Virgin Labfest 2026 opens its call for submissions, encouraging Filipino writers to submit their one-act plays for its 21st season.
Since its establishment in 2005—helmed by Philippine theater giants Herbie Go and Rody Vera—the Virgin Labfest has been one of the country’s most highly-anticipated annual theater festivals. It provides Filipino playwrights from around country with a platform to hone their craft by submitting never-before-seen one-act plays and having the opportunity to stage them. Continuing this tradition, Virgin Labfest 2026 has just opened its call for submissions, seeking a fresh batch of untried, unstaged, and untested one-act plays. 12 plays will be selected to be produced and staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in June 2026; the chosen works will be formally announced by the end of Virgin Labfest’s 20th season in June 2025.
Through its 21-year history, the event has not only introduced diverse and compelling narratives to audiences but has also nurtured entire generations of brilliant talents including the late Floy Quintos, Reuel Aguila, Glenn Sevilla Mas, Nicolas Pichay, and Guelan Luarca, to name a few.
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Submission Guidelines
The call for script submissions is open to all Filipino citizens only, while the festival is open to various themes and genres. The manuscripts must have a maximum running time of 40 minutes and be approximately 25-35 pages long. Playwrights of the chosen scripts must be willing to undergo a script development process for their works with the festival’s creative team.
Submitted works must not have been previously published in book form, staged commercially for more than two performances (staged readings and one-time workshop productions are allowed), or awarded any literary or drama prize in major competitions on or before the closing day of Virgin Labfest 2025, on June 29, 2025.
Works may be in Filipino, English, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, or Ilocano; however, works in Cebuano, Hiligaynon, or Ilocano must include a Filipino translation. Entries in other Filipino languages or dialects will also be considered based on the availability and capability of performers.
The deadline for submissions is on February 28, 2025, at 11:59 P.M. Submissions may be sent online in .doc or .pdf format only to thewritersblocinc@gmail.com.
The Virgin Labfest is a partnership project of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, The Writer’s Bloc, and Tanghalang Pilipino Foundation, Inc.
Visit the CCP website at www.culturalcenter.gov.ph, and follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more updates.
Photos courtesy of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
