International Puppet Fringe Festival *
Teatro Sea and Grupo Morán (The Moran Group) with the support of The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Education Center
August 12 - 16, 2026
The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Education Center
107 Suffolk Street (btw Rivington & Delancey) New York, NY
The International Puppet Fringe Festival, New York’s only international fringe festival dedicated to puppetry, returns August 12–16, 2026, bringing together acclaimed puppet artists, makers, and theater companies from around the world. This year's festival celebrates women in puppetry and features five days of performances, exhibitions, workshops, panel discussions, and film screenings. More than 50 productions and artists from a dozen countries will participate, showcasing the breadth and innovation of contemporary puppetry.
The festival will also honor pioneering artists Theodora Skipitares and Nancy Lohman Staub for their visionary contributions to the field.
$0-$25
*Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Presenter’s Grant
Puppets in the Green Mountains *
Sandglass Theater
The Retreat Farm - 45 Farmhouse Square Brattleboro, VT
This is an annual festival. The next festival is September 16-20 2026
https://puppetsinthegreenmountains.net/
A festival of international performance, community dialogues, and special events that celebrate the thriving art of Puppet Theater as a means of enhancing perspective, generating compassion and celebrating the human spirit.
This 13th edition of PGM celebrates the 30 year anniversary since our first festival in 1996!
The 2026 festival explores the theme “Endings, Beginnings and the Humanity In Between.” In a world marked by ecological crisis, technological isolation, and political division, puppetry offers a uniquely embodied, imaginative space to reconsider what it means to be human. Each performance uses visual storytelling, myth, and material animation to explore renewal, empathy, and transformation.
*Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Presenter’s Grant
Puppetopia *
Dream Music Puppetry
This is an annual festival.
HERE - 145 6th Ave New York, NY
HERE’s festival of new puppetry returns for its third annual edition. Curated by HERE co-founder Barbara Busackino and Dream Music Artistic Director and puppeteer Basil Twist, the festival presents new, live and fully realized iterations of works and in-progress excerpts.
*Recipient of a Jim Henson Foundation Presenter's Grant
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
Artistic Director: Blair Thomas
Chicago, IL - USA
This is an annual festival.
The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival is the largest event dedicated to the artform in the U.S. In the heart of winter, the Festival spans 12 days and dozens of Chicago venues, sharing 100+puppetry activities with 14,000+ guests. The Festival includes performances, symposium, Catapult artist intensive, workshops, the Free Neighborhood Tour, and more. Since its launch in 2015 by Festival Founder & Artistic Director Blair Thomas, the Festival has highlighted artists from nations including Iran, Korea, Japan, Chile, South Africa as well as from Europe, Chicago and across the U.S. with the goal of promoting peace, equality, and justice on a global scale.
New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival
Mudlark Public Theater (and various other locations)
New Orleans, LA
This is an annual festival.
neworleansgiantpuppetfest.com/
We support excellence in puppetry arts by presenting local, national and international artists selected for their diversity and ingenuity to the New Orleans Community and beyond. We imagine hope in the form of new stories through offering performance, education, and collaboration. Our Festival invites this prospect to the world.This festival is a 5 day celebration of the mysterious, ancient, and wildly varying art form of Puppetry. The Giant Puppet Fest hosts local, national, and international artists with kid friendly and adult only performances from daytime ’til late across multiple venues.
Minneapolis Puppetry Palate: A Taste of Puppetry
Great Plains Regional Puppet Festival
Minneapolis, MN - USA
This is a biennial festival.
https://sites.google.com/view/minneapolispuppetrypalate/register?authuser=0
A four-day festival of puppetry performances, workshops, studio tours, community-building and much, much more!
New York State Puppet Festival
Theatre@37
37 South Main St. Perry, NYIthaca, NY - USA
This is a biennial festival.
https://www.newyorkstatepuppetfestival.org/
The New York State Puppet Festival is a biennial celebration of contemporary puppet theater based in Perry, NY. Since its founding in 2018, NYSPF has championed dynamic puppet artists and their work through educational outreach, commissions, and inventive digital programming.
Puppets in Paradise
Sandglass Theater
The Retreat Farm - 45 Farmhouse Square Brattleboro, VT
This is a biennial festival.
https://www.sandglasstheater.org/puppets-in-paradise
Sandglass Theater is pleased to announce the return of our most beloved community event. Puppets in Paradise brings together artists and audiences for a two-day celebration of puppetry and theater arts set in the beautiful agrarian landscape of Southern Vermont. This premier biennial family event is produced in collaboration with Retreat Farm, a prominent feature of the Brattleboro landscape for 180 years. At Puppets in Paradise audiences will walk around the farm and encounter short-form puppet performances, theater artists and musicians amidst the fields, historic barns and animals. Food and refreshments from local vendors add to the delight of a beautiful day.
