Red Flags

Recently, the phrase “red flags” has become primarily associated with dating culture, where it works as a checklist of seemingly innocent habits preemptively interpreted as an omen for future toxic behavior. It is, of course, just a case of how suspicious and mistrustful we have become in general, alerted by minor deviations from the hard line. We tend to welcome cautionary regulations, privileging canceling over confrontation. This is a position steirischer herbst has been challenging for years, if not decades.

Still, all over the world, and the quiet and prosperous Austrian province of Styria is no exception, we see many worrying signs indeed. Some might seem innocuous to an outsider, like the introduction of a new religious festival or a proposal for a house of Volkskultur; some are already not just red flags, but huge fires dangerously spreading out. Antidiscrimination programs are being cut, migrants deported, freedom of speech is threatened, old-school patriarchy is praised and reinforced, contemporary culture is defunded and deprioritized, and even modernity as such is questioned as a false route.

Navigating this field of potential and ongoing conflicts, it is impossible not to notice how everything even slightly “red” becomes a red flag for the political establishment. Even moderate left-wing politics are denounced in today’s ubiquitous neoliberal regimes. Centrists are relabeled as leftist extremists as the center-right quickly slides ever further to the right. Red flags go up even when no one waves an actual red flag: It is enough to mention equality or solidarity.

A rich program of newly commissioned and produced performances, installations, and discussions relate to these themes in the 59th edition of steirischer herbst festival.

steirischer herbst ’26 is curated by Ekaterina Degot, David Riff, Line Spellenberg, and Pieternel Vermoortel, supported by junior curators Beatrice Forchini and Lukas Michelitsch, with curatorial advice by Gábor Thury, and created by all participating artists, speakers, and partner institutions, as well as the festival’s whole team.