Downtown Urban Arts Festival

10/23/2025

Deadline: December 8, 2025

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

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)

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

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

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.

DUAF is seeking theatrical works (plays, musicals, and solo performances) for its 24th Annual season to be held in June 2026 in downtown in New York City. We support diverse, new and emerging voices from America’s burgeoning multicultural landscape. Over 200 playwrights have participated in DUAF a...

06/26/2025

This year’s festival has been featured in , , , — and many, MANY more! 🗞️✨

We’re beyond grateful to every patron, friend, family member, journalist, outlet, and subscriber who’s shown up to support our incredible playwrights.

At DUAF, we believe new work deserves the space to be seen — that’s why we were founded: to build a bold, ever-growing repertoire of new American theatre that echoes the true spirit of urban life and speaks to a whole new generation whose lives defy categorizing along conventional lines.

Let’s keep the momentum going. Let’s continue uplifting our playwrights in our closing weekend at DUAF! 🎭🔥

06/26/2025

Have you ever wondered what would happen if an asteroid was hurtling toward Earth? ☄️

Alison Vincitore just might have the answer. Her powerful play “I Should Be Obliterated” dives deep into longing, connection, and purpose — following a group of strangers on a life-altering journey that’s equal parts heart, honesty, and full-belly laughs. 💫

Catch more incredible work tonight at 8PM ! Don’t miss our closing weekend — grab your tickets now at DUAFnyc.com

06/26/2025

Last night, Momo Akashi’s “Letter” delivered a powerful and deeply moving story — exploring queerness, sexuality, HIV, and so much more with honesty and heart. 💌

Starring Viet Vo (you may remember him from SUMO at ), this piece left the audience breathless.

For more bold, gut-wrenching work, grab your tickets now at DUAFnyc.com.

06/26/2025

Check out this feature in The New York Daily News! 📰

Michael Hagins brings his powerful piece “Conquering The Cannon” to the DUAF stage this Friday, June 27th at 8PM. Dive into his journey through Shakespeare and what inspired this bold, personal work — read more at the link below!

https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/06/26/nyc-weeekend-events-june-27/

🎭 Hope to see you in the house! Grab your tickets now at DUAFnyc.com

06/26/2025

Did you catch it? Leah Mijalski-Fahim’s FACE VALUE hit the DUAF stage on June 21st with sharp wit, heart, and undeniable power. 💥 A standout piece in this year’s lineup!

Don’t miss the final weekend of unforgettable performances — grab your tickets now at DUAFnyc.com!

06/26/2025

Have you heard? “LUV NO MORE” by Bryan-Keith Wilson shook the stage at DUAF last week — raw, vulnerable, and unflinchingly real. 💔✨ Don’t miss out — get your tickets for our final weekend of performances at DUAFnyc.com!

06/23/2025

✨ Check out this powerful interview with our Artistic Director, Reg E. Gaines, in Digital Journal! 🎭🔥
He breaks down the vision behind the 2025 Downtown Urban Arts Festival, what makes this year’s artists so bold, and why community support matters more than ever.

👉 Tap the link & get inspired:

https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/reg-e-gaines-talks-about-the-2025-downtown-urban-arts-festival/article

06/21/2025

🎭 New voices. Bold stories. Unmissable moments. is HERE — grab your tickets now! 🔥🎟️

06/20/2025

🔥 Did you catch last night’s performance of BLACK IN THE FIRST DEGREES by Reginald T. Jackson?! If not, you definitely missed out!

This powerful twist on a story so many of us know hit hard — and moved us all. 💥

And guess what? We’re just getting started. DUAF 25 has so much more in store — you don’t want to miss it.

🎟️ Hit the link in our bio or visit DUAFnyc.com to learn more and grab your ticket for tonight’s show.

What are you waiting for? We’d love to see you there! 🙌🏽✨

06/19/2025

Did you catch Elizabeth Shannon’s Waiting for the Six Train?! 🚇🔥

If not, you missed out on a hilarious yet grounded story that hits way too close to home — and it’s so relevant for women and men alike.

These playwrights are on fire! Don’t say we didn’t warn you — DUAF 2025 is unstoppable.

🎟️ Get your tickets now at duafnyc.com

06/19/2025

We hope you had a chance to catch the incomparable TONY AWARD WINNER Sarah Jones in her original piece, “America, Who Hurt You?” 🇺🇸💔

After two sold-out shows at Joe’s Pub, we want to send a huge THANK YOU to for headlining DUAF 2025 — what an honor! 🙌🏽✨

In the meantime, come on down to and experience the powerful work of our upcoming playwrights. You won’t be disappointed!

🎟️ For ticketing info: duafnyc.com