$8 - $24
International Puppet Festival
The Golden Dolphin
Varna - Bulgaria
This is a triennial festival.
http://vnpuppet.com/en/golden-dolphin/
The International Puppet Festival the Golden Dolphin, established in 1972, is held once in every three years, from 1st to 7th October. The festival is intended to assist the development of Bulgarian dramaturgy for the puppet theatre, to popularize the achievements of Bulgarian puppet art, to introduce the modern trends of puppet art all over the world, and to contribute to closer contacts between the puppet and theatrical specialists from different countries. The festival looks forward to presenting performances intended for adults or children, indoor and street venues. Workshops covering a wide scope of topics related to the theory and the practice of the puppet theatre are held within the frames of the festival.
International Puppet and Figure Festival: Arrivano Dal Mare!
Teatro del Drago
Ravenna - Italy
This is an annual festival.
arrivanodalmare.it/
The International Festival of Puppets and Figures: Arrivano Dal Mare! is one of the longest-running festivals entirely dedicated to puppetry in Italy and in the world. Established in Cervia in 1975, the festival has moved to the city of Ravenna and other localities in Romagna (mainly in the Forlì and Cesena areas). The ownership of the brand and the Artistic Direction of the Festival are, since 2015, the Teatro del Drago/Monticelli Art Family of Ravenna in collaboration with the host Municipalities, the Emilia-Romagna Region, the Ministry of Culture. Over the years the Festival has become a point of reference and an unmissable appointment for puppeteers and storytellers, as well as for emerging artists and companies.
Summer Puppet Pier
Maribor Puppet Theatre
Maribor - Slovenia
This is an annual festival. Coming August 2026
Since 1990, the Maribor Puppet Theatre has been organizing the Summer Puppet Pier, an annual international summer festival in the city. Every year, in August, thousands of visitors enjoy an excellent program. Primarily, the festival offers the best foreign and domestic puppet performances for children, as well as performances for adults, workshops, exhibitions, installations, and other accompanying events. With the support of the Municipality of Maribor, Maribor puppeteers every year attract the best that the puppet world has to offer. Since the 30th Summer Puppet Pier festival, the best performance selected by the children's jury receives the Golden Giraffe Award.
Show of Hands Puppet Festival
Visionaries + Voices
Cincinnati, OH
This is an annual festival.
visionariesandvoices.com/show-of-hands-puppet-festival
Join the artistic community at V+V to make, celebrate, and share the magic of puppetry in its vast forms! Workshops will be held at Visionaries and Voices, Cincinnati Art Museum, Contemporary Arts Center, Wave Pool, DSGNCllctv, PAR-Projects, WordPlay Cincy, Starting Sept 6th, a 6-week workshop series will culminate into spectacular performances happening Oct 11-14th; including the Show of Hands Puppet Slam, international puppetry workshop + performances, and a pageant parade!
Skirball Puppet Festival
A World of Dreams
2701 N Sepulveda Blvd Los Angeles, CA
This is an annual day-long Festival.
Doors open for Puppet Festival at 12:00 pm
Museum is open 11:00 am–5:00 pm
https://www.skirball.org/programs/skirball-puppet-festival
During this fan-favorite festival, puppets of all shapes and sizes will be walking, soaring, and stomping about ready to meet you! See puppetry performances, dance to a live band, and make your own puppet friend to join in on the fun. Let your dreams run wild as you spend the day with friendly monsters, colorful animals, and eclectic creatures! Puppets of all shapes and sizes will delight and surprise as you move between performances by some of Southern California’s premier puppetry acts. Slide, shimmy, and shake a leg during two wildly fun puppet parties, where festival goers and puppeteers all meet up to enjoy live music together. Make sure to keep an eye out for our special MC (Monster of Ceremonies) who will be popping up across the campus! Round out your day by designing a puppet of your own to bring a bit of the magic home!
Adult $20 / Senior & Student $15 / Children 2-17 $13
Galveston Loves Puppets
Puppeteers of America Southwest Regional Puppet Festival
Rosenberg Library - Galveston, TX
This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2026.
https://www.puppeteers.org/event-5733484
Puppet shows and workshops at the Rosenberg Library in Galveston with free admission on Friday and Saturday.
Director: Leo Velasquez
Festival Mondial des Theatres de Marionnettes
Artistic Director: Anne-Francoise Cabanis
Charleville-Mezieres - France
This is a biennial festival.
The World Festival of Puppet Theatres, founded by Jacques Félix in 1961, has made Charleville-Mézières the capital of puppetry. The festival of Charleville-Mézières is the biggest regular meeting place of puppet theatres in the world. Since its creation, the most famous companies, the most talented solo artists have performed here; and other actor/puppeteers have become famous performing in front of an enthusiastic public. In a hugely festive atmosphere, hundreds of puppeteers and thousands who come to see the shows, take over the town: theatres, streets, parks are invaded by the crowd who rediscover the ancestral traditions of our art with each new Festival, and new territories are explored by contemporary artists.
