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Photography by C. Stephen Hurst
The International Black Theatre Festival (IBTF) returns to Winston-Salem from July 27 – August 1, 2026! The star-studded, six-day gala will feature more than 100 performances on multiple stages throughout the city. The festival, the most “Marvtastic” event every two years, brings more than 60,000 people to the city to view these performances. Theatre workshops, films, seminars, poetry slams, a celebrity gala, and more will also be at this incredible, exciting festival. We will update you as more information becomes available.
International Black Theatre Festival Events
The Opening Gala
The International Black Theatre Festival Opening Gala will be held at the Benton Convention Center, as it has been in previous years. A star-studded event features a dinner, a procession of stars, an awards ceremony celebrating actors, playwrights, directors, and others, and a performance. The gala heightens the excitement about the festival, and attendees enjoy mingling with the stars they have seen on TV and in movies and other big names in the industry.
The Vendors Market Place
The Vendors Market Place is an attraction of its own for festival attendees. Held at the Benton Convention Center, it draws more than 20,000 people during the festival. In 2024, 100 vendors from across the country lined the convention center, including local and national authors selling their books and artists selling their unique works. Visitors will find various items, including artwork, jewelry, clothing, and handbags.
Midnight Poetry Jam
The 3-night Midnight Poetry Jam is a much-anticipated event for festival goers. Hosted by Larry B “LB the Poet,” along with celebrity guest hosts and special guests, it presents featured artists who “bring their brightest words and let them shine.” Be sure to get your tickets for this event.
The History Of The International Black Theatre Festival (IBTF)
The event, originally known as The National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF), was founded in 1989 by the late Larry Leon Hamlin with the support of the festival’s first chairperson, Dr. Maya Angelou. In uniting black theatre companies from around the world for the festival in Winston-Salem, Hamlin created something incredible, as the NY Times stated: “The inaugural National Black Theatre Festival was one of the most historical and culturally significant events in the history of black theatre and American theatre in general.” Hamlin described it as “MARVTASTIC,” a term they continue to use today.
Every two years, the festival continued as Winston-Salem became known as “Black Theatre Holy Ground.” For six days, people dressed in Hamlin’s favorite color, purple, visited the city to see the world-class theatre acts. Hamlin’s wife, Sylvia Sprinkle Hamlin, continued the festival, serving as the event’s Executive Director after he died in 2007 and until she died in 2022. Their Profiles, melded together as one, are visible within the purple shield emblem, the new logo for the International Black Theatre Festival. It is also the logo used by the festival’s host organization, The North Carolina Black Repertory Company (aka, NC Black Rep).
The North Carolina Black Repertory Company
Hamlin founded this performing arts organization before the NBTF. It was the state’s first professional black theatre company. In addition to hosting the IBTF, NC Black Rep presents their productions throughout the year held at the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts – Hanesbrands Theatre, 209, N Spruce Street, Winston-Salem. This season’s productions are:
- August Wilson’s Fences – Feb 28 – March 16, 2025
- Blooming In Dry Season – July 31 – Aug 10, 2025
- Purlie Victorious – Oct 3 – Oct 19, 2025
- A Motown Christmas – Dec 5 – Dec 21, 2025
Winston-Salem Downtown Arts District
While in Winston-Salem, be sure to visit the Downtown Arts District. There are restaurants, shops, studios, galleries, and street art. It is a pleasant walkabout downtown with wine bars, cocktail lounges, and nightlife.
Have you been to the International Black Theatre Festival? Tell us about it in the comments.
