The Festival d’Automne à Paris has announced that the Geelong-based Back to Back Theatre will be its featured Portrait artist for 2026, marking the first time that an Australian artist has been selected for the position.

Back to Back Theatre’s Ganesh Versus The Third Reich. Photo © Jeff Busby

As the Portrait artist, the theatre company is recognised as a “leader on the global stage” by the festival. It will undertake an eight-week residency in Paris during November and December, which will feature the presentation of its works Food Court (Odéon Théâtre de l’Europe), Small Metal Objects (Canopée des Halles) and Ganesh Versus The Third Reich (Théâtre de la Cité Internationale).

It will also undertake a creative development for its new work Neanderthal at the Odéon, see two new film outcomes for its collaborative project Radial at Ménagerie de Verre and LaBriqueterie, and participate in a series of masterclasses, workshops and public discussions.

The Festival d’Automne is a major international contemporary arts festival presented across Paris. This year’s festival runs from September to December, and features more than 80 events. The Portrait artist position celebrates the outstanding achievements of an international artist across the festival,...