X Fest DXB 2026

10-Minute Plays. Big Stories.

Presented by The Junction, Dubai’s home for community theatre, X Fest DXB is a festival dedicated entirely to original 10-minute plays. Fast, bold and full of new ideas, the festival brings together writers, directors and actors from across the UAE to create short plays designed for the stage.

Across 6 weeks from April–May 2026 at The Junction, Alserkal Avenue, audiences will experience the energy of short-form theatre as new work is performed live.

Each week features 10–11 original 10-minute plays, giving audiences a chance to watch a diverse lineup of stories, styles and performances in a single evening. Some plays will make you laugh, some will challenge you, and some may surprise you — but all are built for the stage and performed live.

Week 3 (18-19 April) is our “Untranslated Week,” where every play is performed in languages other than English, celebrating the cultural diversity of theatre-makers in the UAE.

Youth Week takes place on April 26 (afternoon), featuring performances created and performed by young theatre-makers, showcasing the next generation of storytellers on stage.

The festival builds toward the Finals Weekend (May 8–10), where the strongest plays return to the stage to compete for the top honours of the festival.

Whether you’re a theatre lover, a supporter of new writing, or simply curious to see fresh work performed live, X Fest DXB offers a unique way to experience theatre — big stories told in just ten minutes.