Where:
CTA Gorizia
Grado
Alpe Adria Puppet Festival 2026
The Alpe Adria Puppet Festival returns to bring the summer of Grado to life from 17 to 22 August, transforming its narrow streets, squares and gardens into a large open-air stage dedicated to puppetry and visual theatre. Now in its 35th edition, the festival offers free performances for children, families and enthusiasts, featuring marionettes, hand puppets, shadow theatre and object theatre from a variety of Italian and international artistic companies. This year’s theme is travel, understood as a journey of discovery, imagination and encounter. The programme includes more than twenty events, including performances, workshops and national premieres, with a particular focus on the Storie di mare (“Stories of the Sea”) project, which combines theatre, myths and local traditions in the spaces of the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology of the Upper Adriatic in Grado. Alongside the events hosted in Grado, the festival also extends to other municipalities in Friuli Venezia Giulia through the traditional Vetrine del Festival (“Festival Showcases”), involving Cividale del Friuli, Turriaco, San Canzian d’Isonzo, San Floriano del Collio, Farra d’Isonzo and Gorizia. In this way, the festival strengthens the bond between culture, the local area and its communities, bringing the magic of puppetry and visual theatre to different towns across the region. Organised by CTA – Centro Teatro Animazione e Figure of Gorizia, the Alpe Adria Puppet Festival is one of the region’s most significant cultural events of the summer, engaging audiences of all ages in an atmosphere of wonder, creativity and imagination.
The Alpe Adria Puppet Festival returns to liven up Grado's summer from August 17th to 22nd, transforming its streets, squares, and gardens into a vast open-air stage dedicated to puppet theater. Now in its 35th year, the festival offers free performances for children, families, and enthusiasts, featuring marionettes, puppets, shadow theater, and object theater from a variety of Italian and international artistic circles.
This year's theme is travel, understood as discovery, imagination, and encounter. The program includes over twenty events, including performances, workshops, and national premieres, with a special focus on the "Stories of the Sea" project, which intertwines theater, myths, and local traditions within the National Museum of Underwater Archaeology of the Upper Adriatic in Grado.
In addition to the events hosted in Grado, the festival also extends to other municipalities in Friuli Venezia Giulia through the traditional "Festival Showcases," involving Cividale del Friuli, Turriaco, San Canzian d'Isonzo, San Floriano del Collio, Farra d'Isonzo, and Gorizia. In this way, the event strengthens the connection between culture, territory, and community, bringing the magic of puppet theater to various towns across the region.
Organized by the CTA - Centro Teatro Animazione e Figure di Gorizia, the Alpe Adria Puppet Festival is one of the most significant cultural events of the regional summer, engaging spectators of all ages in an atmosphere of wonder, creativity, and imagination.
PLAN
Monday 17th
10:00 a.m.
Dream Constellation - "The Street of Desires"
F. Marin Civic Library
Workshop for children aged 6 to 15 and their parents, max 15 participants.
Reservations required. Email: biblioteca@comunegrado.it Tel: 0431 82630
edited by Emanuele Bertossi and CTA Gorizia
9:00 PM
Alberto De Bastiani - "The Secret of Harlequin and Pulcinella"
Patriarch Elias Camp
Puppetry, puppetry for all ages, 45 minutes. In case of rain, the show will be rescheduled at the Biagio Marin Auditorium.
edited by CTA Gorizia
Tuesday 18th
10:00 a.m.
Dream Constellation - "The Street of Desires"
F. Marin Civic Library
Workshop for children aged 6 to 15 and their parents, max 15 participants.
Reservations required. Email: biblioteca@comunegrado.it Tel: 0431 82630
edited by Emanuele Bertossi and CTA Gorizia
6:00 PM
Company is mascareddas - Angiolina turns turns
Falco Marin Civic Library
Puppet and prop theater for ages 0 to 3, 30 minutes, max 20 spectators.
