The 16th edition of the International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFoK) will take place from January 25 to February 1, 2026. The announcement was made by Cultural Affairs Minister Saji Cherian during the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi awards ceremony recently.

Renowned theatre director and educator Abhilash Pillai has been appointed as the Festival Director for ITFoK 2026. This marks his fourth term in the role, having previously led the festival in 2009, 2010, and 2017. A distinguished figure in Indian theatre, Mr. Pillai has held leadership roles in several festivals both in India and abroad.

A graduate of the School of Drama, Thrissur, he pursued his post-graduation from the National School of Drama, Delhi, and advanced theatre studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), London. He also received specialised training from leading directors at London’s prestigious Orange Tree Theatre. He currently serves as the Director of the School of Drama and Fine Arts, Thrissur. He is also a recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award and several other accolades.

Joining Mr. Pillai in the festival directorate are Anamika Haksar (Acclaimed director and theatre activist); Ruwanthie de Chickera (Sri Lankan theatre director); Sreejith Ramanan and M.G. Jyotish (notable Malayalam theatre practitioners and educators).

To further elevate the artistic and curatorial standards of the festival, a high-profile advisory committee has been constituted with senior theatre persons Ratan Thiyam, M.K. Raina, Anuradha Kapur and Prof. B. Ananthakrishnan.

Akademi secretary Karivellur Murali said that preparations for the 2026 edition are already under way, guided by the vision and expertise of this newly formed team.