MUKAMAS 2026 – International Puppet Festival will be held in Tampere from 16 to 20 September. The event offers five days of visually impressive performances for both children and adults using modern puppetry. This year, we wanted to give special attention to world-class Finnish performances. We will have international guests from Iceland, Canada and France. The topics of the performances include different textiles of life, maps, body memories, illusions of borders and forest worlds. The festival programme has now been published, and tickets for the performances are also on sale!
The Canadian La ruée vers l’or collective is giving new life to Jørn Riel’s short stories in which he humorously described his own experiences in the harsh conditions of Northeast Greenland. Arctic Tall Tales is a stunning adult performance, where skilled storytellers, puppets, music and soundscapes take you on an incredible adventure. Icelandic Aude Busson has created a community piece called Manndýr, which also features Finnish children. French theatre group XZART is a beloved festival guest, whose cute animal characters offer both fun twists and sensitive reflection.
The performances of Finnish Company Portmanteau and Grus Grus Theatre have received significant international recognition. Portmanteau’s Piste, piste, piste is a multidisciplinary family performance aimed at children, combining contemporary circus, dance and visual arts. In Grus Grus Teatteri’s adult performance Invisible Lands, the human body is transformed into a map. The award-winning performance premiered in 2015 and has since been performed in over 20 countries. In addition, the festival is visited by the baby and toddler theatre AEIOU, originally founded in Slovenia.
Domestic experiences are offered by Teatteri Hevosenkenkä from Espoo, Nukketeatteri Sampo from Helsinki, and Nukketeatteri Nirunaru , Haihara Puppet Theatre, Anne Välinoro and festival organiser Teatteri Mukamas from Tampere. In addition to the home theater in Pispala, the venues will be Hällä stage, Kulttuuritalo Laikku and Haihara Art Center. There are also various free events planned, such as public performances, a lecture on color light therapy, a family-friendly yard event called Lasten Sunnuntai, and musical evening. A wonderful festival autumn is approaching!
TICKETS: Lippukauppa
Additional information, interview requests and photos:
tel. 040 127 9092, toimisto(a)teatterimukamas.com
MUKAMAS 2026 – International Puppet Festival 16.–20.9.
Performances for children and adults
www.mukamasfestival.fi