Puppetry This WeekA living guide
Curated every Sunday
A living guide to performances, screenings, workshops and the people bringing characters to life—wherever they appear.
From Mike · Optional weekly note
Every now and then, one of these events will connect directly to my own work—a screening I’m joining, a convention appearance, or a project involving old friends. When it does, I’ll leave you a short note here so you know why it caught my eye.
Sunday edition · 30 August 2026
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeLittle Angel Theatre / British UNIMAMFree exhibition · Marionette heritage
Little Angel Workshop · Islington, London
Little Angel Theatre opens its historic collection to the public for the first time in a generation, bringing together six decades of British string-puppet making. Free; advance booking advised.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safePuppet Theatre Barge3Family performance · Floating theatre
Puppet Theatre Barge · Richmond, London
The UK’s only floating puppet theatre returns to Richmond with a family show for ages 4–10, performed aboard its beautifully converted barge.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safePhoto: Manuel Harlan / RSCTWest End theatre · Large-scale puppetry
Gillian Lynne Theatre · London
The RSC’s multi-award-winning stage adaptation has announced its final extension, combining a large puppetry ensemble with Basil Twist’s creature work and Improbable’s theatrical craft.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safePuppet Place 4848Online challenge · Puppet filmmaking
Online · 48-hour worldwide challenge
Makers of every experience level have 48 hours to devise, build, film, edit, score and submit an original puppet film from three surprise prompts. Registration is open.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeBognor Regis Town Council / Punch & Judy ClubPFree seaside festival · Family
Royal Norfolk Hotel Gardens · Bognor Regis
A free celebration featuring Punch and Judy, marionettes, rod and glove puppets, ventriloquism, street entertainment and the returning Puppets on Parade variety show.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeCenter for Puppetry ArtsSAdult performance · Short-form puppetry
Center for Puppetry Arts · Atlanta, Georgia
One weekend of original short-form puppetry by artists from across the United States, gathering pieces nominated by regional slams into one deliberately varied evening.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeCenter for Puppetry Arts✂Hands-on workshop · Ages 13+
Center for Puppetry Arts · Atlanta, Georgia
Turn a costume sketch into a usable pattern on a provided foam puppet body. The beginner-friendly class covers shaping, draping and pattern-making and is limited to 12 places.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safe© Apple · Courtesy Apple & The Jim Henson CompanyHMajor exhibition · Henson · Cinema
Gallery of Modern Art · Brisbane
Hundreds of puppets, animatronics, props, costumes and drawings—including the world-first display of the Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Great Hall set. Lisa Henson appears for an opening-day conversation on 12 September.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safePhoto: Thanassi Karageorgiou / MoMI90Screenings · Guests · Workshops
Museum of the Moving Image · New York City
Four days marking what would have been Jim Henson’s 90th year, with special guests, screenings, workshops, tours, fan art, a collectibles swap meet and live music.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeNew York Comic ConNYComic con · Autographs · Photo ops
Javits Center · New York City
Matt Vogel, Dave Goelz and Bill Barretta are among the officially announced guests offering photo ops and autographs—easy to miss inside the enormous convention programme.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safePhoto: Hervé Dapremont / Temps d’MMFestival · Shows · Making workshops
Charleville-Mézières
Five days in the home of the world puppetry festival: 23 shows, 65 performances, eight puppet-making workshops and four professional gatherings.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeLjubljana Puppet TheatreLInternational biennial · Contemporary puppetry
Venues across Ljubljana
The 18th biennial brings 28 performances from 13 countries to Ljubljana, from classic animation to material performance, visual theatre and robotic forms.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeMelbourne Festival of PuppetryMFFestival · Film · Workshops · Masterclasses
Multiple venues · Melbourne
Six days spanning children’s and adult performance, a puppet-film programme at ACMI, workshops for young people, adult masterclasses and free events.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeWorld Shadow Art Festival影Shadow puppetry · Workshops · Live music
PUK Puppet Theatre · Shinjuku, Tokyo
Artists from Japan, Canada and Indonesia present five productions over two days, alongside workshops, interactive exhibits and live gamelan and violin music.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeSydney Opera House / Handa’s Surprise7Australian premiere · Puppetry · Artist talk
Sydney Opera House · Sydney
Little Angel Theatre’s immersive puppet safari combines physical performance, live music and song. The 11:45am performance on 2 October includes a post-show artist discussion.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safePhoto: Shannon Herrick / Sandglass TheaterVTInternational festival · Shows · Forums
Brattleboro area · Vermont
America’s longest continually running international puppet-theatre festival offers family and adult shows, workshops and forum discussions around southern Vermont.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeInternational Puppet Theatre Festival PIF59International festival · Theatre · Workshops
Venues across Zagreb
The long-running international festival fills Zagreb with theatre performances, street work, exhibitions, workshops and puppetry-on-film events for children and adults.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeString TheatreBTouring show · Marionette theatre
Rossendale · Norwich · Diss · London
String Theatre’s touring production visits Horse + Bamboo, Norwich Puppet Theatre, The Corn Hall in Diss and Longfield Hall in London during September.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeCenter for Puppetry Arts24Special exhibition · Stop-motion animation
Center for Puppetry Arts · Atlanta, Georgia
More than 80 original puppets, sets and production elements take visitors behind the scenes of stop-motion films and television—from Pinocchio to Fantastic Mr. Fox.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeBritish Puppet GuildGOnline events · Ventriloquism · Make-A-Thon
Online · Guild members worldwide
The Guild welcomes ventriloquist Steve Hewlett online on 16 October, followed by a members-only weekend Make-A-Thon on 14–15 November for building, research, writing and performance practice.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safePADDINGTON The MusicalPBWest End musical · Puppetry & animatronics
Savoy Theatre · London
Paddington’s expressive character combines live physical performance, an animatronic bear design and remote puppetry. The hit musical is now playing, with the best availability currently from 2027.
Official publicity imageMQS artwork · rights-safeCenter for Puppetry ArtsHMuseum · Permanent Henson collection
Center for Puppetry Arts · Atlanta, Georgia
A permanent exhibition of iconic puppets, props and stories from The Muppets, Sesame Street and more, with selected objects rotating periodically.
Permanent source watch
Recurring screenings, museum programmes, guild news and returning guests can become watch subjects. Dates are only published after fresh verification.
A tidy image system
For fans
Screenings, live orchestras, conventions, guest appearances and those delightful surprises hidden inside much bigger events.
For makers
Workshops, craft conversations and professional opportunities—with a natural bridge to Secrets of Puppetry Academy.
How trust is built