This review provides an overview of new technologies for DNA manipulations in actinomycetes exploiting recombinogenic engineering (Flp-FRT, Cre-loxP, Dre-rox, Tn5, GusA and I-SceI systems). We will describe some new vectors recently developed for engineering of complex phenotypes in actinomycetes. Several site-specific recombinases, transposons, reporter genes and I-SceI endonuclease have been utilized for genome manipulation in actinomycetes. Novel molecular tools will help to overcome many technical difficulties and will encourage new efforts to address the function of actinomycete genes.