31 shows. 24 venues. This year’s festival is bigger and bolder than ever – spanning four boroughs and featuring risk-taking performances of all kinds. Need help navigating this year’s festival? We’ve got you.
Explore the tabs below to plan your UTR.
ONE choose a show + buy a ticket + put it in your calendar!
TWO click into the UTR Hubs tab (above) and identify the hub that’s paired with your show
THREE plan to arrive at least 10 minutes before curtain (if you can!)
FOUR when you get to the theater, make sure to find a UTR Volunteer and grab…
+ a festival brochure
+ a UTR sticker
+ (as applicable) a snack or a drink from concessions
FIVE in the lobby and in the theater: make a new friend by asking a total stranger what they’re excited to see in Under the Radar this year (and / or use the icebreaker of your choice)
SIX watch the show & enjoy the magic of UTR
SEVEN wear your UTR sticker proudly!
EIGHT after the show, head to your show’s UTR Hub + look for orange UTR stickers like yours
NINE mix and mingle – talk about the show you’ve just seen and what’s on your UTR radar
TEN go home. get a good night’s sleep. do it all again the next day.
/ Festival Hubs
We’ve partnered with eight incredible bars – one at the center of each show “neighborhood” – join us for a pre- or post-show drink / snack at one of our wonderful partner bars. Look for a sea of orange stickers (think “I voted!” but for theatre) and make a new friend! Share your unfiltered thoughts about the shows you’ve seen! Something else!
Go to:
Solas Bar
232 E. 9th Street
New York, NY 10003
If you’ve just seen
Go to:
Dive Bar
732 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10025
NOTE: Get happy hour pricing by showing your UTR Sticker!
If you’ve just seen
Dream Feed / DATA ROOM / MAMI / Voyage Into Infinity / TESTO / ¡Harken! / We Have No Need For Other Worlds (We Need Mirrors) / TECHNE Homecoming / Friday Night Rat Catchers
Go to:
The Ripple Room
183 Bowery
New York, NY 10002
NOTE: The Ripple Room may reach capacity during peak nightlife hours; please note that a UTR sticker does not guarantee entry.
If you’ve just seen
Go to:
Hendrickson’s
1122 1st Avenue
New York, NY 10065
If you’ve just seen
Go to:
Upstairs at The Tow – Atrium Pop-Up
2920 Campus Road
Brooklyn, NY 11210
(NOTE: This is a pop-up bar in the theater building.)
/ UTR’s 21st Birthday Celebration
Pop open a bottle: Under the Radar is turning 21!
Celebrate our coming of age with us – marking 21 years of world-changing performance.
Everyone who’s anyone – UTR artists, team members at our 25+ partner venues, visiting presenters, long-time Radar fans and staff – will be there … but we especially want to party with YOU!
Bring immaculate vibes, an open mind, a few bucks for the cash bar (tip your bartenders), and a lot of love.
Date: January 10, 2026
Time: 10 PM – 2 AM
Location: Mehanata Bulgarian Bar (113 Ludlow St, New York, NY)
Please RSVP here, we look forward to celebrating with you!
/ Talks
Peek behind the curtain at these special opportunities to learn more about UTR shows and artists.
Thursday, January 8
Symposium – Keynote
NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts
The Under the Radar Symposium opens with a keynote featuring Daniel Alexander Jones, Shayok Misha Chowdhury, and Martine Dennewald, centered on shared reflections about contemporary performance, cultural exchange, and collective practice. The session will include a special performance by Fleur de Toloache.
The keynote portion is free and open to the public, followed by a session for registered industry professionals. If you have already registered for the industry portion you do not need to reserve a ticket here; it will be included already.
For more information about the industry portion, please visit www.utrfest.org/industry.
Sunday, January 11
Coming Attractions
Lincoln Center
This afternoon session will spotlight new projects under development and upcoming premieres by artists connected to the UTR network. Join peers and collaborators in a relaxed, forward-looking forum to discover what’s next in performance.
Sunday, January 11, 2026
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
The David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
61 W 62 Street
New York, NY 10023
This free event is open to all festival attendees, including professional presenters, producers, and members of the general public. Because space is limited, please RSVP to reserve your spot. A day-of waitlist will be available and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. If space allows, attendees on the waitlist will be admitted until the room reaches capacity.
Sunday, January 11
UTR Polish Artist Symposium
Lincoln Center
Please join the Center for International Theatre Development (CITD) on Sunday, December 11 from 3:15 – 5:00 PM for a historic opportunity to hear from leading Polish theatre makers representing a new generation of excellence, innovation, and political provocation in one of the most influential theatre cultures in Europe. In conversation with Maria Manuela Goyanes of Lincoln Center Theatre and journalist Peter Marks, the artists will offer a window into their work and the vibrant Polish theatre ecosystem. The session, conducted in English, offers a rare cross-cultural exchange on strategies for creating fearless theatre in polarized times.
Date:
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Time:
3:30 – 4:45 PM
Location:
The David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
61 W 62 Street
New York, NY 10023
The Polish Arists:
+ Jolanta Janiczak, playwright known for her provocative array of adaptations and original works, widely produced across Poland and Europe
+ Kuba Skrzywanek, director and Artistic Director of Poland’s most historic stage, the Stary Theatre in Krakow. His work combines historical reconstruction, cheeky satire, and community collaboration to create ripped-from-the-headlines experiences.
