TEHRAN — The 20th International Resistance Theater Festival has officially opened its call for submissions, coinciding with Iran’s National Day of Fighting Global Arrogance (November 3). 
Organized by the Association of Revolution and Sacred Defense Theater, under the Cultural Foundation of Revayat-e Fath, this year’s festival is themed “Iran: The Eternal Stage of Resistance.”
The upcoming edition will take place across Iran from late 2025 through early 2026, aiming to expand the discourse of “resistance theater” and promote values of sacrifice, justice, and perseverance. Building on the experience of 19 previous editions, organizers say the 2025–2026 festival seeks to discover and support emerging talents devoted to the ethos of resistance on stage.
The festival will feature six major categories: Playwriting Competition, Stage Productions, Sardar-e Asemani (Street Theater), Academic and Research Seminar, Ofogh-e Moghavemat (Educational Workshops) and International Section (Mellal).
This year’s call encourages artists to create works inspired by themes such as the recent 12-day war with the U.S. and Israel, the sacrifices of Iran’s martyrs and veterans, the broader Axis of Resistance, the legacy of nuclear scientists, and the ongoing struggles of the Palestinian people—particularly in Gaza. The role of women in acts of resistance is also highlighted as a core thematic focus.
The festival’s academic and research arm will convene scholars, artists, and critics to explore the social role of committed theater and to advance theoretical perspectives on resistance performance. 
Meanwhile, the Ofogh-e Moghavemat (Horizon of Resistance) program will host workshops throughout Iranian provinces, offering training in playwriting and street theater led by leading theater practitioners.
According to the festival secretariat, submissions will be accepted from December 2025 through April 2026, with the closing ceremony scheduled to coincide with Iran’s Sacred Defense Week in the fall of 2026.
Muhammad Kazem-Tabar will serve as the festival’s director, overseeing a program that bridges grassroots creativity and institutional support across the country.
Artists and theater groups interested in participating or learning more can visit the official website at https://moghavemattheater.ir