2026 Conference Information – Black Theatre Network

2026 BTN Conference Information

Registration now open!

Young Artist Experience, 2026

Be part of the Young Artist experience, a student competition celebrating creativity and talent across design, scholarship, and performance. Enter one of three prestigious competitions for a chance to showcase your work, network with industry leaders, and win cash prizes. Note key submission dates below:

Judy Dearing Competition (Designers): Submit by April 15th, 2026

Randolph Edmonds Young Scholars Competition (Scholars): Submit by April 15, 2026

Monologue Competition (Performers): Submit by May 1st, 2026

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to share your artistry, gain recognition, and connect with a vibrant community of theatre professionals.

Submission Requirements

Submission requirements for the Young Artist Experience can be found here.

The winners will have the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Black Theatre Network (BTN) Conference in Winston-Salem, NC July 24-27, 2026.

BTN 2026 Conference

Save The Date for the 2025 Convening

NEW! Conference Registration open!

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For feature details, visit Whova

NEW!Book your room for the 2026 Conference at the hotel below:

The Hawthorne Inn & Conference Center

420 High Street | Winston-Salem, NC 27101

Direct: 336-777-3000, option 1 | Fax: 336-777-3282

For questions about the conference, please send a message to: business@blacktheatrenetwork.org

Young Artist Experience competitions

Submission Deadlines:

Judy Dearing Competition: April 15th
S. Randolph Young Scholars Competition: April 15th
Monoluge Competition: May 1st

The Black Theatre Network (BTN) presents the Young Artist Experience Competitions. The competitions are a part of BTN’s 39th Annual Conference: “Art And Liberation: Achieving Black Permanence in Los Angeles, CA July 24-27, 2025. These are part of BTN’s Competition Series, which also includes the Judy Dearing Design Award (in multiple areas of design) and the S. Randolph Edmonds Young Scholars Competition. Information on all these categories can be found at blacktheatrenetwork.org.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION

The competition is open to all individuals between the ages of 17-24 who identify as Black/African American or who are from the African Diaspora.

Entry requirements can be found here.

Conference Schedule

NOTE: Conference schedule subject to change

Call For Submissions

Click the links below to enter competitions or to get involved.

What Our Members Say About The Conference

"I am still overwhelmed and full from my first BTN Conference. I wasn’t very sure what to expect once I agreed to accompany my sister, Kemati Porter from eta, to the conference. Her assurances of what I would experience far exceeded my expectations. It was simply wonderful to be in the space with “my people” in the theatre. I openly thank everyone that took the time to welcome me, exchange dialogue and most of all I am blessed with new friendship, especially my fellow costume designers in “the struggle" "

I really enjoyed the focus and attention that each member brought to this year’s conference. It was exciting to see so many people interested in outlining goals and ideas for the coming future of the organization, and not only voicing their opinions on these goals, but also thinking aloud in practical steps to achieve them. That really impressed me, and helped me to start thinking similarly.

BTN Conferences Are Our Annual Black Theatre Family Reunion!

BTN CONFERENCES are annual conferences which serve as a national forum for the exchange of ideas between professionals, educators and students of Black Theatre. In even-numbered years, BTN hosts larger conferences in locations across the country, giving voice and representation to Black Theatre in each city we visit. These conferences immediately precede the National Black Theatre Festival, where BTN co-sponsors the International Colloquium with NBTF.

Conference themes are recommended by our members and selected by the Vice President of the BTN Executive Board. The Winona Lee Fletcher and Lifetime Membership awards and honors bestowed upon Black Theatre leaders are chosen by BTN’s President, with approval of the Executive Board.

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