34th Mainz Children's Theatre Festival
One of Germany's largest children's theatre festivals with performances for children and young people aged 2 to 14
About Mainz Children's Theatre Festival
The Mainz Children's and Youth Theatre Festival is one of the largest and oldest children's theatre festivals in Germany. Organised by the Mainz City Youth Welfare Office, it has presented a dense programme of theatre performances for children and young people aged 2 to 14 every autumn (September/October) since the 1990s. The 34th edition will take place in 2026.
50 to 56 Performances, 7 to 8 Venues
Over the festival period of around two weeks, between 50 and 56 performances are shown each year. The venues are the most important cultural institutions in Mainz: the Mainzer Kammerspiele, the Frankfurter Hof, the Staatstheater Mainz, the cabaret theatre Unterhaus, the municipal Haus der Jugend, the Reduit in Mainz-Kastel, the Kulturzentrum KUZ, and the Kulturbäckerei / K-LAB. This means the festival is not concentrated in a single location but utilises several city districts.
Programme for All Age Groups
The programme is divided by age group – from the series for the very youngest (ages 2 and up) to productions for 12- to 14-year-olds. The repertoire includes classic productions, interactive plays, storytelling theatre, puppet theatre, musical theatre, and experimental formats. The plays are invited from independent theatre groups from across the German-speaking world.
Schools and Kindergartens as the Main Audience
The festival is aimed at families as well as schools, kindergartens, and youth groups. A large proportion of the morning and early afternoon performances are attended by school classes and kindergarten groups; afternoon and weekend performances are open to families. Advance ticket sales are handled by the City Youth Welfare Office and the respective venues.
Exact Dates for 2026
The exact dates for 2026 (September to October) will be published by the organiser in the summer of 2026. Based on experience, the festival usually takes place in the last weeks of September and the first weeks of October, often overlapping with the start of the autumn holidays in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate.
Mainz Children's Theatre Festival — edition 2026
The 34th edition of the Mainz Children's and Youth Theatre Festival will take place in autumn 2026. The organiser is the Mainz City Youth Welfare Office / Jugend in Mainz.
The exact dates and programme will be published by the organiser in the summer of 2026 on jugend-in-mainz.de.
Programme Mainz Children's Theatre Festival 2026
The exact programme for 2026 will be published by the organiser in the summer. The structure follows the proven key points of previous years:
- Opening Week: Kick-off with a celebrated premiere at the Frankfurter Hof or Staatstheater Mainz, followed by several performances for schools
- Venue Programme: daily performances at 7–8 Mainz cultural venues – Mainzer Kammerspiele, Frankfurter Hof, Staatstheater, Unterhaus, Haus der Jugend, Reduit, KUZ, Kulturbäckerei / K-LAB
- School and Kindergarten Performances: mornings and early afternoons, with educational support
- Family Performances: afternoons and weekends, suitable for parents and grandparents with children aged 2–14
- Age Groups: dedicated programme series for 2+, 4+, 6+, 8+, 10+, 12+
- Closing: Ceremony and final performance at the end of the festival period
Highlights Mainz Children's Theatre Festival 2026
- One of Germany's largest children's theatre festivals
- 50–56 performances for children and young people aged 2–14
- 7–8 venues throughout the city of Mainz
- Programme for families, schools, and kindergartens
Prices Mainz Children's Theatre Festival 2026
Practical information — Mainz Children's Theatre Festival
Organiser: Mainz City Youth Welfare Office / Jugend in Mainz
Location: Mainzer Kammerspiele, Frankfurter Hof, Staatstheater Mainz, Unterhaus, Haus der Jugend, Reduit (Mainz-Kastel), KUZ, Kulturbäckerei / K-LAB
Date: September/October 2026 – exact dates to be published in summer 2026
Target Audience: Children and young people aged 2 to 14, families, schools, kindergartens
Tickets: via the Mainz City Youth Welfare Office and the respective venues
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