World Puppetry Day 2026
In Charleville-Mézières, the Ardennes and Reims
March 18–26, 2026
This year, World Puppetry Day is brilliantly highlighted by the puppeteer Yaya Coulibaly, a Malian artist whose heart is as great as his renown! UNIMA thanks him for accepting our invitation to write and illustrate the international message, and above all for joining us in the Ardennes for a week of celebrations.
This rare visit by such a great master of African puppetry gives full meaning to our international association, allowing communities across the entire region to discover the art and stories of Mali, through numerous artistic and convivial encounters: demonstrations, lectures, screenings…
You will also be able to discover other activities offered by the many partners of World Puppetry Day in Charleville-Mézières, the Ardennes and Reims, including performances, films, exhibitions, workshops and more to celebrate this event that is both unique and worldwide.
Free or very affordable, these activities are open to audiences of all generations. Together, let us celebrate the light of life! Let us celebrate the living arts! Let us celebrate puppetry!
Louise Lapointe, President of UNIMA — Fabrizio Montecchi, Secretary General of UNIMA
World Puppetry Day around the World
An international event coordinated by UNIMA, celebrated every year around the world.
Since its creation in 2003, World Puppetry Day has been an essential gathering for all puppeteers and UNIMA national centres across the globe. It is even more so for UNIMA International, which inspired its creation and distributes each year, worldwide, a poster and a message written by a prominent international figure.
This Day is an opportunity to collectively promote the diversity of the puppetry arts as widely as possible. UNIMA intends to strengthen this event and, in the coming years, to create a major activity in Charleville-Mézières and the Ardennes over several days around March 21.
World Puppetry Day around the World →
Guest of Honour: Yaya Coulibaly
Puppeteer – Magician – Keeper of Traditions
His puppet theatre conveys a message of solidarity, peace and tolerance — the fundamental values of UNIMA International.
Learn more about Yaya Coulibaly →
March 21 — Official Day
Charleville-Mézières — Pôle International de la Marionnette – Jacques Félix / Théâtre de l’ESNAM
📞 By reservation
Pôle International de la Marionnette — 03 24 33 72 50 · contact@marionnette.com
UNIMA — 03 68 89 04 78 · contact@unima.org
Friendship Reception — 5:30 PM
Hosted by the Pôle International de la Marionnette – Jacques Félix.
Events with Yaya Coulibaly
Encounters • Demonstrations • Screenings • Workshops
🟡 Free activities
From March 18 to 25, Yaya Coulibaly will meet local audiences — young and old — in Charleville-Mézières, the Ardennes and Reims, sharing the world of Malian puppetry.
- The Bestiary of Malian Puppets — Demonstration & exchange
Charleville-Mézières, Médiathèque de la Ronde Couture — Wed. 18 March | 2:30–4:30 PM
Reims, Gourbi Parallèle — Wed. 25 March | 3:00–5:00 PM - Yaya Coulibaly, Puppeteer and Magician — Screening & talk
Sedan, Amphithéâtre Pierre Mendès — 18 March | 6:30 PM
Charleville-Mézières, Centre social André Dhôtel — 24 March | 6:00 PM - When the Animal Comes Out — Masks of Mali workshop — ages 6+
Musée de l’Ardenne — 18 & 25 March | 2:30 PM - Breakfast with Yaya Coulibaly — for professional artists
Reims, Jardin Parallèle — 25 March | 10:00–11:00 AM
Cultural Actions
- Encounters with young storyteller circles
Sedan — Collège Le Lac et Turenne - Masterclass with ESNAM students
Charleville-Mézières — ESNAM - Small and Great Migrations
Ecordal
Also on the Programme
Performances • Workshops • Exhibitions
🟡 Free or affordable activities
UNIMA coordinates the week around World Puppetry Day, bringing together artists and venues from Charleville-Mézières, the Ardennes and Reims. Workshops, performances, encounters, exhibitions and screenings are offered across the region — for audiences of all ages.
