Cabaret Yitesh

The Chutzpah Festival is a performing arts festival hosted by the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver at the Norman Rothstein Theatre each year.

The 2026 festival takes place from November 3rd to the 15th.

Click Vancouver Chutzpah Festival for the event’s official website.

This article contains the following information about the Chutzpah Festival:

The Chutzpah! Festival in Vancouver

Pronounced with a silent “C” and featuring theatre, music and dance, the Chutzpah Festival normally takes place in the fall. The last couple years have featured some events under the label “Chutzpah! Plus” taking place in the spring. The main festival, however, still takes place in the fall. In 2026 it runs from November 3rd to 15th.

Chutzpah Festival Location

Chutzpah Festival performances take place primarily at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver’s 318-seat Norman Rothstein Theatre.

The Norman Rothstein Theatre is at 950 West 41st Avenue in Vancouver.

See the Vancouver Chutzpah Festival website for full details.

Vancouver Jewish Community Centre — Norman Rothstein Theatre

About the Main Chutzpah Festival in the Fall

The Chutzpah Festival draws talented musicians, comedians, dancers and actors from around the world including from Israel, Australia and the United States.

Comedy, dance, music, theatre and multi-disciplinary performances that happen during the 2026 fall season are listed below. Ticket prices begin at $18 for most of the shows and use a sliding “pay what you can” cost scale.

In addition to the below events there’s also a Chutzpah! Opening Night show at the Rio Theatre on November 3rd. It features elements of all four of comedy, dance, music and theatre in one night of fun.

Comedy Performances

Chutzpah Festival comedy shows in 2026 include the following:

Matthew Broussard – comedian and actor Matthew Broussard performs stand-up at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 8th.
An Evening with Ari’el Stachel – Tony Award-winner Ari’el Stachel performs two shows at the Annex on November 9th and 10th. The shows have comedy in them but are also deeply personal and reflective.

Dance Performances

Dance performances at the Chutzpah Festival in 2026 include the following:

Kristin – the North American premiere of this dance performance that changes between solo and duo. The show takes the stage at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 5th.
Exile – a piece that features five dancers who combine to put on a performance that takes on themes of displacement and resilience. There are two shows, on November 10th and 11th, at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.

Musical Performances

Concerts and musical performances at the Chutzpah Festival in 2026 include the following:

Kosha Dillz – Israeli-American rapper Kosha Dillz takes the stage at Temple Sholom Synagogue on November 7th for a show that includes both music and personal stories.
Duo Andalus – Ofer Ronen and LALA Tamar combine different flavours of Mediterranean music and culture into their performance at the Fox Cabaret on November 12th.

See the Vancouver Chutzpah Festival website for full details.

Theatre and Multi-Disciplinary

Theatre and multi-disciplinary performances at the Chutzpah Festival in 2026 include the following:

Things My Dad Kept – a show about playwright Ronit Rubinstein’s relationship with her father and how much she learned about him when going through his things long after he’d passed. It plays on November 4th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
Yankl and The Beanstalk – a Jewish pantomime that takes the classic tale of Jack and The Beanstalk and sets it in East London in the 1890s. The show plays on November 14th and 15th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.