(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 12 FEB - A total of 238 applications from 28 countries have been submitted for Mittelyoung 2026, a Mittelfest project — the Central European cultural festival — specifically dedicated to under-30 artists and ensembles, scheduled in Cividale del Friuli (Udine) from May 14 to 17. The organizers announced this today in a statement. According to Mittelfest, 110 applications came from abroad: in addition to the countries eligible for selection, including many states from Central Europe and the Balkans, proposals also arrived from England, France, Spain, and from non-European countries such as Iran, Israel, and Peru. Among the disciplines, theater ranks first with 84 proposals, followed by dance (78) and music (57). Circus, added to the program three years ago as the fourth discipline, completes the lineup. For 2026, an open call has also been launched for the curatores team (ages 18-30), tasked with selecting nine performances across theater, music, dance, and circus on the theme "Fear"; they will also identify three winning titles that will return to the stage at Mittelfest from July 16 to 26. "Once again this year, Mittelyoung confirms itself as a space for experimentation and dialogue, with an explosion of applications from Italy, Central Europe, and the Balkans," said the festival's artistic director, Giacomo Pedini. (ANSA).