Get ready for a month of joyous chaos. The ANT Fest (which stands for All New Talent) is officially back in New York City.
Brought to us by Ars Nova, this career-launching festival officially kicks off on September 8, bringing a massive wave of rule-breaking theater to Manhattan.
If you are looking for cookie-cutter performances, you will not find them here. Under the fresh leadership of Co-Artistic Directors Andrew Neisler and Anna Morton Stacey, the 2026 lineup is pushing boundaries and fully celebrating the wild future of live entertainment.
An antidote to the algorithm
In an era dominated by AI and algorithmic predictability, ANT Fest is a much-needed breath of fresh air. It is a festival built to celebrate the thrills of old-school, DIY, tangible art-making.
This year’s lineup features 15 unruly new indie works from emerging visionaries. The thematic range is wonderfully expansive, wildly creative, and delightfully unhinged.
Expect to see works about a fictional pop duo on the verge of a scandal, a rapping nun and priest, and South Asian high school students performing the classic American musical Grease.
You might even catch a show about a bat trapped in a hospital, a cloud trying to become human, or a musical romp about the Queen of Pop herself, Madonna.
Theater meets nightlife
Ars Nova is leaning heavily into the idea of theater as nightlife. In fact, the entire festival is basically one long party.
Every single presentation is followed by an after-party, allowing you to grab a drink and mingle with the who’s-who of the weird and wonderful. You can also catch special ANT Fest Editions of Ars Nova’s recurring series.
Check out Stacked on September 10 for cutting-edge musical talent hosted by drag queen Aimee Amour, or the epic closing night Showgasm on September 25 hosted by New York performance legend Erin Markey.
It is the absolute perfect environment for discovery and play. Past alumni include massive stars like Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, and John Early. The artists shaping culture tomorrow are putting up their shows here today, pacing the basement and getting ready to blow the doors wide open.
The details
Do not miss your chance to peer directly into theater’s wild future.
- 📅 Runs from September 8 through September 25
- 📍 Ars Nova
- 🎟️ Grab your tickets