Montreal, January 21, 2026 - Puppeteers, the general public, and specialists from around the world will come together for the 21st edition of the Casteliers International Puppet Festival, taking place from March 2 to 8, 2026.
The program features remarkable creations from Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Quebec, and Canada. Shows, documentary films, exhibitions, professional meetings, workshops, and the classic Marionnettes en vitrines! exhibition trail all contribute to the festive and inclusive atmosphere of this highly anticipated spring break event.
This 21st edition of the Casteliers International Puppet Festival, the final edition under the direction of founder Louise Lapointe, who has passed the torch to Myriame Larose, highlights object theatre by giving special visibility to its pioneers, those renewing the art form, and inventive emerging artists. Other experimental and traditional forms complement this curated showcase of puppetry, reflecting the vitality of the 11th art both locally and internationally.
LA VRAIE FAUSSE CONFÉRENCE (Artists Collective, France/Belgium/Italy)
March 4 and 5, 7 pm, Théâtre Outremont
In 1979, eight artists met at the World Festival of Puppet Theatres in Charleville-Mézières (France) and created object theatre, a term now used worldwide. In 2017, the festival gave them free rein to present Une vraie fausse conférence. In 2024, they revisit this conference, exploring their past discoveries with the audience. Beyond the form, it also celebrates 40 years of lasting friendship among them. Ages 12+
VIVA! (La Loquace cie, France/Spain)
March 5, 8:30 pm / March 6, 7 pm, PGLO School Auditorium
Viva! tells the moving story of a Spanish family affected by the Civil War and Francoist dictatorship. On stage, a simple desk contains everyday objects-chalk, tape, stapler, pencil sharpener-that unexpectedly witness a deeply human story. They assemble, transform, and gradually reconstruct a fractured past. Ages 12+
L'ENLÈVEMENT DU PRINCE CHARLES (Teatro del Drago, Italy)
March 5, 10 am and 1:30 pm / March 6, 10 am and 7 pm (in Italian), Claude-Gauvreau Studio
The kidnapping of Prince Charles features an old king whose son disappears, prompting all his servants and soldiers to search the kingdom. Fagiolino, a brave and mischievous character from the Italian commedia dell'arte tradition, also embarks on the quest, guided by the mysterious fairy Circé. His journey leads him to the Gale Forest, where Prince Charles is held by the fearsome bandit Spaccateste and his accomplice Gigolante. Ages 4+
UNE TRAVERSÉE (Compagnie Tchaïka, Belgium)
March 7, 7 pm / March 8, 3 pm, Théâtre Outremont
Inspired by Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, Une Traversée follows a young girl who transforms the ruins of her home into an extraordinary playground. With her kitten, she invents fantastic stories to navigate the war-torn setting, turning survival and despair into play and personal growth. Ages 10+
BOIS (Puzzle Théâtre, Montreal)
March 2, 5 pm, BAnQ
Presented as part of BAnQ's Cultural Mondays, Bois brings fragments of wood to life with remarkable precision and sensitivity. This object theatre piece offers a delicate and playful experience, where the unexpected emerges from the material itself. Bois will be followed by puppet manipulation workshops led by the Casteliers mediation team. Ages 4+
WHALEFALL (Infinithéâtre, Montreal)
March 3, 7:30 pm / March 7, 3 pm, La Chapelle Scènes Contemporaines
In May 2020, Montrealers witnessed a magical and improbable event on the Saint Lawrence River: a humpback whale appeared over 400 km from its usual habitat, captivating the city during a time of isolation and uncertainty. Whalefall is a documentary theatre piece inspired by this event. Ages 12+
ABSENCE DES EXTRATERRESTRES (Antoine Laprise & Hubert Jégat, Montreal/France)
March 4 and 5, 4 pm, L'Illusion, Puppet Theatre
Absence des extraterrestres tells the story of an 8-year-old boy caught in the turmoil of his parents' separation in the mid-70s, set against a backdrop of counterculture, Christ-like figures, esotericism, and speculation about extraterrestrial life. Ages 12+
