AACT NewPlayFest 2028 Script Submissions Are Open. AACT NewPlayFest supports the production of new plays in community theatres and gives playwrights the opportunity to have unpublished work produced and published. Scripts may be submitted May 1-June 30, 2026, and submissions are limited to the first 350 scripts received. There is no fee for AACT member playwrights, and a $10 script processing fee for non-members.
AACT NewPlayFest is a national program uplifting bold new scripts written for community theatres. Every cycle brings together playwrights, theatres, and reviewers working collaboratively to bring fresh stories to life on stages across the country.
There’s an abundance of great scripts out there, especially from unpublished playwrights. But how do theatres find the time to sift through them and choose the ones that will resonate with their communities? Many theatres host new play contests, but it’s rare that these winning scripts are actually produced and shared with others.
That’s where AACT’s NewPlayFest steps in—a national new play festival spanning two years. Productions remain local, but the winning plays are published in an anthology and promoted to theatres nationwide, giving them a path to reach new audiences.
Whether you’re a playwright, a producing theatre, a reviewer, or an audience member who loves discovering new work, NewPlayFest is designed to champion new voices and keep community theatre vibrant, relevant, and full of fresh stories.