The international figuren.theatre.festival
City of Erlangen – Cultural Office
GERMANY
This is a biennial festival.
figurentheaterfestival.de/en/
The international figuren.theatre.festival first took place in Erlangen in 1979. Nürnberg joined in 1981, followed by the city of Fürth in 1983 and finally Schwabach in 1989. From the very beginning, the festival has aimed to present contemporary puppet theatre and to encourage artistic encounters between different genres. Almost anything can act as a ‘Figur’ – puppets, objects and materials, the human body, video projections, machines, robots, artificial intelligence – even a beam of light, a sound or an image that emerges in one’s mind. This cross-genre approach has been widely embraced and can also be found in university programmes focusing on Figurentheater.
Fresh Ideas in Puppetry Conference & Festival
Puppetmongers Theatre
Unit W-23 at 388 Carlaw Avenue - Toronto, Canada
This is an annual festival.
https://puppetmongers.com/fresh-ideas-in-puppetry/
This annual mini-conference-and-festival showcases artists taking new and ground-breaking directions in puppetry. Fresh Ideas in Puppetry is a stimulating event for everyone interested in current developments in puppetry! Full of exciting innovations and explorations, presentations, demonstrations and discussions, culminating in an evening cabaret of short fresh new performances.
$10-$40
Figur i Fossekleiva International Puppet Theater Festival
Fossekleiva Kultursenter
Bergerveien 2, 3075
Berger, NORWAY
This is an annual festival.
September 18 - October 11, 2026
Figur i Fossekleiva (FiF), the International Festival of Puppetry and Visual Theatre was organized for the first time in 2016. From 2019, FiF also offers Research and Development (R&D) for companies from home and abroad throughout the year. There are several fierce performances for adults in this year's festival - check out Dis Order, Big boys don't cry and Antropophagic fables for fascist days - to name a few. As always at FiF, ALL children enter for free. At the family performances and children's performances, one adult must buy a ticket - you don't have to be two to get the children in for free. And you can bring friends' children, neighbours' children and grandchildren. Let the children experience the magic of figure theatre!
Puppets in the House
Puppets in the House LLC
Sugar River UMC, ART House 360, and Century School Park
West Verona Avenue
Verona, WI
October 8 - 10, 2026
Puppets in the House brings exceptional puppetry performance and education to south central Wisconsin. With intensive workshops and engaging shows, we share the wonder of puppets in their many forms, inspiring others to reach new heights in their own creative abilities.
At this second annual festival in Verona, Wisconsin, we offer something for every level of interest and price point!
For the professional or dedicated enthusiast: choose from one of four nine-hour workshop slots, starting on Friday and ending early afternoon Saturday. Registration required.
For the fan: a) a pre-festival gathering and puppet open mic on Thursday night. Admission - free will donation to the venue.
b) a full evening of puppetry performances on Friday night. Admission - included with workshop registration or tickets sold separately.
For the curious: street-fair style entertainment on Saturday afternoon with puppet shows, crafts and activities, art market vendors, food trucks, and a giant puppet parade at dusk. Admission - free and open to the public.
Newcastle Puppetry Festival
Moving Parts Arts
Newcastle, UK
This is an annual festival. 2026 festival not going ahead due to lack of funding. 2027 dates to pencil: 3-11th April 2027
movingpartsarts.com/
Moving Parts Arts brings North East of England people together through arts, celebration and creativity. Moving Parts Arts is an award winning arts and community development organization founded in 2017. Our week-long puppet festival, dynamic outreach projects and participatory community events engage up to 20,000 people a year. A belief that everyone can be creative is at the core of what we do and that puppetry is a unique way of bringing people together and breaking down barriers. Our work is at its best when it is collaborative, accessible and celebratory. The ambitious programme of events takes place once every two years across the city and includes performances and workshops for adults, children and families, as well as talks, training and networking events for professionals.
FIAMS | International Festival of Puppetry Arts in Saguenay
Artistic Direfctor: Dany Lefrançois
Saguenay (Quebec) Canada
This is a biennial festival.
July 27 - August 1, 2027
fiams.com
The FIAMS – International Festival of Puppetry Arts in Saguenay is: The only major theater event in Quebec to take place in the region; A festival of enviable national and international renown that stands out for the importance and quality of its programming, the richness of the exchanges it offers, without forgetting the warmth of its welcome; In-room programming ; Outdoor programming ; international digital programming; Popular happenings; 40 different shows of all shapes; more than 150 performances ; Shows for adults and shows for all ; 5 exposures ; A place of exchange for professionals through activities: symposia, training, conferences, round tables, specialized workshops, thematic evenings, etc.; A festive event that brings together young and old around the arts of puppetry; A cultural mediation for the demystification of the arts of the puppet and a development of the public near the young people and the not so young (nurseries, students, school, adults, associations, all public) on the puppet. Founded in 1989, the Festival international des arts de la marionnette à Saguenay is a major biennial event in puppet theater for all ages whose impact is significant on the development of theater and the arts of puppetry.
