The BorderLight Theatre Festival, taking place July 8th-11th in the Playhouse Square District, is thrilled to announce its 2026 Festival Guide is now available and the 2026 festival trailer has been released.
The highly anticipated 44-page Festival Guide can be found at coffee shops, restaurants, libraries, and businesses throughout downtown Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods. The Festival Guide features details on the more than 120 performances representing more than 40 shows across 15 stages, along with special events, artist information, venue details, and festival highlights. The Festival Guide will also be inserted into the Sunday, June 28 edition of The New York Times in the Cleveland and Akron markets. Special thanks to Master Printing + Mailing for sponsoring the New York Times insert. A digital version of the Festival Guide is also available on the BorderLight Theatre Festival website.
Festival Trailer
In addition, BorderLight is excited to debut this year’s official festival trailer, a vibrant collaboration that brings the spirit of the festival to life. Created by local filmmaker and animator Janae Droder and featuring artwork by celebrated Cleveland artist Charlie Malta, a.k.a. Guice Mann, the trailer offers a dynamic glimpse of the playful, immersive, and one-of-a-kind experience audiences can expect at BorderLight.
Tickets to this year’s festival are available online or by phone (216.356.6485). Single ticket prices range from $11.50 to $38, with ticket packs from $60 to $156. The festival is also offering 14 free shows and additional special events.
Be sure to continue to check BorderLightCLE.org for festival updates between now and July 11th.
BORDERLIGHT THEATRE FESTIVAL
Founded in 2015 by Dale Heinen and Jeffrey Pence, BorderLight Festival is a nonprofit whose mission is to present innovative theatre that inspires, builds cross-cultural understanding, and celebrates the diversity of the human experience. Since debuting in 2019, BorderLight has welcomed thousands of arts enthusiasts to downtown Cleveland and showcased hundreds of international and domestic performances. Learn more about the 2026 BorderLight Theatre Festival at BorderLightCLE.org, and across social platforms by following @BorderLightCLE.
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GENERAL FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Website: https://www.borderlightcle.org/2026-festival/
Festival dates: July 8-11, 2026
Location: Playhouse Square District | across 15 stages
FACTS AND STATS
- 43 Shows
- 120+ Performances
- Representing 12 states + 3 countries
- Across 15 stages in seven venues throughout the Playhouse Square District
- We strive to make the arts accessible by offering 14 free shows:
HELPFUL LINKS
- Show information: https://www.borderlightcle.org/2026-festival/
- Festival Guide: https://www.borderlightcle.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/BL26-PROGRAMGUIDE-FULL-SPREADS.pdf
- Visitor’s Guide: https://www.borderlightcle.org/2026-visitors-guide/
- Accessibility Guide: https://www.borderlightcle.org/accessibility26/
CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL
Hashtags: #BorderLight2026
Instagram: @BorderLightCLE / https://www.instagram.com/borderlightcle/
Facebook: @BorderLightCLE / https://www.facebook.com/BorderLightCle/
TikTok: @BorderLight_CLE / https://www.tiktok.com/@borderlight_cle
Threads: @BorderLightCLE / https://www.threads.net/@borderlightcle
X: @BorderLightCLE / https://twitter.com/BorderLightCLE
Did You Know?
THE Facts:
Print – 13,000 p/mo, 460 locations and online;
eBulletin – 15,000+ opted-in subscribers, every 2nd Wednesday.
Web and SM – More than 50,000 followers averaging
88,000 engagements p/mo (www.iirish.us)
Subscribers – in 28 U.S. states and in Ireland
20 advertisers have been with us for 15 years or more
23 additional advertisers have been with us for 10 years or more
25 additional advertisers have been with us for 5 years or more
Every story in print is also on www.iIrish.us.
Every story on iIrish.us is not in print.
Every story in the eBulletins, are not in print.
Every story on social media, are not in print.
The Year that Was:
2026:
