The 2025 TYA/USA National Festival & Conference will take place from Tuesday May 6th to Thursday May 8th at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Hosted by The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the 2025 TYA/USA Festival & Conference will invite theatremakers from across the world to gather for a joyful celebration of TYA/USA’s 60th anniversary, as we engage in artistic exchange, meaningful dialogue, and advocacy for the future of our industry. The all-ages festival will present ten shows- including international productions, concerts, and readings in all stages of development, ranging from innovative puppetry to live music and circus performance. The Conference will feature Breakout Sessions facilitated by dozens of TYA industry leaders, and a brand new Working Group to advance and diversify scholarship and publications that measure the impact of theatre programming. The theme of the 2025 National Festival and Conference is BLOOM, as we cultivate new artistic practices and leadership, embrace change in our own organizations, and support the growth of our field as a whole.

Responding to the vital needs of the current industry, TYA/USA will also host a one-day Leadership Summit on Monday May 5th in partnership with Childrens Theatre Foundation of America, with two tracks (Emerging Leaders and Existing Leaders) occurring simultaneously on the Kennedy Center campus.
See the “Pre-Conference” tab for more information and registration links.

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Hero Image features Bryony Anderson’s puppets in Terrapin Puppet Theatre’s “The Paper Escaper”. Photo Credit: Peter Matthew

Our 2025 Sponsors

We thank our generous sponsors for their support of the 2025 National TYA/USA Festival & Conference.

Access for All Supporters
Edie Demas Dwayne Hartford • Elizabeth Coen • Cessalee Smith-Stovall • Jess Kaufman • Allison Mui Mitchell •
• Catherine von Storch • Russell Granet • Tiffany Maltos • Johamy Morales • Rives Collins • Brian Guehring •
• Sandy Boren-Barrett • Brian Fahey •

Interested in sponsoring the 2025 National TYA/USA Festival & Conference? Learn more here.