Melbourne Festival of Puppetry
La MaMa Australia
205 Faraday Street
Carlton VIC, Australia
The last festival was held in 2023.
lamama.com.au/whats-on/melbourne-festival-of-puppetry-2023/
We are delighted to welcome artists from across Australia to present their work. This year we are thrilled to offer audience’s 11 Children’s Performances, 3 adults performances, Roving Performances throughout the festival, Children’s Puppet Workshops and Professional Development Opportunities for Artists and Adults. New to this year’s festival is The Puppet Picnic, a FREE Community Day on the lawns of the Carlton Highrise Estate of performances, roving puppets, engaging workshops and an opportunity for all to connect, share and celebrate.
International Puppet Theatre Festival named after Sergey Obraztsov
Obraztsov Puppet Theatre
3 Sadovaya-Samotechnaya Street 127473 Moscow Russia
Moscow
This is a biennial festival. Last Festival was in 2025.
puppet.ru/obraztsovfest
The International Puppet Theatre Festival named after Sergey Obraztsov is held in Moscow. In the frame of the Festival Puppet shows for all age category will be presented in the Big, Small and Chamber Halls.
Festival Internatiocional De Titeres Y Artes Vivas de Guadalajara
Festín de los muñecos
Guadalajara, MEXICO
This is an annual festival.
The Feast of the Dolls, Guadalajara International Puppet Festival was born in 2005 as an initiative of Luna Morena, an experimental puppet workshop. Originally it had the participation of mainly national companies; However, as of its second broadcast in 2006, the number of invited companies increased almost double, with a total of 12, including artists from Canada and Peru . In the third edition in 2007, thanks to the support of various sponsors, the Festival grew remarkably, having a total of 15 companies and 25 presentations with works from Germany, Spain, Canada and Mexico . In addition, the Feast had the opportunity to extend the diversity of its headquarters, among which were 6 children's shelters.
As of 2008, the Festival has surpassed 6000 spectators in each edition, and has established itself as one of the most important events in the performing arts of the country. This has led him to grow exponentially every year, so, for his best development, it has become a biennial event from 2009.
At the moment the Feast of the Dolls is an event of international projection that allows the public of Guadalajara and other states of the republic to know the art of the puppets in their different representations through first level artistic shows. According to the Institute of Statistical and Geographical Information, the Festival is perceived among the attendees as an event of great artistic and organizational quality. It is also a space for the creation of exchange networks between local and international artists, public and private organizations and a means for the professionalization of the performing arts cultural sector in Jalisco.
RIMA Festival, International Puppet Meetings
Ivory Academy Puppets
Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
This is an annual festival.
https://www.facebook.com/festivalrima/
In October 2018, Ivoire Marionnettes organized the first edition of the International Puppet Meetings, bringing together artists from 9 different countries, 31 shows, a round table, and introductory workshops. It has since become an annual festival.
International Shadow Theater Festival
Artistic Director: Sybille Hirzel
Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
This festival takes place every 3 years. The last festival was in 2024.
schattentheater.de/veranstaltungen-festival.html
Every three years, in October, Schwäbisch Gmünd becomes the "capital of shadow theatre": For a week, performers from all over the world show the fascinating technical and artistic possibilities that light and shadow art has to offer. Founded in 1988, the Schwäbisch Gmünd International Shadow Theater Festival is the oldest and only ongoing festival for contemporary shadow theater worldwide. Nowhere else is there a better opportunity for performers and audiences to experience the development of this centuries-old art form, which touches people to their core, in such a diverse and high-quality form. Performances for young and old are on the extensive program of the festival, which invites you to exchange ideas and encounters in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Internationale Puppentheatertage Mistelbach
Artistic Director: Cordula Nossek
Mistelbach, Austria
puppentheatertage.at
October 21 - 26 2026. This is an annual festival.
Since the festival was founded, more than a quarter of a million spectators have been able to admire the finest international and national puppetry art from 63 countries around the world. On a total of seven festival days with 40 different productions from at least 10 different countries in around 90 performances, Mistelbach is all about puppetry every year - the cultural highlight for all generations in autumn in the Weinviertel, which also enjoys great international popularity and recognition.
International Puppets Festival
Michel Poletti & Lucia Bassetti
Lugano, SWITZERLAND
https://www.musicateatro.net/
October 17 - November 8 2026. This is an annual festival.
