Save the Dates for the Next Festival: Jan 21 - Feb 1, 2026

upcoming events

Join us this Fall!

In addition to the upcoming Festival (January 21 – February 1, 2026), there are many puppetry events to inspire you this fall. Take a live online workshop from anywhere in the world, attend The Living Room Tour fundraisers in Chicago, or join us for professional development opportunities like The Catapult  and Chicago Puppet Lab.

2026 festival brochure

Puppetry, Delivered.

Sit back, relax, and plan your festival experience with our festival brochure—sent out in early January of each year. When you create an account and add your mailing address, this gorgeous booklet will be delivered directly to your home. Cozy up and read about more than 100 performances and events that will Astonish & Delight!

in the heart of winter

Artists from Around the World

The Chicago Puppet Fest is celebrated for consistently excellent and unforgettable puppetry experiences. It is an oasis of fascination and artistry — representing a breadth of style, quality of work and spectacular depth of artistic achievement. This winter, warm up to a wildly diverse range of classic and contemporary puppetry styles from around the world: South Africa, Canada, Chile, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Scotland, Norway, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.

from the artistic director & founder

Welcome to our 8th Edition!

Blowing in like Chicago’s winter, the Chicago Puppet Festival brings a flurry — of puppets! With hundreds of artists and civic leaders working around the globe and here in Chicago to make it happen, we aim to fan a fire in you that inspires your vigor and heats your soul. We offer a unique and broad range of work from around our planet. More info and lineup coming soon! Join our mailing list and be the first the know when tickets go on sale.

2025 FESTIVAL partners

give us a boost

How it Happens: With Your Support

The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival exists because of the generous donations of our partners and friends. To ensure the future vitality of the Festival, please make a donation online today!

breaking news

Chicago Puppet Festival Launches Online Archive

Whether you are a puppeteer, a scholar, or a fan, you are welcome to immerse yourself in our free archive to gain inspiration, read deeply about puppetry performances, learn new skills, or appreciate a culture that may be different from your own. This archive is helping to redefine the mainstream understanding of puppetry and foster enduring cross-cultural understanding in a pluralistic world.

This project is made possible by generous funding from the Walder Foundation.