Welcome!

The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival is the largest of its kind in North America welcoming 22,000+ audience members each January to enjoy 100+ events in just 12 days right in the heart of Chicago’s winter taking place at dozens and dozens of venues in the city. One of Chicago’s favorite staycations and a magnet for international visitors, it’s a great way to see a huge range of fascinating shows – from tiny stages to huge theaters – for adults and whole families – shadow puppetry to bunraku-style – a Festival guaranteed to Astonish & Delight you!

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Festival Productions from Across the U.S. & Around the World

chicago international puppet theater festival

Promoting peace, equality, mutual understanding, and justice locally and globally.

The Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival advances the art of puppetry by presenting sophisticated programs vital to the cultural life of Chicago. Engaging and inspiring the largest and most diverse audiences for puppetry possible, the Festival features performances, workshops, artist intensives, a Free Neighborhood Tour and symposia, and is home to other key initiatives, including the Chicago Puppet Studio and Chicago Puppet Lab, which nurture the development of puppeteers and deepen the field locally, nationally and internationally with the ultimate goal of promoting peace, equality, mutual understanding, and justice locally and globally.