New Insights in Puppetry: UNIMA-USA Launches Puppetry International Research Winter 2026

A rich, open-access journal advancing global puppetry scholarship and practice

Photo: Iniskim – Return of the Buffalo. Working with the puppets on the land in southern Alberta – Majorville Medicine Wheel, sacred to the Blood tribe – prayers are offered to ensure a safe and successful project. (Peter Balkwill)

We’re delighted to share news from our colleagues at UNIMA-USA, who have just released the Winter 2026 issue of Puppetry International Research (PIR) — a vibrant, open-access journal dedicated to deepening critical engagement with puppetry and related art forms.

Freely available to all, PIR continues to grow as a vital platform for scholarship, reflection, and dialogue. It supports UNIMA-USA’s mission to promote, educate, and expand the field of puppetry, offering a space where artists, researchers, and practitioners can explore the art form in depth.

Volume 3, No. 1 features a compelling focus on puppet dramaturgy, centred around work presented at the Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival. Guest edited by Ana Diaz Barriga and Paulette Richards, this section brings together a diverse range of voices and perspectives.

Highlights from the issue include:

• Jesse Njus on Frank Maugueri’s The Cabinet

• Skye Strauss on Théâtre de l’Entrouvert’s Anywhere

• Katherine McNamara on Plexus Polaire’s Dracula: Lucy’s Dream

• Oplanietet on Ty Defoe’s Skeleton Canoe

• A special interview with Amethyst First Rider and Peter Balkwill discussing Iniskim – Return of the Buffalo

The issue also broadens its global reach with:

• Bradford Clark’s report on the Chuncheon Puppet Festival (South Korea)

• Reviews of recent publications and performances, including Applied Puppetry: The Theory and Practice of Object Ecologies by Matt Smith

• Critical responses to contemporary works from Japan and beyond

At its core, Puppetry International Research is an interdisciplinary journal engaging with puppetry alongside masks, performing objects, and material performance. Through peer-reviewed articles, field reports, and critical reviews, it strengthens puppetry studies as an academic discipline while remaining deeply connected to artistic practice.

UNIMA-USA warmly invites contributions from scholars and reflective practitioners across disciplines, including proposals for future themed sections.

We encourage our members and readers to explore this latest issue and join the ongoing conversation shaping the future of puppetry worldwide.

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