FIGURE IT OUT – International Puppetry Festival
International Puppetry Festival focusing on inclusive forms of expression — 2026 in Berlin
About FIGURE IT OUT
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a FIGURE IT OUT al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Schaubude Berlin
Schaubude Berlin, located at Greifswalder Straße 81–84 (district of Prenzlauer Berg, borough of Pankow), is one of the three central German venues for contemporary puppetry — alongside the Westflügel stage in Leipzig and FITZ in Stuttgart. Here, puppetry is understood not as children's theatre, but as experimental stage art for adults and children alike — using marionettes, hand puppets, objects, shadows, and all hybrid forms in between. Schaubude produces its own pieces and hosts international companies.
FIGURE IT OUT: A Traveling Festival
The FIGURE IT OUT festival is a collaborative project of the three leading German venues. It is hosted in a different city each year: 2024 in Stuttgart, 2025 in Leipzig, 2026 in Berlin — and so on. The aim is to internationally network German puppetry creation and provide a platform for international companies in Germany. The focus in 2026 is on inclusive forms of expression: productions that work with physical, sensory, or cognitive limitations rather than circumventing them.
2026 House Premiere: “verwurzelt”
The highlight of the Berlin edition is the world premiere of “verwurzelt”, a Schaubude production for blind, visually impaired, and sighted children aged 4 and up. The production uses sound, touch, and movable objects — sighted children experience it differently, but equally validly, than blind children. This exemplifies how the festival understands inclusion not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of the artistic form.
International Guests 2026
In addition to the house premiere, French and Czech companies will showcase their work. The exact lineup will be published on the Schaubude website. France and the Czech Republic, alongside Germany, are among Europe's most vibrant puppetry scenes — France with the festivals Charleville-Mézières and Mondial des Théâtres de Marionnettes, the Czech Republic with the Prague Theatre Academy (DAMU).
Berlin and Puppetry
In the state of Berlin, Schaubude is one of the few permanent venues for contemporary puppetry. Additionally, the Fratz International Festival caters to younger audiences, DorfBerlin offers workshops, and Theater an der Parkaue has its own children's theatre program. With FIGURE IT OUT 2026, Berlin becomes the European center for this highly specialized art form for four days.
FIGURE IT OUT — edition 2026
FIGURE IT OUT 2026 — Berlin as Host
After stops in Stuttgart in 2024 and Leipzig in 2025, Schaubude Berlin hosts the German puppetry trio in 2026. From September 10th to 13th, the venue on Greifswalder Straße presents a program that combines its own focus — contemporary puppetry beyond children's theatre clichés — with international positions. French and Czech companies will showcase their work alongside the house premiere “verwurzelt”, a Schaubude production specially developed for an inclusive child audience aged 4 and up.
Programme FIGURE IT OUT 2026
2026 Program — September 10 to 13
The complete program will be published in the weeks leading up to the festival on schaubude.berlin/en/program/figure-it-out. Currently confirmed highlights:
House Premiere — “verwurzelt”
- Schaubude production for blind, visually impaired, and sighted children aged 4 and up
- Works with sound, touch, and movable objects
- Inclusion as an integral part of the form, not an afterthought
International Guest Performances
- France — a contemporary puppetry company (venue tba)
- Czech Republic — a company from the Prague DAMU or the Pilsen Puppet School environment
- Program distributed daily, with daily premieres or first performances
2026 Thematic Focus
- Inclusive forms of expression: Productions that use sensory impairments as material
- Accompanying artist talks and workshops
Format and Target Audience
The festival is aimed at adults and children alike — each production has its own age recommendation. The house premiere is explicitly designed for a mixed audience (blind/visually impaired/sighted) aged 4 and up.
Tickets
Advance sales at Schaubude (schaubude.berlin) and via Reservix. By phone +49 30 423 43 14.
Highlights FIGURE IT OUT 2026
Prices FIGURE IT OUT 2026
Practical information — FIGURE IT OUT
Getting There
Tram M4 Greifswalder Straße / Ahrenshooper Straße (directly in front of Schaubude). U2 Senefelderplatz (10 min. walk). S+U Schönhauser Allee with bus 156 or tram M4.
Tickets
Via Schaubude's online ticketing (schaubude.berlin) or Reservix. By phone at +49 30 423 43 14. Reduced tickets for children, pupils, and students.
Inclusion
The festival actively works with accessible performances. The house premiere “verwurzelt” is aimed at blind, visually impaired, and sighted children — without any group being the "main audience."
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a FIGURE IT OUT al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place FIGURE IT OUT
Schaubude Berlin
Greifswalder Straße 81–84, 10405 Berlin