Downtown Urban Arts Festival

Downtown Urban Arts Festival (DUAF) is seeking theatrical works (plays, musicals, and solo performances) for its 24th Annual season to be held in June 2026 in downtown New York City.

DUAF supports diverse, new, and emerging voices from America’s burgeoning multicultural landscape. Over 200 playwrights have participated in DUAF and some have gone on to greater success on Broadway and have claimed top prizes such as the Pulitzer, Tony and Obie awards and nominations.

Submission Categories:

• Short-length play (under 45 minutes)
• Full-length play (up to 70 minutes)

Playwright’s Supports:

• No submission or participation fees
• $800 (short) and $1,200 (full) playwright stipends
• Actor and director stipends
• Casting support
• Technical design and operation
• Reimbursed rehearsal space rentals
• Actor’s Equity Showcase Code application administration
• $1,000 awards for best full, short and audience

Requirements

Eligible Projects:

• Plays do not exceed 70 minutes
• Plays should be new or existing work with minimal exposure
• Plays should not have any other production in New York City during the 30-day period before and after the 2026 festival

Application Instructions

Please submit at https://www.duafnyc.com/submit

Submission Checklist:

• Playwright’s bio with contact info including name, address, phone # and email
• Photo of playwright
• Synopsis of theatrical work
• Complete script of theatrical work
• Estimated running time of work

Please upload attachments as .pdf. Photos must be in either .jpg or .jpeg.

For more info about DUAF, visit: duafnyc.com