Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival

Artistic Director: Blair Thomas

Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
Chicago, IL - USA
chicagopuppetfest.org

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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is January 15th - January 26th

January 15 - 26, 2025

La MaMa Puppet Festival

Series Curator: Denise Greber

La MaMa e.t.c.
66 East 4th Street
New York, NY - USA
lamama.org/shows/puppet-series-2024

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.

This is a biennial festival.

Puppetopia *

Dream Music Puppetry

HERE
145 6th Ave
New York, NY
here.org/

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 (2024)

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

Puppets in the Green Mountains

Sandglass Theater

Puppets in the Green Mountains
17 Kimball Hill, Putney, VT 05346
Brattleboro & Putney, VT
puppetsinthegreenmountains.net

Sandglass Theater announces its 12th Puppets in the Green Mountains (PGM) international festival, September 7th-15th, 2024. Local and international artists and community leaders bring to life this year’s theme: Just Around the Bend, which will investigate the relationship between evolving technologies and embodied knowledge through the dynamic artform of Puppet Theater. This year will include award-winning performances from Germany, Spain, Canada, Puerto Rico, and across the USA, and a world premiere of a new Sandglass production.

This is a biennial festival.

September 7 - 15, 2024

$10-$25

Minneapolis Puppetry Palate: A Taste of Puppetry

Great Plains Regional Puppet Festival

Minneapolis Puppetry Palate: A Taste of Puppetry
Minneapolis, MN - USA
sites.google.com/view/minneapolispuppetrypalate/register

A four-day festival of puppetry performances, workshops, studio tours, community-building and much, much more!

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2026

August 15 - 18, 2024

Puget Sound Puppetry Festival

Socks on my Hands Productions

1617 Yale Ave #307
Seattle, WA
socksonmyhands.org/festivalschedule

We are excited to invite you to our 2024 edition scheduled to be held September 11th-14th in the historic Seattle neighborhood of Columbia City. The festival offers over multiple performances by local and visiting artists, creative workshops for all ages, a special Jim Henson: Life and Legacy Poster Exhibit, a puppet parade, Seattle Community Puppet Day, and multiple events ranging from the opening party, a special film screening, to a late-night puppet dance rave.

This is an annual festival.

September 11 - 14, 2024

Puppet Homecoming 2024 - Puppets are Gorges

Puppeteers of America Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Puppet Festival

Puppet Homecoming 2024
Ithaca Commons
Ithaca, NY

Puppet Homecoming will take place in downtown Ithaca NY - highlighting some of the best puppetry in the region as well as showcasing local puppet talent. We will invite workshop teachers from the region to teach workshops in the morning, and in the afternoons, we will have public shows with family friendly themes. There will be repeat performances to accommodate all festival goers and the local community. In the evenings, we will have adult puppet shows, a Slam, and a Potpourri event. The festival will begin Friday, November 1st and close on Sunday, November 3rd, in the afternoon. We will also plan to have a Professional Day from Puppetry in Education and Therapy on Monday, November 4th. In addition, there will be a giant puppet parade led by Cheryl Capezzuti, a pop-up puppet market for our puppetry store, and a busking event throughout the commons. Our artistic director, Lily Gershon, envisions a celebration which brings together the local puppet community that they've been building in the Ithaca area and all the regional artists coming together. The goal is to foster the friendships and support systems that make the puppet community so unique and lovely, while seeing some fun, joyful, and dynamic shows. Director: Homeslice (Eric Weiss), Artistic Directors: Lily Gershon & Matt Ocone

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2026

November 1 - 3, 2024

Galveston Loves Puppets

Puppeteers of America Southwest Regional Puppet Festival

Galveston Loves Puppets
Rosenberg Library
Galveston, TX
puppeteers.org/event-5657800

Puppet shows and workshops at the Rosenberg Library in Galveston with free admission on Friday and Saturday. Director: Leo Velasquez

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2026

November 7 - 9, 2024

Puppets in Paradise

Sandglass Theater

The Retreat Farm
45 Farmhouse Square
Brattleboro, VT
sandglasstheater.org/special-events//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. This year Sandglass welcomes an exciting roster of first-time and returning performers including Stoph Scheer, Sam and Friends, CactusHead Puppets, Jeghetto’s Entertainment, Sova Puppet and Dance Theater, Break-Fast Puppets, and Sandglass Theater, among others. This year will also feature a special community project involving a field of dancing sheep.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

$8 - $24

New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival

Various

Photo by: Matt Scott

Mudlark Public Theater
1200 Port St
New Orleans, LA
neworleansgiantpuppetfest.com/
504-872-8984

We are back with MORE puppets than ever! After 9 successful gatherings it’s time for the 10TH ANNUAL NEW ORLEANS GIANT PUPPET FEST!!! 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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for Spring 2025.

