Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission launches fourth playwriting competition with SAR 240,000 in prizes

The Theater and Performing Arts Commission today launched the fourth edition of its playwriting competition for 2026, aiming to discover new talent in playwriting, empower Saudi authors to present their works, and showcase their creative experiences, thereby enhancing the presence and diversity of Saudi theater scripts.

Entries for the competition are now open and will be accepted until October 1, 2026. The total prize pool is SAR 240,000, with participants competing across three main categories. Each category will have three winners, making a total of nine winners. All submitted scripts will be evaluated by specialized judging panels according to specific criteria.

The competition features three tracks: local heritage, children's theater, and the general category. This allows authors to submit plays with a variety of themes, ideas, and styles, giving them space to express their creative visions.

The local heritage track is dedicated to plays that explore one or more elements of Saudi culture, including geographic sites, folk legends, local dialects, handicrafts, cuisine, and other aspects of heritage. The aim is to reflect the richness and diversity of Saudi culture through theatrical works that creatively reinterpret these elements.

The children's theater track focuses on plays intended for children and young people, with authors required to specify the target age group. This track is divided into three categories: early childhood (up to age five), middle childhood (ages 6–11), and youth (ages 12–18), ensuring that the content and style are appropriate for each age group.

The general category accepts plays that do not fit the criteria of the other two tracks, allowing authors to submit works with diverse themes, ideas, and styles. This supports a wide range of writing experiences and encourages new voices and perspectives in playwriting. The competition process includes several stages: electronic submission of scripts during the registration period, evaluation by specialized judging panels, selection and announcement of the winning scripts, and honoring the winners at the closing ceremony.