The popular theatre festival is bringing bite-sized drama, comedy and everything in between to the stage
Don’t think you have the patience to sit through a whole theatre performance? Short+Sweet Theatre Dubai has your name written all over it. The theatre festival features plays that are just 10 minutes long, and the unique stories are all put together by local actors, directors and screenwriters.
Now in its 14th year, the festival remains a firm favourite with theatre fans across Dubai. The concept: local theatre groups battle it out on stage to see which 10-minute play wins over the audience.
The only difference this year is the location, as the festival has a new home at New Covent Garden Theatre in Mall of the Emirates.
The festival runs from Saturday, April 18, to Saturday, May 23, 2026, taking place across weekends.
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So, how does it work?
Each weekend, a selection of 10-minute plays is performed in front of a live audience. Audiences then vote for their favourite play each week, with the top-scoring entries moving forward to the Red Carpet Gala Final on May 23.
There, the best of the best return to the stage as audiences watch a curated line-up of standout 10-minute plays before choosing the overall winner.
It’s a community celebration backed by a little friendly competition.
The only rule the participating theatre crew need to follow: The play has to be under 10 minutes. There’s no restriction on genre or language, so audience members can expect to go from monologues to physical theatre, comedy, musicals, drama and so on.
Short+Sweet Festival was founded in Sydney in 2002 by Mark Cleary and has since grown into the largest short-form creative platform in the world. The festival takes place around the world, from Australia to the USA (Hollywood), Cape Town, Yorkshire, Vietnam and beyond.
Ticket details
Want to support the local talent? Get your early bird tickets for Dhs80; otherwise, it’s Dhs100 for general admission. With your ticket, you will be treated to 10 plays per night.
Make your purchase here.
Details:
Where: New Covent Garden Theatre, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
When: April 18 to May 23, 2026 (weekends)
Cost: Dhs80 early bird, else Dhs100 general admission
Contact: newcoventgardentheatre.com
Images: Supplied
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