National Puppetry Festival

Puppeteers of America

USA
puppeteers.org/national-puppetry-festival

Produced by the national organization Puppeteers of America, the National Puppetry Festival is a multi-day event that hosts performances, workshops, panel discussions, and more!

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for summer 2025.

International Puppet Fringe Festival NYC

Teatro SEA, The Clemente & The Moran Group

The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Educational Center
107 Suffolk Street
New York, NY
puppetfringenyc.com

The International Puppet Fringe Festival NYC (also stylised as IPFFNYC or Puppet Fringe NYC) is a biennial puppet theater fringe festival hosted by Teatro SEA in the Lower East Side of New York City. The festival had its 1st edition in 2018, at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center, and featured puppet shows, short films and artist talks with international puppet theater companies. The Puppet Fringe Festival is the first ever international fringe festival dedicated to puppetry.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

New York State Puppet Festival

Photo by: Richard Termine

Theatre@37
37 South Main St.
Perry, NY
newyorkstatepuppetfestival.org/
501-350-6340

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. In June 2024 the Festival will be presenting Shayna Strype, Tom Lee, Concrete Temple Theatre, Jeghetto, Dorothy James & Andy Manjuck.

This is an biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2026.

Skirball Puppet Festival

A World of Dreams

Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N Sepulveda Blvd
Los Angeles, CA
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!

This is an annual day-long Festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

Adult $20 / Senior & Student $15 / Children 2-17 $13

Show of Hands Puppet Festival

Visionaries + Voices

Cincinnati, OH
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!

The last festival was held fall 2023.

Iida Puppet Festa

Iida Puppet Festa Executive Committee

Photo by: Sara Tanikawa, poster design

Iida Puppet Festa
5-5-1, Takaha-cho
Iida, Nagano, 395-0051 Japan
en.iida-puppet.com/

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”.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

August 1 - 4, 2024

Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival

Artistic Director: Noreen Young, O.C.

Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival
Almonte, Ontario - Canada
puppetsup.ca/

Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival provides great entertainment for grown-ups and children of all ages! Many of our puppet shows and street entertainers are meant for the very young, while others will keep the 8- and 9-year-olds fully engaged. Nearly all of our activities happen within the downtown core of historic Almonte, along our main street, Mill Street.

This is an annual festival, the next festival will take place in 2024.

August 9 - 11, 2024

Summer Puppet Pier

Maribor Puppet Theatre

Maribor - Slovenia
lg-mb.si/en/festivals/

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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for August 2024.

August 17 - September 1, 2024

Chuncheon Puppet Festival

Executive Director: Yijaesu (re)

South Korea
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 .

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

September 6 - 11, 2024

PIF, Pupteatra Internacia Festivalo

Kulturni Centar Travno

Pupteatra Internacia Festivalo
Zagreb - Republic of Croatia
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.

This is an annual festival, the next festival will take place in 2024.

September 13 - 19, 2024

Internationaal micro Festival Dordrecht

Artistic Director: Damiet van Dalsum

Internationaal micro Festival Dordrecht
Dordrecht, Netherlands
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.

This is an annual festival, with the next festival slated for 2024.

September 13 - 15, 2024

International Festival of Children's Theatres

Executive Director: Olivera Mudrinic

International Festival of Children's Theatres
Subotica - Serbia
lutfestsubotica.net/

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.

This is an annual festival.

September 22 - 27, 2024

Andong Mask Dance Festival

Korea Foundation for Cultures and Ethics

Andong, SOUTH KOREA
maskdance.com/eng/main.asp

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.

