UNIMA INTERNATIONAL
World Puppetry Day 2026 Begins: Charleville-Mézières Comes Alive
World Puppetry Day 2026 · Charleville-Mézières, Ardennes & Reims · 18–26 March 2026
As World Puppetry Day 2026 approaches its climax on 21 March, the celebrations in Charleville-Mézières, Ardennes and Reims have already begun in full force — with workshops, encounters, and performances marking the opening days of this year’s theme: Celebration of the Light of Life — The Hyena’s Dream.
UNIMA’s President and Treasurer welcoming Compagnie Sogolon upon arrival in Charleville-Mézières.
The days leading up to World Puppetry Day have transformed Charleville-Mézières into a living encounter between cultures, generations and artistic traditions. At the heart of this year’s celebrations stands Yaya Coulibaly, the great Malian master puppeteer and Guardian of Tradition, whose presence has already left a deep impression on audiences and participants alike.
From intimate workshops with schoolchildren to public presentations for packed audiences, the programme has offered something rare: a direct encounter with a centuries-old living tradition — brought to life in the heart of France.
Yaya Coulibaly — The Guardian of Tradition
Yaya Coulibaly in Charleville-Mézières for World Puppetry Day 2026.
One of the most respected figures in contemporary world puppetry, Yaya Coulibaly is the guardian of a centuries-old Malian tradition rooted in the Ségou region. His art bridges ancestral ritual and universal storytelling, making him a singular and irreplaceable voice in the global puppetry community.
His collection of marionettes — vivid, intricate, alive with meaning — fills every space he inhabits with the richness of a living heritage. To watch him work is to be transported into a world where art and ritual, past and present, meet in a single gesture.
An Evening of Encounters
Scenes from the evening programme — Presentation of a film by Christian Lajoumard
The opening days of the programme brought together artists, students and members of the public in a series of evening events — screenings, talks and encounters that gave the celebrations a depth reaching well beyond the stage.
The full programme running from 18 to 26 March spans Charleville-Mézières, the Ardennes and Reims — with performances, workshops, exhibitions and special moments woven throughout the Grand Est region.
Children Discover the Art of the Marionette
Children from Charleville-Mézières discover and animate Yaya Coulibaly’s traditional Malian marionettes during the workshop sessions.
One of the most joyful moments of the opening days was the workshop session in which local schoolchildren were invited to handle and animate Yaya Coulibaly’s traditional Malian marionettes. For many, it was their first encounter with this form of puppetry — and the experience was visibly transformative.
Under the patient guidance of the master and his team, the figures came alive in young hands — bridging worlds and generations through the simple magic of a string and a carved figure.
📅 18–26 March 2026 | 📍 Charleville-Mézières, Ardennes & Reims
🎭 Theme: Celebration of the Light of Life — The Hyena’s Dream
📄 Download the full programme (PDF)
🔗 Full information on unima.org
🎭 21 March — The Keynote Lecture, Live Worldwide
On 21 March 2026 at 15:00 CET, the celebrations reach their global climax with the first-ever UNIMA International Keynote Puppetry Lecture — delivered live by Yaya Coulibaly from the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts de la Marionnette in Charleville-Mézières, and broadcast freely worldwide.
Photos: UNIMA International · World Puppetry Day 2026 · Charleville-Mézières