The International Puppets Festival takes place in Lugano, Switzerland. There are still some opportunities to participate (mainly shows for kids and families, in Italian, musical or with little text). This festival was created in 1979 by Michèle and Michel Poletti. It's still directed by Michel Poletti, along with Lucia Bassetti. For more information, contact: festival@palco.ch
Pesta Boneka
Papermoon Puppet Theatre
Yogyakarta, INDONESIA
https://pestaboneka.com/?lang=en&id=
This is a biennial festival
Pesta Boneka is an international biennale puppet festival initiated and hosted by Papermoon Puppet Theatre since 2008 in Yogyakarta-Indonesia. Papermoon Puppet Theatre has been well known as contemporary puppetry artists from Indonesiaa who present their works either in Indonesia, or in other countries. Not only attended by puppetry artists, PESTA BONEKA has been a place where people could see how puppets could be messengers who deliver message in many different forms, through many different cultures in many different ways. For the audience and the participants, the warmth of the festival will welcome them, the intimacy will be the thing that they will love. And for the participants, PESTA BONEKA will definitely bring them a very different journey of experiencing the richness of culture, in an intimate way. Not only through performances, there will be plenty of workshops facilitated by international artists, presentation, exhibition and also Cooking session !!!
Titeremurcia
Artistic Directors: Angel Salcedo, Francisca Garcia, Maria Socorro Garcia, Carmen Navarro, Juan Manuel Quiñonero and Aniceto Roca
Murcia, Spain
titeremurcia.com
This is an annual festival.
Titeremurcia, the International Festival of Puppet Theater in the Region of Murcia is an initiative of UNIMA Murcia, Murcia association based in Spain associated with UNIMA and UNIMA International Federation, the oldest international association of theater in the world dedicated to the art of puppetry and recognized by UNESCO. With an annual average of 10,000 spectators and the participation of 14 scenic areas, Titeremurcia has become one of the samples most interesting puppet theater Spanish Southeast, accounting for years an attractive cultural proposal that has achieved year after our year deal main task: to offer in the region of Murcia a range of theater of puppets committed and risky, showing artworks that can hardly be seen in the theater schedules of our environment.
International Festival of Puppetry and Animated Forms - FIMFA Lx
A Tarumba-Teatro de Marionetas
Lisbon , Portugal
https://tarumba.pt/2026/pt/tarumba
This is an annual festival.
The International Festival of Puppetry and Animated Forms - FIMFA Lx is one of the most important festivals of puppetry and theatre in Portugal. Running since 2001, the festival is organized and produced annually by the puppet company A Tarumba-Teatro de Marionetas.
Burattinarte d’Inverno
Artistic Directors: Consuelo Conterno and Claudio Giri
Alba, Piedmont ITALY
https://burattinarte.it/
This is an annual festival.
Great international show of puppetry that for over 20 years has been striving to spread the art of puppets, marionettes, shadows and puppets.
Festival de Casteliers
Artistic Director : Louise Lapointe
Montreal, Qc, Canada
This is an annual festival.
The Festival de Casteliers proposes outstanding works and new creations, selected to offer both adults and children present a panorama of the discipline and its different forms.
Puppet Festival Mississauga
Crane Creations Theatre Company
Mississauga, CANADA
https://cranecreations.ca/event/puppet-festival-mississauga/
March 13 - 21 2027. This is an annual festival.
The festival takes place all over the city of Mississauga. There are more than 15 events happening each year: puppet shows, films, workshops, exhibitions and talks. We carefully curate artists from around the world and across Canada to bring the best events for children to Mississauga. Bridges Festival’s mission is to inspire and ignite imagination, sense of wonder, playfulness and creativity of children and adults alike.
Beverly Puppet Festival
Artistic Directors: Anna Ingleby & Kerrin Tatman
Beverly, UK
This is a biennial festival.
https://www.beverleypuppetfestival.com/
Since 2005, Beverley Puppet Festival has welcomed thousands of audience members to experience the transformative, unique and inclusive world of puppetry. Puppetry is for everyone, not just children. Puppetry creates magic though mixing many artistic disciplines, drawing people of all ages and backgrounds into other worlds. We aim to bring out the adult within the child and the child within the adult, to spark creative and critical thinking, to think outside the box.
Iida Puppet Festa
Iida Puppet Festa Executive Committee
Iida, Nagano, 395-0051 Japan
This is an annual festival.
https://www.instagram.com/iida_puppet_festa/?hl=en
Iida Puppet Festa is the largest festival of puppet shows in Japan, which anyone can participate in. Citizens and Performers create the festa together every August. Professional troupes are active abroad and at home, amateur troupes and student troupes perform each puppet show such as traditional or modern. Various styles of puppet shows gather in Iida, and the city is full of puppet shows. Individual troupes participate in this Festa not only from Japan but also from overseas. Over 480 performances are held at about 120 venues in Iida city. In addition to performances, there are many events such as “Waiwai Parade” or “Wakuwaku Workshop”.