This is an annual Festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

September 27 - October 6, 2024

Incanti International Figure Theatre Festival

Incanti International Figure Theatre Festival
Torino, ITALY
festivalincanti.it/en/

INCANTI is a festival dedicated to Puppet Theatre for adults, with particular emphasis on Shadow Theatre. The festival offers both traditional shows and productions which provide an international spectrum of innovative experimental work in which music, poetry and the visual arts intersect with fantasy and creative freedom. Incanti started in 1994 from an initiative of Controluce Teatro d’Ombre with the support of the Regione Piemonte and with the collaboration of Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea; over the years, they were joined by MiBACT, Compagnia di San Paolo, Città di Torino, Fondazione CRT, Comune di Grugliasco,the Teatro Stabile Foundation of Turin and the Fondazione Teatro Ragazzi e Giovani onlus.
INCANTI's goal is the dissemination and promotion of Puppet Theatre in Piedmont and in Italy, primarily for an adult audience, but apart from the main programme there is a section devoted to schools (in collaboration with the Municipality of Grugliasco) and some educational projects, with the dual aim of teaching and production, have also been developed: the Shadow Theatre Workshop at the Castello di Rivoli, the Production Incanti Project (PIP), the Accademia Project, in collaboration with foreign Theatre Schools having Puppet Theater departments, and the Cantiere Project, aimed at emerging italian companies.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for September 2024

September 30 - October 13, 2024

Figur i Fossekleiva International Puppet Theater Festival

Fossekleiva Kultursenter
Bergerveien 2, 3075
Berger, NORWAY
figurifossekleiva.no/

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!

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

October 4 - 13, 2024

Bábkarská Bystrica

Artistic Director: Marian Pecko

Bábkarská Bystrica
Bankska Bystrica - Slovakia
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.

This is a biennial festival.

October 4 - 9, 2024

International Shadow Theater Festival

Artistic Director: Sybille Hirzel

International Shadow Theater Festival
Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
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.

This festival takes place every 3 years, with the next festival slated for 2024.

October 11 - 17, 2024

International Puppets Festival

Michel Poletti & Lucia Bassetti

Lugano, SWITZERLAND
musicateatro.net/1/

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

This is an annual festival.

October 19 - November 10, 2024

Internationale Puppentheatertage Mistelbach

Artistic Director: Cordula Nossek

Mistelbach, Austria
puppentheatertage.at

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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

October 22 - 27, 2024

RIMA Festival, International Puppet Meetings

Ivory Academy Puppets

RIMA Festival, International Puppet Meetings
Côte d'Ivoire, Africa
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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

October 24 - 26, 2024

ANIMA IF Festival Internazionale di Teatro di Figura

Calgiari ITALY
Nuoro, ITALY
ismascareddas.it

Mornings dedicated to schools, afternoons for families and evenings for adults only. World-renowned artists, experts in the field of puppetry. Shadow theater, puppets, puppets, puppets and objects.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

October 24 - 27, 2024

Pesta Boneka

Papermoon Puppet Theatre

Yogyakarta, INDONESIA
pestaboneka.com/

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 !!!

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

October 25 - 27, 2024

Puppet International

Artistic Director: Elly Bakker

Meppel - Netherlands
puppetinternational.nl/

A puppetry festival held in the Netherlands.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2022.

October 30 - November 3, 2024

Titeremurcia

Artistic Directors: Angel Salcedo, Francisca Garcia, Maria Socorro Garcia, Carmen Navarro, Juan Manuel Quiñonero and Aniceto Roca

Titeremurcia
Murcia - Spain
titeremurcia.com

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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for November 2024.

November 1 - 11, 2024

marionNEttes - international festival

Neuchâtel - Switzerland
festival-marionnettes.ch/

A puppetry festival held in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

November 1 - 10, 2024

Festival of Wonder - Silkeborg Dukketeaterfestival

Artistic Director: Ulla Dengsøe

Festival of Wonder - Silkeborg Dukketeaterfestival
Silkeborg - Denmark
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.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for November 2024.

November 7 - 10, 2024

Festival Marionnettissimo

Tournefeuille - France
marionnettissimo.com/

This is an annual festival.

November 19 - 24, 2024

International Puppet and Figure Festival: Arrivano Dal Mare!

Teatro del Drago

Ravenna - Italy
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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

May 14 - 18, 2025

World Puppet Festival & 25th UNIMA Congress

UNIMA - Union Internationale de la Marionnette

World Puppet Festival - 25th UNIMA Congress
Chuncheon, South Korea
unima.org/en/

The 24th edition of the UNIMA World Congress and the World Puppetry Festival will take place in Chuncheon, South Korea in 2025

This festival takes place every four years.

