CTM 2026 Lab

26 January – 1 February 2026

Returning to CTM for a second year, the Resynthesising the Traditional artistic lab 2026 was hosted by Yara Mekawei and Stas Shärifullá. It regrouped five fellows selected via open call. Public formats took place at the start and end of the festival – kicking off with a day of performances and discussions, and ending in a roundtable conversation exploring the lab's themes on the closing festival day.

The lab took place in the Radialsystem Studios over the course of six days, and included inputs from external artists/researchers. The public events were hosted at daadgalerie, respectively on 27 January and 1 February respectively, bookending CTM's 2026 edition. Expert inputs included presentations from Bulat Khalilov (Ored Recordings) and Budhaditya Chattopadhyay, as well as a visit to the Humboldt Lautarchiv.

Two fellows – Bint Mbareh and Saba Alizadeh were not able to join on short notice due to travel issues and the protests in Iran respectively.