The International Festival of Arts & Ideas | June 9 – 23

The International Festival of Arts & Ideas is a 16-day extravaganza of performing arts, lectures, and conversations that takes over theaters and open spaces in New Haven, Connecticut each June. More than 85% of Festival events are completely free!

There is so much to do at the festival!  See the calendar here.

About

For 22 years, the Festival has delighted audiences with an outstanding mix of entertaining and inspiring programs. Internationally acclaimed dance, an eclectic array of world-class musicians, breathtaking circus, ground-breaking theatre and engaging speakers define the Festival as our region’s premier arts and culture destination. The June Festival boasts over 170 events and at least 85% are totally free. Year-round programs include special town-hall events, a fellowship program for youth, planning and implementing mini-festivals in inner-city neighborhoods, and our Visionary Leadership Award.

Each year we welcome artists and speakers from all over the world – Angelique Kidjo, Bristol Old Vic, Handspring Puppet Company, Rosanne Cash, Little Richard,The National Theatre of Scotland, Yo-Yo Ma, Druid Theatre, Kronos Quartet, Spike Lee, and Salman Rushdie have all shared their talents and ideas. New Haven’s walkable historic downtown core and warm June weather forms the perfect backdrop for this highly accessible, international event.

About New Haven

We invite you to visit one of the most diverse, creative and welcoming small cities in New England. We have a rich history and outstanding academic institutions including Yale where many of our events take place. The Festival centers around the Yale campus and the historic New Haven Green. New Haven is a walkable “human-scale” city with shops, outstanding restaurants, museums, boutique hotels and several parking areas. There is public transportation from Metro North train station and we are off I-95 and I-91.

Set in the beautiful hills and estuaries of Connecticut, New Haven is home to the Wampanoag tribe, a storied colonial history and a long tradition of welcoming immigrants from all over the world. One out of every eight residents is foreign-born and our students speak over 100 languages at home. Although immigration is a complex issue, residents widely agree that our diversity is the primary source of our cultural, social and economic health. We think that’s something we should all celebrate. Join us here for 15 days each June and see what makes this city sparkle.

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