May 23 - June 1, 2025

FIAMS | International Festival of Puppetry Arts in Saguenay

Artistic Direfctor: Dany Lefrançois

Saguenay (Quebec) Canada
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.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

July 21 - 27, 2025

Festival Mondial des Theatres de Marionnettes

Artistic Director: Anne-Francoise Cabanis

Festival Mondial des Theatres de Marionnettes
Charleville-Mezieres - France
festival-marionnette.com/

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.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival will be September 2025.

September 16 - 24, 2025

International Puppet Festival The Golden Dolphin

Varna - Bulgaria
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.

This is a triennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

October 1 - 7, 2025

W.P. Puppet Power: Festival of Ideas

Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
wppuppet.com/puppet-power

The Festival of Ideas Art Series conferences focus on applied puppetry - puppetry beyond performance - and explores the theory and practice of how puppetry arts promote positive social change. The conferences feature local, Canadian, and international master puppeteers presenting inspiring talks, practical how-to workshops, and/or puppetry-based performances. Panelists discuss intriguing ideas, peers mentor peers, and a community is created that calls for action on a different social issue theme each year. The event is aimed at helping professionals (teachers, social workers, therapists, health care workers) who use or are interested in using puppetry in their practices, artists looking for professional development (ideas, to expand or deepen their practice as they network with general attendees and/or meet/share ideas with the master presenters), and thought leaders, idea generators, and students who contribute to and are interested in current events and social issues of our time.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

November 24 - 25, 2025

Guant - Festival Internacional de Teatre de Titelles de Valls

Valls - Spain
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.

The is an annual festival, the next festival is slated for 2024.

Jerusalem Puppet Festival

The Train Theater (Israel)

Jerusalem, Israel
traintheater.co.il/en/festivals/about

The Festival offers a range of performances for children and adults, from contemporary and traditional puppet theater to object and character theater, from local and international companies. Since its creation, the Festival has hosted many well-known artists from the world of puppet theater from Israel and around the world, gaining international acclaim. The aim of the festival is to promote the contemporary puppet theater vernacular with an emphasis on a personal, modern, high-quality theatrical language in all its component parts. The Train Theater produces original performances for children, and during the festival presents shows for a wide age range, from toddlers to adult audiences.

This is an annual festival. The next festival will be in August 2024.

Melbourne Festival of Puppetry

La MaMa Australia

205 Faraday Street
Carlton VIC, Australia
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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

Festival Internatiocional De Titeres Y Artes Vivas de Guadalajara

Festival Internacional de Títeres de Guadalajara

Festín de los muñecos, Festival Internacional de Títeres de Guadalajara
Guadalajara, MEXICO
titiriguada.org

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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

Kukla Festivali

Artistic Director: Cengiz ÖZEK

Kukla Festivali
Istanbul - Turkey
istanbulkuklafestivali.com/

A puppetry festival held in Istanbul, Turkey.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2024.

Figuresco - Festival de Marionnettes pour enfants

Organized by the Puppet Theatre Workshop, The Turlutaine of La Chaux-de-Fonds, and UNIMA Switzerland

Figuresco - Festival de Marionnettes pour enfants
La Chaux-de-Fonds - Switzerland
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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for Fall 2025.

International Puppet Theatre Festival named after Sergey Obraztsov

Obraztsov Puppet Theatre

3 Sadovaya-Samotechnaya Street 127473 Moscow Russia
Moscow
puppet.ru/obraztsovfest
007-495-6998 x664

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.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

International Festival of Puppetry and Animated Forms - FIMFA Lx

A Tarumba-Teatro de Marionetas

International Festival of Puppetry and Animated Forms - FIMFA Lx
Lisbon - Portugal
tarumba.pt

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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

Fresh Ideas in Puppetry Conference & Festival

Puppetmongers Theatre

Photo by: Curt O'Neil

Puppetmongers Studio
Unit W-23 at 388 Carlaw Avenue
Toronto, Canada
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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

$10-$40

Harmony World Puppet Festival, Thailand

Harmony Puppet Thailand

Harmony World Puppet Festival, Thailand
Phetchaburi, Thailand
facebook.com/HarmonyPuppetTH/
662-956-4180

The Harmony Puppet Festival Project was launched in 2013 by the Semathai Marionette Arts for Social Foundation, with the approach of creating a space for learning the art of puppeteering at The Amphawa Chaipattananurak Conservation Project in the Amphawa District of Samut Songkram, Thailand. It created the current model of using regional identities to reach out to individuals who would otherwise have limited access to art. In its first year, the project drew a lot of attention from international puppeteers who expressed interested in its ability to provide the knowledge necessary for youth puppeteer development.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

Festival de Casteliers

Artistic Director : Louise Lapointe

Festival de Casteliers
222-999, avenue McEachran
Montreal, Qc, Canada
casteliers.ca

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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for March 2025.