+ Weronika Szczawinska, director, playwright, deviser, and feminist educator who uses adaptation and group creation to explore history, memory, and identity.
+ Gosia Wdowik, director, dramaturg, deviser, and activist whose work explores gender, self-determination, and the resilience of the (female) body.
+ Michał Zadara, director, designer, filmmaker, and Artistic Director of Teatr Polski in Wrocław–known for vivid staging of classics as well as activist documentary works addressing immigration, pollution, and other current issues.
This free event is open to anyone attending Under the Radar including professional presenters, producers, artists, and the general public. It will take place at Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium immediately following UTR’s “Coming Attractions.”
Reservations are encouraged. RSVP here.
Sunday, January 11
Fox Tactics: Artist Making Work in Trying Times
Park Avenue Armory
How do artists create in times and places of real risk of reprisal? Led by Artistic Director of Performance Space NY Taja Cheek, this Sunday salon gathers an international roster of artists who make daring work in the face of censorship and political backlash. Participants include Obie Award-winning performance artist and co-founder of JACK performance space Jennifer Kidwell, multi-hyphenate artist and activist Narcissister, and interdisciplinary curator and writer Lumi Tan.
More info can be found here.
/ FAQ
Q: What should I wear to an Under the Radar show?
A: Something that makes you feel confident and comfortable. There is no dress code!
Q: How do I decide what to see?
A: Under the Radar features a wide variety of performances, so there’s always something for everyone. We recommend seeing at least two very different shows, but you’re encouraged to choose the path through the festival that’s right for you. To view the full selection of performances, head over to the Program, where you can filter shows according to your interests and available dates.
Q: Where can I go to meet other festivalgoers?
A: In addition to pre- and post-show mingling in the lobbies, this year we’ve designated a selection of bars as UTR Hubs based in each show neighborhood. You can find more info about this on the “UTR Hubs” tab of this page.
Q: How many shows should I see in this year’s festival?
A: You should and can see as many as you’d like! We recommend seeing at least two very different shows – but that’s just us. Choose the path through the festival that feels best to you.
Q: What is a show that I can take my family to?
A: Although most of the shows in the festival are geared towards adult audiences, the following shows are suitable for our under-18 audiences as indicated:
10+: Birdie, Benevolence, TECHNE Homecoming.
12+: Ulysses
13+: Dream Feed, Reconstructing, ¡Harken!, Try/Step/Trip
14+: The Rest of Our Lives
16+: Kanjincho
12 Last Songs is unscripted, and therefore we don’t know what subjects might arise during the performance; this means that while some sections of 12 Last Songs may contain mature content and discussions, the show itself should be largely appropriate for audience members under 18.
Q: How many shows can I realistically see in one day?
A: That’s for you to know and you to find out. We are maximalists here at UTR and encourage you to see it all, whatever that means to you.
Q: I am an artist. How do I submit my show to Under the Radar?
A: We are glad to know you want to work with us! At present, Under the Radar does not accept show submissions or proposals. The festival is curated by the UTR team in collaboration with our venue partners.
Q: I’m a producer or presenter and I saw a show that I’m interested in learning more about or presenting. How do I get in touch with the artist?
A: Please reach out to the Under the Radar team at info@utrfest.org and we will route your inquiry accordingly.
Q: I love UTR! How can I get more involved?
A: We are so grateful for any donations of money or time. If you’re interested in becoming a financial supporter of Under the Radar, please head to our donation page to learn more. If you’re interested in volunteering for this year’s festival, please complete this form.
Q: I am interested in working with UTR or volunteering in future years. What should I do?
A: Open positions will be listed on the ‘Opportunities’ page on our website.
Q: I know nothing about theatre. Where do I start?
A: Under the Radar is a festival that stretches the boundaries of performance and celebrates risk-taking artists and artistry – so while we absolutely encourage you to dive in headfirst, know that Under the Radar is not necessarily the archetypal or traditional “theatre experience”. Our recommendation is that you pick a show that feels like it might be up your alley – for example, a show about a topic that you care about or that features a type of performance that interests you – and buy a ticket! We can’t wait to see you there.
Q: I am interested in supporting New York-based artists. Whose work should I go see?
A: A full list can be found by using the NYC-Based Artist filter on the Program page.
Q: I am interested in supporting international artists. What shows should I see?
A: A full list can be found by using the International filter on the Program page.
Q: How do I stay connected or get in touch with Under the Radar?
A: Everything you need can be found on our Contact page. We’d love to hear from you!
Q: What does it mean for a show to be Under Construction?
A: Under Construction shows are works-in-progress.
Q: What is the ticket exchange policy? Are there any discounted tickets available?
A: Ticketing policies for our shows vary from venue to venue; please look at each venue’s ticketing page for information about ticket exchanges and discounted tickets.
Q: How can I get in touch with UTR to ask questions about the festival?
A: You can contact us at info@utrfest.org. Please note that we are a small team with limited bandwidth and it may take us a moment to get back to you. We appreciate your patience!
/ Get in Touch
For any questions you may have about the festival, please contact: info@utrfest.org.