Internationaal micro Festival Dordrecht
Artistic Director: Damiet van Dalsum
Dordrecht, Netherlands
This is an annual festival.
https://www.poppentheaterdamiet.nl/microfestival
During the International Micro festival the audience will see all sorts of little jewels of performances. There are traditional and experimental pieces. You will see a small overview in the area of visual art / object / puppet theater.
Andong Mask Dance Festival
Korea Foundation for Cultures and Ethics
Andong, SOUTH KOREA
https://www.maskdance.com/2024/intro.asp
This is an annual festival.
The abundant cultural heritage of Andong is attributed to the worth-oriented philosophy of the Andong people who have coped with numerous social changes and positively adapted to new cultural traditions. Hence, various elements of Oriental culture have flowed into Andong and been re-synthesized into the distinctive Andong way of life and culture. These socio-cultural, historical and religious heritages are the basis of the Maskdance Festival. We can learn quiet composure and mindfulness through understanding the significance of traditions through the excitement of the Mask dance. Therefore, the mask dance is composed of the experience of Andong culture and joy of the festival like the yin and yang marks in the Korean flag.
Puppet International
Artistic Director: Elly Bakker
Meppel, Netherlands
https://puppetinternational.nl/
This is a biennial festival.
A puppetry festival held in the Netherlands.
La MaMa Puppet Festival
Series Curator: Denise Greber
La MaMa e.t.c.
66 East 4th Street
New York, NY - USA
This is a biennial festival.
https://lamama.org/la-mama-puppet-series/
In 1962, Ellen Stewart invited puppet artists from Korea to perform their production of Head Hunting by Pagoon Kang Wouk. This began La MaMa’s long love affair with all things puppetry. The form has been an integral part of La MaMa's artistic vision ever since. The La MaMa Puppet Series showcases new contemporary puppet theatre by American and international artists in all three of La MaMa's theaters.
Guant - Festival Internacional de Teatre de Titelles de Valls
Valls, Spain
The is an annual festival.
https://festivalguant.cat/
The techniques presented range from the traditional, with glove puppets and son, represented by televising the most 'muppets'. Diversity is a reality artistic and professional sector very own puppets very broad and complex, ranging from puppet shows aimed at younger children to more daring forms of entertainment for young people and adults.
International Pop Arts Festival
Amsterdam, Netherlands
This is an annual festival. We hope this festival will return post-pandemic.
popartsfestival.nl/
Pop Arts Festival is an initiative of Theater Bellevue, De Krakeling and Ostade A’dam and presents the latest in the field of puppetry and object theater from the Netherlands and abroad.
Chuncheon Puppet Festival
Executive Director: Yijaesu (re)
South Korea
This is an annual festival.
www.cocobau.com
A puppetry festival held in South Korea. The 35th Chuncheon Puppet Festival starts with a large-scale puppet parade, and then visits you as the largest puppet festival in Asia where high-quality domestic and foreign puppet shows and various cultural and art experience programs are held.
International Festival of Children's Theatres
Executive Director: Olivera Mudrinic
Subotica - Serbia
This is an annual festival.
https://assitej-international.org/festival/subotica-international-festival-of-childrens-theatres/
International Festival of Children's Theatre in Subotica imposed the widest public theater from the very beginning - thanks, above all, wise and fundamental koncipovanim basic programming principles and principles - as one of the most respected European, but also international festivals, taking so pivotal place in the region of the Western Balkans. When, therefore, in 1994 founded and unfounded volatile and little faith considered this act adventure. Long ago, fortunately, we know that he is not only a reality, but the fact.
Based on the high achievements of contemporary theater aesthetics, directed and facing being and perceptions of young viewers he is offered a repertoire, and how these contributed to the affirmation of the total European and global creative minds in the field, a different understanding of semiotics, and thus the semantics of this type of prikazivaštva . In a word, he knew how to detect, recognize and present the court the general public all the things he cares about artists today in theaters for children. Hence his twenty-two last year and participation of five hundred and fifty dramatic ensembles from forty-six countries actually are not a review, but contribution to the history and anthology of world puppetry and theater for kids, it unequivocally is appointed and is characterized as one of the most important national manifestation of culture of the Republic of Serbia - far beyond its borders.
International Festival of Animated Objects
Artistic Director: Xstine Cook & Peter Balkwill
Calgary, Alberta - Canada
This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2027.
As an incubator and producer of mask, puppetry, and animated objects we are the primary curator and presenter of local, national and international puppetry. We strive to provide Alberta audiences with the chance to experience the breadth and diversity of these innovative art forms.
Vital to the development of puppetry as an art form, the festival not only provides a stage for Alberta creators to showcase their work but is also a forum for an international exchange of ideas providing learning opportunities for professional and emerging artists and the public at large to find expression through animated objects.
