Brandenburg Puppet Theatre Days

Oldest Puppet Theatre Festival in Brandenburg

Since 1993, the Brandenburg Puppet Theatre Days have been the most important festival for puppet, figure, and object theatre in the state of Brandenburg. The 34th edition will take place from October 16 to 23, 2026, at the Brandenburger Theater (Puppenbühne). For a whole week, a different play will be shown daily – featuring companies from all over Germany.

Plays in the 2026 Edition

In 2026, the programme will include eight productions for various age groups:

• "Apfelmännchen" – a classic for the youngest audiences aged 3 and up.
• "Buba Huba – the legend of the end" – a poetic play about transience.
• "Heute: Genova!" – Italian harbour flair as puppet theatre.
• "Zottelhaube" – a Nordic fairy tale with elaborate puppets.
• "Das Neinhorn" – based on the picture book bestseller by Marc-Uwe Kling (children aged 4 and up).
• "Ritterretterrudi" – knight comedy for schoolchildren.
• "Der wackere Ritter von Hasenburg" – a medieval farce.
• Paper Theatre Workshop for the 550th Roland anniversary (Brandenburg an der Havel celebrates the 550th anniversary of the Brandenburg Roland, a symbol of civic freedom, in 2026).

Puppet Stage at the Brandenburger Theater

The Brandenburger Theater is a three-part venue with drama, concerts, and puppetry. The Puppenbühne at Grabenstraße 14 is an intimate venue with around 100 seats, ideal for the Puppet Theatre Days. The puppetry department also produces its own plays and regularly tours throughout Brandenburg.

Brandenburg an der Havel – City of the Roland

With around 72,000 inhabitants, Brandenburg an der Havel is an independent city and the namesake of the state – "Brandenburg in Brandenburg". It is located on three islands in the Havel River and boasts over 1000 years of history. The Roland statue in the Altstädtischer Markt – a symbol of civic market freedom – was erected in 1474 and celebrates its 550th anniversary in 2026.

Family Audience and Schools

The Puppet Theatre Days are aimed at families with children aged 3 and up; many performances are also suitable for school classes. The combination of traditional marionette theatre and modern object/figure theatre makes the festival a flagship event for Germany's independent puppetry scene.