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!
festival promo video
See What's Coming!
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 from around the world. Take a look at our video preview to see what’s coming!Â
Blair Thomas, Artistic Director & Founder
Photo Saverio Truglia
welcome to our 8th edition
Dear Human!
Who better than the puppet to startle us awake? Who better to shake us free from the mire of our daily living and stir the deep knowledge of our shared humanity? This 8th edition of our Festival is, as always, chock full of astonishing revelations and delightful insights about our selves and others, revealing and revelling in 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 we bring a unique dinner + puppetry experience from France this year as well as brand new works and premieres from Chicago artists—notably the wildly-popular Manual Cinema. Meanwhile, world-renown artists bring to Chicago: master classes, panel discussions, exhibitions and more.  Step inside and enjoy the glow!
Need a Place to Stay?
Use code PUPPETFEST2026Â for discount at The Warwick Allerton Hotel. Call (312) 440-1500 for reservations or book online
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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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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!