Virgin Labfest 2026 Opens Its Stage for New Entries

The Virgin Labfest, the annual theater festival of untried, unstaged, and untested one-act plays, is looking for a new batch of written works for its 21st season. Twelve (12) new plays will be selected to be produced and staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in June 2026. 

VLF19 SET-A  - LOVE ON THE BRAIN(Photo by Kiko Cabuena)

The deadline for submission is on February 28, 2025, at 11:59 PM.  Submissions may be sent online in .doc or .pdf format only to thewritersblocinc@gmail.com.

VLF19 SET-A - NINGAS (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)

The call for script submissions is open to all Filipino citizens only. The festival is open to various themes and genres.

VLF19 SET-A - VENGEANCE OF THE GODS (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)

VLF19 SET-B - IDENTITE (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)

The playwrights of the chosen scripts must be willing to undergo a script development process for their works with the creative team of the festival.

Interested playwrights must submit their manuscripts with a maximum running time of 40 minutes, about 25-35 pages long. 

VLF19 SET-B - SENTENARYO (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)

VLF19 SET-B - THE DEVINE FAMILY (Photo by Kiko Cabuena)

 
Submitted works MUST NOT have previously been published in book form, staged commercially for more than two (2) performances (staged readings, one-time workshop productions are allowed); and awarded any literary or drama prize in major competitions on or before the closing day of the Virgin Labfest 2025, on June 29, 2025.

VLF19 SET-C - LIPSTICK AT PULBURA (Photo by Orly Daquipil)

VLF19 SET-C - PAGKAPIT SA HANGIN (Photo by Orly Daquipil)

 
Works may be in Filipino, English, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, or Ilocano. (Cebuano, Hiligaynon or Ilocano works must have accompanying Filipino translations). Entries in other Filipino languages/dialects will also be considered based on the availability and capability of performers.

VLF19 SET-C - THE FOXTROT (Photo by Orly Daquipil)

VLF19 SET-D - ANG MUNTING LIWANAG SA MADILIM NA SULOK NG ISANG SERBESERYA SA MAYNILA (Photo by Orly Daquipil)

 
The chosen plays will be formally announced at the end of the VLF 20 in June 2025.
 

The Virgin Labfest is a partnership project of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, The Writer’s Bloc, and Tanghalang Pilipino Foundation, Inc.

VLF19 SET-D - SA BABAENG LAHAT (Photo by Orly Daquipil)

VLF19 SET-D - SI HESUS NA ASA US (Photo by Orly Daquipil)

Visit the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph), and follow the official CCP social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok for more updates.