RÉALITÉS PARALLÈLES (Théâtre de la Pire Espèce, Montreal)
March 6, 7 pm, Théâtre Aux Écuries
Réalités parallèles brings together two short stories that challenge our certainties. Using a creative mix of live video, paper theatre, and object theatre, La Pire Espèce leads us through delightful inner vertigo, where perception slips, the unexpected arises, and reality doubles before our eyes. Ages 14+
INCARNATIONS TRANSITOIRES (Céline Chevrier, Montreal)
March 7 and 8, 11 am, L'Illusion, Puppet Theatre
Incarnations transitoires invites audiences of all ages to experience a playful and poetic journey where moods materialize, move, and change. Wordless, it combines contemporary puppetry, visual theatre, dance, and live music to create a vibrant sensory universe. Ages 7+
PAPA (Puzzle Théâtre, Montreal)
March 7 and 8, 1:30 pm, PGLO School Auditorium
A move disrupts everything: Papa is lost, and with him… his child! Cardboard boxes fill the space, transforming the stage into a surprising playground. Using object theatre and masks, Puzzle Théâtre turns everyday life into a poetic, funny, and moving journey where anything can happen. Ages 6+
THE IMPOSSIBLE LIGHT (Surreal SoReal, Montreal)
March 7, 9 pm / March 8, 2 pm, Théâtre Centaur
Callen lives in the rhythm of screens: programmer, rock star, YouTuber, seemingly in control. But the announcement of his partner's pregnancy disrupts his world, plunging him into doubt and self-reflection. A captivating and humorous show combining contemporary theatre and immersive experience, where poetry, introspection, and light reveal the invisible and challenge perception. Ages 13+
Other Activities
From March 2 to 8, the festival offers a range of public activities:
Ciné-Casteliers
Noon, Bread from Tehran (France/Iran), A Bird in Passage (India), and All That Is (Palestine) - Wednesday, March 4, 1:30 pm, PGLO Auditorium
Ciné-Casteliers returns in its original format, presenting three short films from Asia and the Middle East. Ages 12+
Les fils des merveilles - March 3 to April 10, Italian Cultural Institute of Montreal
Opening March 3, 5 pm
This exhibition explores the history of the Monticelli family, puppeteers for five generations, and showcases collections from the La Casa delle Marionette museum in Ravenna.
Marionnettes sur pochettes - March 4 to 7, Théâtre Outremont and Festival HQ
This exhibition features the unique collection of Catalan puppeteer Oriol Ferre, combining puppetry and vinyl records gathered over 25 years of travel.
Cosmogonie domestique - March 5 and 6, 10:30 am-4:30 pm, OBORO
An interactive installation exploring how domestic life shapes imagination, inviting the audience to manipulate miniature scenes representing different rooms of a house.
Unboxed: the Stearn Collection Revealed - March 2, 10 am, McLennan Library
Explore one of Montreal's best-kept secrets: Rosalynde Osborne Stearn's puppet collection, with rare puppets, paper theatre elements, and other global artifacts.
Marionnettes en vitrines! - La Pire Espèce - February 12 to March 12, in 30 shops across Bernard, Laurier, Van Horne, and du Parc avenues
This exhibition trail showcases object theatre in shop windows, highlighting Théâtre de la Pire Espèce's pioneering work in Quebec.
Guided tours and workshops in object theatre and stop-motion animation are also offered for families.
For professionals, coffee talks, roundtables, and the Casteliers International Market bring together artists, enthusiasts, and programmers from around the world to exchange ideas and reflect on artistic practice.
Full program and tickets: festival.casteliers.ca
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Partners:
Casteliers thanks REALTA Real Estate, official presenter of the festival, and the Caisse des Versants du Mont Royal, major partner, as well as all its public, private, cultural, and media partners for their invaluable support, ensuring the success of this 21st edition.
