IDEA & WAAE Drama Education in Action for Peace

As part of the UNESCO World Week for Arts Education 2026, the International Drama/Theatre and Education Association (IDEA) and the World Alliance for Arts Education (WAAE) organized a flagship global symposium titled "Drama Education in Action for Peace" at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The event gathered international theatre educators, drama therapists, cultural policy makers, and youth delegates to explore how applied drama, process drama, and interactive theatre methods serve as vital instruments for peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and social cohesion among youth worldwide. Key workshop sessions examined case studies from post-conflict regions, demonstrating how non-violent creative expression enables young people to process trauma, navigate complex socio-political realities, and build cross-cultural empathy. Panelists emphasized the urgent need to integrate drama and arts education into national educational frameworks to foster a culture of sustainable peace and global citizenship.