PIF, Pupteatra Internacia Festivalo
Kulturni Centar Travno
Zagreb, Republic of Croatia
This is an annual festival.
pif.hr/en/
To date PIF hosted more than 350 pupteatrojn from around the world who presented more than 450 different plays, several of whom were American. In the first PIF UDIs was obligatory to play presentations in Esperanto, but now theaters themselves choose the language in which they play.
Figuresco - Festival de Marionnettes pour enfants
Organized by the Puppet Theatre Workshop, The Turlutaine of La Chaux-de-Fonds, and UNIMA Switzerland
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
This is an annual festival.
figuresco.ch
FIGURESCO is a festival entirely dedicated to children puppets, organized each year by an amateur puppeteers company in collaboration with UNIMA * Switzerland . The festival aims to promote puppetry, which is often the first contact of a child with the theater. In addition, the protagonist puppet shows age-appropriate, enables identification of the child with the characters of the story. By bringing together amateur puppet companies on both sides of the Sarine, the festival is a place of exchange and multicultural interactivity in pleasant places.
MimeLondon
created by Helen Lannaghan and Joseph Seelig
London, England
mimelondon.com/
MimeLondon is a new curatorial project created by Helen Lannaghan and Joseph Seelig, the directors of London International Mime Festival (LIMF) which ended in 2023 after five decades of award-winning success. MimeLondon will support occasional collaborations of contemporary visual theatre in partnership with venues in London. Its first season takes place in Jan/Feb 2024 with 8 productions new to London.
Titirimundi
Directors: July Michel and Marian de Palma
Segovia, Spain
This is an annual festival.
titirimundi.es
The festival promotes puppetry as an art form of traditional roots, which has adapted to the times without losing its popular origin, occupying a prominent place among the avant-garde theater. The puppet theater is now the core of contemporary creation. Created in Segovia in spring 1985, Titirimundi has contributed to the emergence of an art movement of extraordinary creative fertility, also promoting knowledge and universal recognition of the puppet theater.
MANIPULATE Festival
Puppet Animation Scotland
Scotland
This is an annual festival.
puppetanimation.org
MANIPULATE Visual Theatre Festival is produced by Puppet Animation Scotland. We champion visual theatre, puppetry and animation in Scotland. Through manipulate Visual Theatre Festival, we enable audiences and Scottish-based artists to see and engage with world-class visual theatre and animation.
Skipton International Puppet Festival
Artistic Director: Liz and Daniel Lempen
Skipton - England
This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2027/
skiptontownhall.co.uk/projects-partnerships/_skipton-international-puppet-festival/
Since 2005 this cosy market town at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales has become a magnet for puppet enthusiasts. Our biennial celebration showcases puppetry from all over the UK and beyond. With weekends of ticketed and free performances, workshops, exhibitions and a parade, Skipton presents an inspirational melting pot for artists and enthusiasts, offering puppet experiences for every age.
Figuren Theater Festival Basel
Artistic Director: Kathrin Doppler, Marius Kob
Basel - Switzerland
This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2027.
figurentheaterfestival.ch
A puppetry festival held in Basel, Switzerland.
International Puppet Theatre Festival
Director: Victor Boychev
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2027.
pptheatre.com/
1977 State Puppet Theatre - Plovdiv initiated and organized the festival form - "International Review of miniature puppet", which in 1990 assumes the status of an international festival entitled "Two are small - three very" whose goal is to present to specialists and wide audience forum best achievements of the "small form" and be entered with his face in the European and world festival circuit. Since 2012 the festival is a biennale to it is created and side event that brings together under the name "TheatAir". It is aimed at performances and performances in open public spaces and urban character, in order to promote the opportunities of the puppet theater and attract a wide audience. The event has gained great popularity with the help of the Municipality of Plovdiv this module currently is held annually.
Fira de Teatre de Titelles de Lleida
Organized by: Puppet Centre and Lleida City Council
Lleida, Spain
This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2027.
firatitelles.com/
Fair market as puppet shows, theater of objects, masks, shadows and visual, is an annual event bringing together puppeteers, artists, programmers, and users festivals of culture and the world of performing arts.
El Rinconcillo de Cristobica
Granada, Spain
This is an annual festival.
www.festivalrinconcillo.com
The Festival of El Rinconcillo de Cristobica shows the work of different artists, that ways and very different aesthetic, explore various relationships between the manipulator and the manipulated object. Since the depth and wonder, the more light-hearted fun, magic, music, charm, etc., the great masters of puppetry around the world offer technical and ingenuity in the service of a festival that takes place in the Casa-Museo F. García Lorca of Valderrubio each year, and has become an indisputable seal of quality and distinction in origin, sustainability, rigor in the selection of artists, visibility and impact, consolidating as a leader in our community and on the national scene.
