An ISTA festival is an immersive theatre experience where young people collaborate, create, and perform together through story-based inquiry. Rooted in ensemble practice and guided by professional artists, ISTA festivals nurture artistic exploration, cultural exchange, and personal growth.

The Amsterdam HS Festival is specially designed for local and regional schools who can commute daily to the host campus or who are able to arrange their own accommodation nearby. Participating schools are fully responsible for organising their own transport and, if needed, hotel bookings—offering flexibility and autonomy in how they engage with the event. All participants are expected to attend the full festival programme each day, ensuring a consistent and rich creative experience for every ensemble. This model allows nearby schools to access a world-class ISTA festival while managing logistics in a way that suits their context.