Sharjah, the first Arab city to host World Stage Design

World Stage Design (WSD) 2025 Sharjah will take place from 18 to 25th October 2025

World Stage Design (WSD) 2025 Sharjah will occur from 18-25 October 2025. The exhibition will feature three categories: Performance Design, Space and Object Design and Set, Sound, Costume, Lighting, and Video Design. Works of professionals and emerging talent in scenography, puppetry, decor, architecture, and other theatre and live events technicians will be part of the exhibition.

Conducted quadrennially, WSD is the only exhibition globally to showcase performance designs from individual designers. After successful shows in Toronto, Seoul, Cardiff, Taipei, and Calgary, the sixth edition of the event – WSD25 Sharjah, UAE, is its first time in an Arab country. The event is co-produced by the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) and the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians (OISTAT).

“It is remarkable that we are hosting a global event focused on live events and performance design in Sharjah, UAE. WSD25 Sharjah has sustainability as a core ethos. The event offers a unique opportunity for professionals and enthusiasts of live events in the region to engage with work from around the world. Exhibiting international designers, artists, and visitors can experience the local performing arts culture and interact and collaborate with their Middle Eastern counterparts,” said Jacqui George, Project Director, WSD25.

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) is the only dedicated performing arts academy in the Middle East that offers comprehensive performing and production arts education. SPAA trains students for various roles, from actors and dancers to stage managers and scenic designers, preparing them for success in the competitive global industry. The Academy aims to develop confident, creative professionals who can lead and collaborate in any global context. OISTAT was founded in Prague in 1968. It stands for “Organisation Internationale des Scenographes, Techniciens et Architectes de Theatre” in French and “International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians” in English. OISTAT is a global network for theatre practitioners celebrating design, technology, and architecture in live performances.

All categories will look for evidence of ecological and sustainable design methods and approaches as a central theme. WSD2025 includes Scenofest, a celebration of scenography with a wide range of seminars, workshops, performances, and presentations by leading theatre practitioners and artists. The Theatre Architecture Competition (TAC) and Technical Invention Prize (TIP) will also run alongside the event.