ImprovFestivals.orgGlobal Improvisation Initiative Symposium
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | July 8-11, 2026 |
| Edition | 5th Symposium (2026) |
| Location | Portland, OR, USA |
| Language | English |
| Organizer | Global Improvisation Initiative, hosted by Portland State University's College of the Arts, School of Music & Theater |
| Website | globalimprovisation.com |
| Global Improvisation Initiative |
Overview
The Global Improvisation Initiative (GII) Symposium is an international gathering exploring the art and impact of theatrical improvisation. Founded in 2016 by Theresa Robbins Dudeck and Joel Veenstra, GII has convened symposiums at UC Irvine and Chapman University (2017), in London with Middlesex University and Improbable (2019), online (2021), and at UC Irvine again (2023). The 2026 edition is the fifth symposium and the first held in Portland.
The 2026 theme, "Activate the Possible," draws on William Ury's idea of incremental breakthroughs that build toward larger transformations. Anthony Veneziale, creator of Freestyle Love Supreme, will deliver the opening Un-Keynote address. Programming spans four days and blends academic and practitioner perspectives through workshops, performances, panels, roundtables, and plenaries. A remote-online registration tier allows international participation alongside the in-person program at Portland State University. Tickets are available through the official registration page, with early-bird pricing through May 31, 2026 and limited student fellowships.
Submissions
The 2026 call for proposals ran in Fall 2025 and is closed. Most symposium programming is selected from this open call, with organizers actively encouraging proposals from up-and-coming practitioners, scholars, performers, and applicants from the global majority and from improv hubs across North America.