Area of Learning
Celebrating Artistic Waves: How art and theatre can act as catalysts for social and personal transformation. This festival invites young people to explore how artistic expression can spark change—both within themselves and in the world around them. Through collaborative theatre-making, participants will examine the role of the arts in challenging perspectives, building empathy, and inspiring action in response to the issues that shape our lives.

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

Cultural Experience
Set in the vibrant and artistic city of Madrid, participants will experience the energy of live performance —engaging with the local culture through a community-based musical or theatrical event at UNESCO World Heritage site El Retiro Park This shared experience will serve as a powerful catalyst for reflection and creative inquiry.

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 5 March 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: before 1:00 pm Thursday 14 May 2026
• Departure: Late afternoon of Sunday 17 May 2026

‍Transport

• Nearest Airport: Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid - Barajas (MAD)
• Nearest Train Station: Estación de Madrid-Chamartín-Clara Campoamor
• Participants will be met upon arrival and transferred to the hotel/school by private bus
• Participants will be returned to the airport/train station immediately following the close of the event at 1:30 pm Sunday.
• Travel time between the school and the airport/train station is approximately 20-30 minutes. Please plan your arrivals and departures accordingly.
  

‍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 Exe Convention Plaza Madrid en Madrid

Ctra. Fuencarral a Alcobendas, Km 8, Fuencarral-El Pardo Madrid
28050 España
‍

+34 911 86 49 89‍

Contact email for hotel is eventos@execonventionplazamadrid.com

• Daily rate for a single room with breakfast: EUR 130
• Daily rate for a twin/double room with breakfast: EUR 142
• Daily rate for triple room with breakfast: EUR 167
• The hotel is located 15 minute drive  from the school. Daily transportation will be provided by the host school.

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 14 May 2026 4:00 PM 
• End: Sunday 17 May 2026 1:30 PM  

‍Educator Workshops

• One theatre focused workshops 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.

• The ISTA Young Creative Leadership Programme (IYCLP) offers high school students aged 16+ a chance to develop as creative leaders. Through reflective tasks, mentorship, and leading at a middle school festival, students gain practical experience and create a plan to apply their leadership skills in their own communities. This valuable service-learning opportunity can also support other leadership initiatives.
• You can apply for IYCLP places during the festival booking process.

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