Berkeley Storytelling Festival
September 18–20, 2026 • Impossible Stage • Berkeley, California
Stories. Community. Connection.
The inaugural Berkeley Storytelling Festival is a three-day celebration of live storytelling, community dialogue, and cultural connection taking place September 18–20, 2026, at Impossible Stage in Berkeley, California.
Presented by Diaspora Arts Connection, the festival brings together storytellers, artists, writers, community leaders, students, and residents for a weekend of powerful personal narratives exploring identity, migration, belonging, activism, memory, and everyday life.
Through curated performances, community storytelling, interactive workshops, and opportunities for audience participation, the Berkeley Storytelling Festival creates a welcoming space where people from different backgrounds can connect through the stories that shape their lives and communities.
As a first-year festival, this inaugural edition is designed as an intimate gathering that celebrates Berkeley's rich tradition of creativity, civic engagement, and cultural exchange while laying the foundation for a lasting storytelling tradition in the city.
Festival Events
Stories of Berkeley
Friday, September 18 • 8:00 PM
An opening-night storytelling event featuring stories from different times, generations, and perspectives, all connected to Berkeley. Through personal memories, neighborhood histories, cultural experiences, and moments of transformation, storytellers will share the many voices that have shaped the city.
Storytelling Workshop
Saturday, September 19 • Daytime
A hands-on workshop led by Third Culture Tales founder Shayan Ravandoust introducing participants to the craft of personal storytelling. Participants will learn how to develop, structure, and perform true stories for a live audience.
Berkeley Open Stage
Saturday, September 19 • Evening
A community storytelling event where first-time storytellers, workshop participants, and experienced performers alike are invited to share five-minute true stories in a supportive and welcoming environment.
Third Culture Tales: Berkeley
Sunday, September 20 • Closing Night
The festival concludes with a special edition of Third Culture Tales, featuring curated stories that explore migration, identity, belonging, and the experiences that connect us across cultural boundaries.
About the Festival
The Berkeley Storytelling Festival is an initiative of Diaspora Arts Connection (DAC), a Bay Area nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting immigrant and diaspora artists and communities through cultural programming, artistic exchange, and community engagement.
Since its founding, DAC has supported more than 2,000 artists, presented over 500 cultural events, and welcomed tens of thousands of audience members across the Bay Area. Through its storytelling program, Third Culture Tales, DAC has produced storytelling events in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Amsterdam, creating spaces where personal stories foster empathy, understanding, and human connection.
Venue
Impossible Stage
2033 University Avenue
Berkeley, CA
An intimate performance venue in the heart of Berkeley, Impossible Stage has hosted storytelling performances, theater productions, music events, and community gatherings, making it an ideal home for the festival's inaugural year.
