00PM Staged Play Reading: Festival Finalist #3
4:00PM Audience Roundtable & Festival Closing Celebration*

Finalists & Headliners to be announced later this summer, we are busy reading over 300 submissions!

*Indicates an exclusive event for Festival Passholders!

2026-2027 MODERN WORKS FESTIVAL PASS $128
2026-2027 MODERN WORKS FESTIVAL UNDER 40** PASS: $108

Each pass includes one ticket to the headliner performance and one ticket to each of the three play readings, talkbacks, and kick-off party.

TICKETS:
STANDARD TICKETS: $33
UNDER 40** TICKETS: $28
STUDENT** TICKETS: $5

**Must present valid ID.