Area of Learning
Exploring Cultural Identity: How stories, traditions, and perspectives shape who we are. This festival invites young people to explore the layers of cultural identity through the lens of theatre. Participants will investigate how individual and collective stories are expressed, preserved, and transformed across generations—and how theatre can be a powerful tool for deepening understanding and connection in a globalised world.

‍Festival Story
‍The festival story is the central idea that inspires exploration and creative work throughout an ISTA festival. Festival story coming soon.

Cultural Experience
Set in the vibrant and historic city of Beijing, this festival offers participants a chance to connect with Chinese culture through immersive experiences that celebrate tradition, innovation, and artistic expression. From ancient customs to contemporary influences, the cultural context will serve as a springboard for students’ creative inquiry and ensemble work.

ISTA Global Challenge
This event is part of ISTA’s season-wide theme: Waves of Change. The challenge invites young people to explore how change—personal, social, cultural, environmental, and historical—shapes our world. Through theatre, students reflect on their role in creating, responding to, and riding the waves of change in their own communities and beyond.

Booking secures your place at an ISTA festival by providing estimated participant numbers and paying a deposit. Registration finalises all participant details to support accurate planning for workshops, catering, and logistics.

Booking

• Opens: 9:00 am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Before booking, ensure your school can attend by confirming:
  
  • Travel restrictions and visa requirements
  • Parental approval
  • School authorisation
• At the time of booking, you must provide:
  
  • Estimated number of students
  • Estimated number of educators
  • Lead educator contact details

‍Deposit & Confirmation

• Once booked, you’ll receive an invoice for a 50% deposit based on student numbers. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Booking is only confirmed once the deposit is received (within 30 days). 
• Please only book spaces you are confident you can fill. 

Registration

• Opens: 9:00 am (UK time), Monday 5 May 2025
• Closes: 11:59 pm (UK time), Thursday February 2026
• Once registration opens, schools with confirmed places should complete participant registration as soon as possible. You’ll need to provide final student and educator details along with confirmed travel information. 

‍Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked? Deposits for those students are forfeited.
• Need more students? Additional spaces may be requested. A 50% deposit per added student will apply.

‍Waitlist

• If the event reaches capacity, it will be marked Waitlist. 
• To be added to the waitlist, email the Event Manager with your requested number of students and educators. Spaces will be offered in the order requests are received.

Arrival & Departure 

• Arrival: Morning of Thursday 7 May 2026
• Departure: Evening of Sunday 10 May 2026
• Participants will be taken directly to the airport/train station after the event closes at 1:30pm Sunday 10 May.

• Nearest Airport: Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)
• Nearest Train Station: Beijing South Railway station
• Nearest Subway Station: Sunhe Station

‍Transport

• Travel time between Airport and School: 20 minutes
• Travel time between Train Station and School: 60 minutes
• Host school will provide airport/train station transfers
• Host school will provide daily transportation between hotel and school

Visas

• It is the responsibility of the schools/participants to ensure they have the appropriate visas, as required.
• Please ensure that you start looking into visa requirements sooner rather than later as the process can take a significant amount of time.
• If you require assistance or additional documentation to support your visa applications please ensure to contact the event manager well in advance.

‍Accommodation

• This is a hotel stay event.
• Participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodation

Hotel Information

Crowne Plaza Beijing International Airport
60 Fuqian First Street, Beijing International Airport Area, Shunyi District, Beijing
Phone: 861058108888
Website:  Click Here

Travel time between hotel and school: 15 minutes

‍

ISTA festivals follow a two-step automated payment process:

‍Step 1: 50% Deposit at Booking

• Upon booking, a 50% deposit is required to secure your place. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Bookings are only confirmed once the deposit has been successfully paid.

‍Step 2: Final Balance After Registration Closes

• After registration closes, schools will be automatically invoiced for the remaining 50% of fees, based on the final number of students registered, plus any applicable surcharges.

‍Changes in Student Numbers

• Fewer students than booked: Deposits for non-attending students will be forfeited. (e.g. If 15 students are booked but only 10 attend, the deposit for 5 students is not refunded.)
• Additional students: A 50% deposit per added student will be invoiced at the time of the increase.

Festival Schedule 

• Start: Thursday 7 May 2026  4:00 PM
• End: Sunday 10 May 2026 1:30 PM

‍Educator Workshops

• One theatre focused workshop for teacher chaperones
• Collaborative resource-sharing sessions

📄 E-Programmes containing detailed schedules, artist bios, and key event information will be sent to participating organisations two weeks before the event.

‍

🍏 3 evening meals, 2 lunches and daily snacks will be provided by the host.

‍

Appropriate attire

• All participants must bring clothing that is suitable for physically active workshops during the day (athletic wear, PE kit, performance blacks, etc.) 

‍Please note

• Participants not dressed appropriately for physically active workshops may be asked to sit out.
• Participants may be asked to remove footwear, jewellery etc. for some workshops.
• Chewing gum is not permitted in any of the workshop spaces.

‍Materials 

• Pens, pencils, highlighters etc. for notetaking. 
• Refillable water bottle