On Friday 20-03-26 it was announced that theatre maker and composer Jaha Koo, affiliated with Theater Utrecht and LOD (Ghent), will receive the International Ibsen Award in 2026. The award is often described as 'the Nobel Prize of theatre' and is known as the greatest and most prestigious theatre prize in the world. In the past, it has been awarded to leading figures such as Peter Brook, Peter Handke, Heiner Goebbels and Forced Entertainment — each of them artists who have shaped the global theatre landscape.
Jaha Koo is a South Korean theatre maker and composer. In his work, he ingeniously brings together music, video, text and installation on stage. Since 2023, Jaha Koo and Theater Utrecht have been closely connected. Their collaboration is rooted in shared values. Jaha’s work is both personal and political: he puts stories on stage that are too often invisible, and through his distinctive, multidisciplinary style, he creates a powerful impact on audiences. The jury particularly commends how Jaha's work moves between cultures, languages and histories, and how he uses theatre as a space where complexity and nuance take centre stage.
“I see this award not just as recognition of my work, but of all artists who move beyond what is considered theatre, making work that reaches toward those who have never felt addressed by it,” in Jaha's own words.
In 2023, Jaha and Theater Utrecht joined forces for the production Haribo Kimchi, which premiered at Kunstenfestivaldesarts in 2024. In Haribo Kimchi (a co-production with Campo), Jaha explores the role of food as a refuge for those who feel alienated from their own culture and home. The performance was selected for the Flemish Theatre Festival and nominated for the VSCD Mime Award. In 2025, Jaha Koo became a core part of Theater Utrecht when he joined its artistic team as one of six resident makers. He continues to tour internationally with Haribo Kimchi, and in the Netherlands the performance will be shown on April 15 and 16 at Frascati in Amsterdam. On these dates, Theater Utrecht’s makers will present performances and works in progress together under the theme “(Searching for) Radical Care.”
Together with LOD and Theater Utrecht, Jaha is currently working on his new production Born to be K to be Pop, which will premiere in 2027. In this work, he investigates the role of K-pop in a hyper-capitalist society.
Jaha has a unique ability to find a sweet spot between theory, social critique, warmth and accessibility. Receiving the International Ibsen Award is a crowning achievement for his distinctive multidisciplinary work, which resonates both locally and internationally.