Reservations at 335175349 also via WhatsApp.
edited by CTA Gorizia
6:00 PM
Sea Stories - "The Argonautica"
National Museum of Underwater Archaeology of the Upper Adriatic
Object Theater, ages 6 and up. Max. 40 spectators.
Reservations at 335175349 also via WhatsApp.
edited by CTA Gorizia
9:00 PM
Guillem Albà Jiménez (Spain) - But solitude
Patriarch Elias Camp
Visual theater with wordless objects, for everyone. Running time: 30 minutes.
In case of rain, the show will be rescheduled at the Biagio Marin Auditorium.
edited by CTA Gorizia.
Wednesday 19th
10:00 a.m.
Dream Constellation - "The Street of Desires"
F. Marin Civic Library
Workshop for children aged 6 to 15 and their parents, max 15 participants.
Reservations required. Email: biblioteca@comunegrado.it Tel: 0431 82630
edited by Emanuele Bertossi and CTA Gorizia
6:00 PM
Sea Stories - The Secret of Pinocchio
National Museum of Underwater Archaeology of the Upper Adriatic
Object Theater for ages 4 and up. Maximum 40 spectators.
Reservations at 335175349 also via WhatsApp.
edited by CTA Gorizia.
9:00 PM
Friday, August 21st
Patriarch Elias Camp
Des Fourmis dans la Lanterne - FRANCE
CINQ MINUTES AVEC TOI
puppet theater, without words
duration 40 minutes
for all ages
Thursday 20th
10:00 a.m.
Dream Constellation - "The Street of Desires"
F. Marin Civic Library
Workshop for children aged 6 to 15 and their parents, max 15 participants.
Reservations required. Email: biblioteca@comunegrado.it Tel: 0431 82630
edited by Emanuele Bertossi and CTA Gorizia
6:00 PM
Sea Stories - Alcyone and Ceyx
National Museum of Underwater Archaeology of the Upper Adriatic
Object Theater for ages 5 and up. Maximum 40 spectators.
Reservations at 335175349 also via WhatsApp.
edited by CTA Gorizia.
7:00 PM
Solonauta - A Journey into Doing and Being Alone
Tognon Street
Puppet theater, ages 3 and up. Running time: 40 minutes.
In case of rain, the show will be rescheduled at the Biagio Marin Auditorium.
edited by CTA Gorizia.
9:00 PM
Gek Tessaro - Pinocchio
Biagio Marin Auditorium
Visual theater with live illustrations. Ages 6 and up. Running time: 50 minutes.
edited by CTA Gorizia.
Friday 21st
10:00 a.m.
Dream Constellation - "The Street of Desires"
F. Marin Civic Library
Workshop for children aged 6 to 15 and their parents, max 15 participants.
Reservations required. Email: biblioteca@comunegrado.it Tel: 0431 82630
edited by Emanuele Bertossi and CTA Gorizia
6:00 PM
Sea Stories - A True Story, or Almost
National Museum of Underwater Archaeology of the Upper Adriatic
Tabletop theater with images for ages 6 and up. Running time: 30 minutes. Maximum audience: 40.
Reservations at 335175349 also via WhatsApp.
edited by CTA Gorizia.
7:00 PM
Pupi di Stac Company (Florence): The King's Garden
Scala Square
Puppet theater for all ages. Running time: 50 minutes.
In case of rain, the show will be rescheduled at the Biagio Marin Auditorium.
edited by CTA Gorizia.
Friday, August 21st
9:00 PM
Patriarch Elias Camp
Des Fourmis dans la Lanterne - FRANCE
CINQ MINUTES AVEC TOI
puppet theater, without words
duration 40 minutes
for all ages
10:00 PM
Flash Art
Tognon Street
A performance event concluding the "La Calle dei desideri" workshop. Suitable for all ages.
In case of rain, the show will be rescheduled at the Biagio Marin Auditorium.
edited by CTA Gorizia.
Complete Festival program:
Info
0481 537280
organization@ctagorizia.it
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