Name: FANTAKEL — Greifswald Puppet Theatre Festival 2026
Start: 2026-09-25T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-09-27T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Soziokulturelles Zentrum St. Spiritus, Koeppenhaus, Hans-Fallada-Bibliothek u.a.

FANTAKEL

About FANTAKEL

FANTAKEL is the annual puppet theatre festival of the Hanseatic City of Greifswald. For three days, puppet, object, and marionette theatre performances for children and adults are spread across four venues in the city centre. The event is organised by the Soziokulturelles Zentrum St. Spiritus, with artistic direction by fredak MV.

Dates 25 Sep — 27 Sep 2026

Venue Greifswald (13075)

Prices 5.00€ — 8.00€

Status —

Edition 2026

FANTAKEL — edition 2026

Tickets →

The 18th edition of the FANTAKEL Puppet Theatre Festival runs from September 25 to 27, 2026, in Greifswald. Seven performances over three days, spread across four venues in the city centre. Children's plays from age 3 upwards, plus adult productions, and the popular participatory programme on Saturday afternoon in the courtyard of St. Spiritus.

The 18th edition of FANTAKEL continues Greifswald's tradition of puppet and object theatre. Over three days at the end of September 2026, around seven performances by independent theatre groups from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Northern Germany will be presented at four venues in the city centre.

The detailed programme will be published by the Soziokulturelles Zentrum St. Spiritus and fredak MV in the weeks leading up to the festival on the website and in the printed programme booklet. Classically, fairy tales for the youngest, plays for schoolchildren, and at least one evening production for adults alternate – framed by the participatory afternoon programme in the St. Spiritus courtyard.

Highlights FANTAKEL 2026

18th edition of the festival
~7 performances over 3 days
4 venues in Greifswald city centre
Participatory afternoon in the courtyard of St. Spiritus on Saturday
At least one adult production

Programme FANTAKEL 2026

Programme Structure (3 Days)

Friday, September 25, 2026 — Festival opening in the late afternoon, performance for school classes in the afternoon, evening performance for adults (venue usually St. Spiritus or Koeppenhaus)
Saturday, September 26, 2026 — Morning and afternoon: performances for children and families at venues in the city centre; Afternoon: large participatory programme in the courtyard of St. Spiritus (playing, storytelling, making music, crafting); Evening: adult performance
Sunday, September 27, 2026 — Family performances in the morning and afternoon, festival closing

Venues

Soziokulturelles Zentrum St. Spiritus, Langestraße 49/51
Koeppenhaus Literature House
Hans Fallada Library
another venue to be announced with the programme

Detailed programme of plays and times from August 2026 at kulturzentrum.greifswald.de.

Prices FANTAKEL 2026

Individual performances between €5 and €8. Reservations via the respective venue. The participatory programme on Saturday afternoon is usually free of charge.

Practical information

Practical information — FANTAKEL

Getting There

By train to Greifswald main station, then about a 10-minute walk to the centre. By car: A20, exit Greifswald.

Admission

Performances range from €5 to €8, reservations via the respective venues (phone numbers are in the programme booklet). The participatory afternoon is usually free of charge on Saturdays.

Venues

Mainly: Soziokulturelles Zentrum St. Spiritus (Langestraße 49/51), Koeppenhaus Literature House, Hans Fallada Library, and other venues in the city centre.

About the Festival

FANTAKEL is dedicated to contemporary puppet, object, and marionette theatre in all its diversity – from classic fairy tales for the little ones to experimental pieces for adults, and interactive workshops. The festival is organised by the Soziokulturelles Zentrum St. Spiritus in Greifswald, and the artistic direction has been managed by fredak MV – the State Association of Independent Performing Arts Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – for years.

Structure and Programme

Over three days – typically the last weekend in September – around seven performances take place at four venues in Greifswald's city centre. These include the St. Spiritus Cultural Centre on Langestraße, the Koeppenhaus Literature House, the Hans Fallada Library, and other venues. A special feature is the participatory Saturday afternoon programme in the courtyard of St. Spiritus, where children and adults play, tell stories, make music, and craft together.

Target Audiences

The performances are aimed at age groups from 3 years old up to adults, with at least one dedicated evening production for adults per edition. Productions by independent theatre groups from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Northern Germany are featured.

Sponsors and Partners

FANTAKEL is supported by the Ministry of Science, Culture, Federal and European Affairs of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, as well as the Hanseatic City of Greifswald, supplemented by local sponsors. Organisation: Soziokulturelles Zentrum St. Spiritus.