January 21 - February 1, 2026
Once Again, Puppetry Takes Center Stage!
The 2026 Chicago Puppet Fest will span 12 days and dozens of Chicago venues, presenting an international pageant of puppet artists sharing more than 100 puppetry activities. Get ready for spectacular shows in landmark theaters, intimate works on smaller stages, the always popular late night puppet cabarets, and a long list of free puppet events happening all over the city. Shows often sell out so don’t delay — get your tickets now!
Photo Saverio Truglia
from the artistic director & founder
Welcome to our 8th Edition!
The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival is a celebration of the interconnectedness between people, objects, cultures, and countries. This 8th edition of our Festival is, as always, chock full of astonishing revelations and delightful insights about our selves and others, revealing what it means to be human.
This year you have the opportunity to see the hero in Ram (About Ram), the strength in Nora (A Doll’s House), the brutishness of Roald Dahl’s Crocodile (The Enormous Crocodile), ribald rompings (The Sex Lives of Puppets) alongside stories told from the U.S. in the ignited vision of a NY widow (Harlem Doll Palace), a post war, orphaned girl’s survival (The 4th Witch) a visit to a scifi author LeGuin’s 1960s genderless planet (The Left Hand of Darkness), and the rhinoceros’ journey (Rhynoceron).
Additionally you will find a small collection of short-form, stop-animation puppetry films. This object focused adjacent form provides its own unique wonder and enchantment. While world-renown artists bring Chicago master classes, panel discussions, exhibitions and more. Step inside and enjoy the glow!
2026 festival brochure
Puppetry, Delivered.
Sit back, relax, and map out 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, created by puppet artists from England, France, Norway, Denmark, India, Scotland, South Korea and Spain, plus the U.S. and Chicago.
Need a Place to Stay?
Use code PUPPETFEST2026Â for discount at The Warwick Allerton Hotel. Call (312) 440-1500 for reservations or book online
event quick finder
More than 100 Events over 12 Days!
List of events in Photo View
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Featured January 22, 2026 - January 28, 2026Théâtre de la Massue: La Méridienne / Chef Chris Sullivan of Twilight Kitchen
$125
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2026 FESTIVAL partners
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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!