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.
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
Prof. Artur Dwulit
Festival Office
12th International Festival of Puppetry Schools PUPPETNOPUPPET 2026
The Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw
Branch Campus in Białystok
14 Henryk Sienkiewicz St.
15-092 Białystok
Poland
Organizatorami Festiwalu są Akademia Teatralna im. Aleksandra Zelwerowicza w Warszawie Filia w Białymstoku oraz Białostockie Stowarzyszenie Artystów Lalkarzy / The organizers of the Festival are Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Acedemy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw – Branch Campus in Białystok and Białystok Puppeteers Association.
Partnerzy / Partners: Białostocki Ośrodek Kultury, Białostocki Teatr Lalek, Galeria Arsenał, Muzeum Pamięci Sybiru, Nie Teatr, Opera i Filharmonia Podlaska, Politechnika Białostocka, Uniwersytet w Białymstoku
Honorowy Patronat Marszałka Województwa Podlaskiego / Honorary Patronage of the Marshal of the Podlaskie Voivodeship
Honorowy Patronat Prezydenta Miasta Białegostoku / Honorary Patronage of the President of the City of Białystok
The controller of personal data, where such data are processed, is The Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw. More information on the processing of personal data can be found on the Academy’s website. If you have any questions, please contact the Data Protection Officer at iod[at]e-at.edu.pl or at the Academy’s registered office.
Rules and Regulations / Regulamin 
Regulations of The Animated Film Screening / Regulamin Przeglądu filmów animowanych