Ojai Playwrights Conference - New Works Festival

The Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC) announced its 2026 New Works Festival, set to bring new plays and community events to Ojai, California, from July 30 to August 2. The program will feature five performances of brand-new work, alongside special events meant to connect today’s playwrights with tomorrow’s artists. Before the festival, participating writers spend two weeks developing their scripts with artistic teams to prepare them for public audiences. The playwrights confirmed for this year include Jaclyn Backhaus, Keith Bunin, Grace McLeod, Harrison David Rivers, and Mat Smart. Writers-in-Residence Juliette Carrillo, Zola Dee, and Gregory S Moss will also take part. Performances include Mat Smart’s The Last Nun at Lake Leaf Monastery on July 31 at 7:30 p.m., followed by discussions and additional staged readings featuring Rivers, McLeod, Bunin, Backhaus, and others. Festival passes cost $80 to $400, with single tickets available two weeks prior.