Performances
- Trompette – Cie du Rouge Gorge — Shadow theatre, music & booth – Ages 2+
Charleville-Mézières, Forum — Wed. 18 March | 10 AM, 2 PM, 4 PM - Notos, the Breath of Wind – Cie Atipik — Musical installation for toddlers
Monthermé, Médiathèque — Fri. 20 March | 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM
Raucourt et Flaba, Médiathèque — Sat. 21 March | 10 AM, 11 AM - Black or White – Narguess Majd — Initiatory walk & graphic universe
Liart, Salle Polyvalente — Tue. 24 March | 6:30 PM - Subjectif Lune – Cie Les Maladroits — Theatrical documentary – Ages 12+ & Barionnette
Charleville-Mézières, Théâtre — Sat. 21 March | 7:15 PM (Barionnette), 8 PM (Performance)
Workshops
- Shadow Theatre Workshop – Le Jardin Parallèle — Shadow play and silhouette creation
Reims, Gourbi Parallèle — Wed. 18 & 25 March | 3:00–5:00 PM - Shadow and Objects – Cie En Liesse — Manipulation and story creation – Ages 7+
Charleville-Mézières, ESNAM — Sat. 21 March | 2:00–5:00 PM - Puppet Discovery Workshops – Bibliothèque Départementale des Ardennes
Anaïs Aubry – Cie Radiator Lady
Bairon-et-ses-Environs, Espace Jean Moreaux — Wed. 18 March | 10:00 AMLuana Montabonel – Collectif Triskaidekaphile
Signy-l’Abbaye, Médiathèque Yves Coppens — Wed. 18 March | 2:00 PM
Chooz, Médiathèque Apostrophe — Sat. 21 MarchÈve Bigontina – Cie XannaX Princesse Guerrière
Donchery, Médiathèque de Donchery — Sat. 21 March
Rethel, Médiathèque Agora — Wed. 25 March
Exhibitions
- Dive Behind the Puppet Booth! — Immersive exhibition on puppetry history & techniques
Chooz, Médiathèque Apostrophe — 3–20 March
Rethel, Médiathèque Agora — 23 March–18 April - Small and Great Migrations — Puppet bestiary made by students
Attigny, Médiathèque André Dhôtel — 10–21 March - Memories in Paper Theatre — School projects transformed into paper theatre
Liart, Maison de la Thiérache — 19 March–2 April
Guided Tour
- Équipées belles — Guided tour of ESNAM – All audiences
Charleville-Mézières, Pôle International de la Marionnette — Sat. 21 March | 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM
Cultural Action
- Cinema and Puppets — School screenings followed by discussions and activity sheets
Charleville-Mézières — Musée de l’Ardenne - Trompette – Cie du Rouge Gorge — Shadow theatre, music & booth – Ages 2+
Ecordal — Salle des fêtes
Venues & Partners in 2026
Many partners have come together in 2026 to bring World Puppetry Day to life in Charleville-Mézières, the Ardennes and Reims. Each of them is committed during this week of festivities to offering free or very affordable activities for residents and families across the territory.
📍 Charleville-Mézières
- Pôle International de la Marionnette – Jacques Félix
- Théâtre de l’ESNAM
- Musée de l’Ardenne
- Médiathèque de la Ronde Couture
- Forum
- Centre social André Dhôtel
📍 Ardennes
- Sedan — Amphithéâtre Pierre Mendès
- Monthermé — Médiathèque
- Raucourt et Flaba — Médiathèque
- Liart — Salle polyvalente / Maison de la Thiérache
- Attigny — Médiathèque André Dhôtel
- Bairon-et-ses-Environs — Espace Jean Moreaux
- Donchery, Rethel, Signy-l’Abbaye, Chooz — Médiathèques
📍 Reims
- Jardin Parallèle
- Gourbi Parallèle
Partners of World Puppetry Day 2026
UNIMA, Pôle International de la Marionnette – Jacques Félix, Institut International de la Marionnette, École Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette – Margareta Niculescu (ESNAM), Ville de Charleville-Mézières, Ardenne Métropole – Réseau des médiathèques, Bibliothèque départementale des Ardennes, Ardennes Thiérache, Le Jardin Parallèle, La Pellicule Ensorcelée, Théâtre de Charleville-Mézières (TCM), Musée de l’Ardenne, Micro-Folie de Charleville-Mézières, MJC Calonne (Sedan), Centre social André Dhôtel, Médiathèque de la Ronde Couture, Médiathèque Apostrophe (Chooz), Médiathèque Agora (Rethel), Médiathèque de Monthermé, Médiathèque de Raucourt et Flaba, Médiathèque André Dhôtel (Attigny), Médiathèque Centre social Yves Coppens (Signy-l’Abbaye), Médiathèque de Donchery, Cie Méandres, Cie Radiator Lady, Collectif Triskaidekaphile, Cie XannaX Princesse Guerrière, Compagnie Papierthéâtre, Culture du Cœur Champagne-Ardennes, Collèges Le Lac et Turenne (Sedan).
Communication Materials
TOGETHER, LET US CELEBRATE THE LIGHT OF LIFE!
Let us celebrate the living arts! Let us celebrate puppetry!