Bábkarská Bystrica
Artistic Director: Marian Pecko
Bankska Bystrica, Slovakia
This is a biennial festival.
bdnr.sk/babkarska-bystrica/
The festival belongs to the prestigious cultural events in the Slovak puppet theater and professional theater of international importance. It is the largest festival of puppet theaters in Slovakia and began in 1977.
Fidena International Puppetry Festival
Artistic Director: Annette Dabs
Bochum - Germany
This is a biennial festival.
fidena.de/
The international festival "FIDENA - Puppet Theatre of Nations" is devoted to the art of puppet theater. Over half a century, this traditional festival has existed, has presented more than 1,000 performances of theater groups and artists from 47 countries.
marionNEttes - international festival
Neuchâtel, Switzerland
This is a biennial festival.
festival-marionnettes.ch/
A puppetry festival held in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Figura Theaterfestival Baden
Production manager: Irène Howald
Artistic director: Eveline Gfeller
Baden, Switzerland
This festival is biennial.
figura-festival.ch
Since 1994, the Figura Theatre Festival presents biennial high-profile productions from home and abroad, including many Swiss premieres, in all theaters of Baden and Wettingen and on streets and squares ( "Figura fuori»).
World Puppet Carnival
Executive Director: Rob Petrovic
This is an annual festival, taking place in a different country each year. We hope this festival will return post-pandemic.
worldpuppetcarnival.com
The World Puppet Carnival produces carnivals and festivals around the globe. Our events are seen in theaters, streets, cultural centers, parks, schools and hospitals. Puppeteers are inspired to share their art, culture and customs. We introduce children, families and adults to the magical Art of Puppetry. We fill children’s hearts with love for puppets as an alternative to video and electronic games. We help puppets become a child’s best friend.
With fanfare, performances and a parade, we celebrate Puppet Art. The World Puppet Carnival is a dynamic tool for self-expression and exploration. Carnival is a tool to unite the world; to seek out our roots, develop new ways of looking at the world and its cultures, and finally, a tool to discover and celebrate what we have in common and what makes us different. Together we Celebrate Life. Our World Art Carnival dream is to bring down the wall between the culturally privileged and underprivileged, to celebrate and share humanity’s artistic wealth as widely as possible for the benefit of public, especially the younger generation. World Puppet Carnival helps make our Planet a better place for all people, nations and race to share joy and happiness in their lives.
Festival Marionnettissimo
Tournefeuille - France
This is an annual festival.
marionnettissimo.com/
Kukla Festivali
Artistic Director: Cengiz ÖZEK
Istanbul - Turkey
This is an annual festival.
istanbulkuklafestivali.com/
A puppetry festival held in Istanbul, Turkey.
Izmir International Puppet Days
Artistic Director: Selcuk Dincer
Izmir, Turkey
This is an annual festival. We hope this festival will return post-pandemic.
izmirkuklagunleri.com
This year's festival program will feature 27 puppet theater groups from 32 countries, 64 shows, and 275 performances in 45 showrooms. In the festival program, where an international symposium will take place, one will welcome 5 art exhibitors from Slovenia. Five professional stage performers will enrich the festival program with three workshops for children. Three conferences and an interview will expand our knowledge. There will be exciting hours in the puppet competition between elementary schools. One of the biggest puppet festivals in the world starts in Izmir for the tenth time ...
Festival of Wonder - Silkeborg Dukketeaterfestival
Artistic Director: Ulla Dengsøe
Silkeborg, Denmark
This is a biennial festival.
dukketeaterfestival.dk/
Through the years many exceptional Danish and international theatre groups have performed at the Festival of Wonder - Silkeborg International Puppet Theatre Festival. The festival has presented puppet, object and visual theatre for adults and for children. The organizer’s intention with international theatre is to invite performances which have not previously been shown in Denmark and which add something new and inspiring to the art form of puppetry for the audience as well as the participating theatres. In addition to the performances there are exhibitions, films and workshops. The workshops are designed for professionals, and for other interested individuals of many ages.
Borhnholm Puppet Festival
Artistic Director: Ida Marie Tjalve
Bornholm, Denmark
This is a biennial festival, we hope it will return post-pandemic.
bornholmpuppetfestival.com/
Bornholm Puppet Festival celebrates puppetry for children and adults alike. Puppetry is visual theatre that transcends language with numerous types of expressions and forms such as glove puppets, marionettes, rod puppet, shadow puppets.
Famed for its buzzing artist community Bornholm is a Danish island full of creative minded people. The picturesque island of Bornholm, also known as the "Sunshine Island", situated in the middle of the Baltic Sea is the setting of the Bornholm Puppet Festival. Bornholm is a popular and easy accessible holiday destination close to Poland, Germany, Sweden and the Baltic Nations.
