I warmly invite you to take part in the 12th International Festival of Puppetry Schools PUPPETNOPUPPET, which will be held in Białystok, Poland, from 23 to 27 June 2026.

The event is organised by The Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw, Branch Campus in Białystok, and brings together students of puppetry and young artists from around the world.

 

PUPPETNOPUPPET is a non-competitive festival — a space for meeting, exchanging experiences, and engaging in creative dialogue among young puppetry artists from different countries. For over twenty years, the festival has united diverse forms of animated theatre, embracing both contemporary artistic explorations and traditional puppetry techniques. It is a celebration of animated theatre, founded on openness, collaboration, and mutual inspiration.

 

The theme of this year’s edition is FUTURE, reflecting on the development of puppetry theatre and exploring the possibilities offered by new technologies, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, 3D printing, and mechanical or animatronic forms. At the same time, the theme encourages dialogue with classical theatrical methods and forms, which remain a living source of inspiration.

 

We warmly welcome applications and look forward to meeting you in Białystok and co-create a space for an international gathering of young artists working in animated theatre.

 

Participation requires completing an Application Form [external link], which will be reviewed by the Scientific Council.

The deadline for applications is 16 March 2026.

 

In October 2025, a scientific conference preceding the 2026 Festival was held. We encourage you to watch the conference recording – it can help you better prepare for the festival and may serve as a source of inspiration. Conference recording [link]

 

See you in Białystok,

Artistic Director of the Festival

 

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