Newcastle Puppetry Festival

Moving Parts Arts

Newcastle, UK
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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

Burattinarte d’Inverno

Artistic Directors: Consuelo Conterno and Claudio Giri

Burattinarte d’Inverno
Alba, Piedmont ITALY
burattinarte.it/

Great international show of puppetry that for over 20 years has been striving to spread the art of puppets, marionettes, shadows and puppets.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

Puppet Festival Mississauga

Crane Creations Theatre Company

Bridges Festival
Mississauga, CANADA
cranecreations.ca/event/puppet-festival-mississauga/

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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for March 2025.

International Festival of Animated Objects

Artistic Director: Xstine Cook & Peter Balkwill

Calgary, Alberta - Canada
puppetfestival.ca

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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

Skipton International Puppet Festival

Artistic Director: Liz and Daniel Lempen

Skipton International Puppet Festival
Skipton - England
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.

This is a biennial festival, the next festival is slated for 2025

Nottingham Puppet Festival

Partnership between City Arts, Nottingham and Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall

Nottingham, UK
nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk/

Nottingham comes to life with puppetry of every kind in all corners of the city. This city-wide, community-focused Festival is a celebration of puppets and people. Throughout each festival, we find a way to fill every corner of the city with puppetry performances from local, national and international artists. We commission new work, bring small and large-scale puppetry to the streets, and present workshops, talks and screenings from key figures in the puppetry world.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for April 2025.

The international figuren.theatre.festival

City of Erlangen – Cultural Office

The international figuren.theatre.festival
Erlangen, Nürnberg, Fürth, Schwabach
GERMANY
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.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

MANIPULATE Festival

Puppet Animation Scotland

manipulate
Scotland
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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

MimeLondon

created by Helen Lannaghan and Joseph Seelig

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.

The next season is slated for 2025

Figuren Theater Festival Basel

Artistic Director: Kathrin Doppler, Marius Kob

Figuren Theater Festival Basel
Basel - Switzerland
figurentheaterfestival.ch

A puppetry festival held in Basel, Switzerland.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

International Puppet Theatre Festival

Director: Victor Boychev

Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

Titirimundi

Directors: July Michel and Marian de Palma

Titirimundi
Segovia, Spain
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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for Spring 2025.

El Rinconcillo de Cristobica

El Rinconcillo de Cristobica
Granada, Spain
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.

This is an annual festival, the next festival will be in Spring 2025.

Fira de Teatre de Titelles de Lleida

Organized by: Puppet Centre and Lleida City Council

fira de teatre de titelles de lleida
Lleida, Spain
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.

This is an annual festival. The next festival is slated for 2025.

Beverly Puppet Festival

Artistic Directors: Anna Ingleby & Kerrin Tatman

Beverly, UK
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.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2026.

Fidena International Puppetry Festival

Artistic Director: Annette Dabs

Fidena International Puppetry Festival
Bochum - Germany
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.

This is a biennial festival. The next festival is slated for 2026.

Figura Theaterfestival Baden

Production manager: Irène Howald, Artistic director: Eveline Gfeller

Figura Theaterfestival Baden
Baden - Switzerland
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»).

This festival is biennial. The next festival will take place in 2026.

International Pop Arts Festival

International Pop Arts Festival
Amsterdam - Netherlands
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 objecttheater from the Netherlands and abroad.

This is an annual festival. We hope this festival will return post-pandemic.

World Puppet Carnival

Executive Director: Rob Petrovic

World Puppet Carnival
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.

This is an annual festival, taking place in a different country each year. We hope this festival will return post-pandemic.

Borhnholm Puppet Festival

Artistic Director: Ida Marie Tjalve

Borhnholm Puppet Festival
Bornholm, Denmark
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.

This is a biennial festival, we hope it will return post-pandemic.

Izmir International Puppet Days

Artistic Director: Selcuk Dincer

Izmir International Puppet Days
Izmir - Turkey
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 ...

This is an annual festival. We hope this festival will return post-pandemic.