Plovdiv Welcomes the Magic of Puppetry and Street Arts
Two internationally acclaimed festivals take over Bulgaria’s cultural capital this September
📅 September 4–9, 2025
📍 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
This autumn, Bulgaria’s cultural capital comes alive with puppetry, music, movement, and magic — thanks to the return of two internationally celebrated festivals:
“Three Are Too Many, Two – Not Enough”
The 26th edition of Plovdiv’s International Puppet Theatre FestivalTheatAir 2025
The 12th International Street Arts Festival
Together, these sister festivals will turn Plovdiv’s stages, streets, parks, and plazas into a vibrant performance playground. With artists from over a dozen countries, programming for all ages, and an atmosphere that fuses tradition with avant-garde, this is one of Europe’s most exciting live arts gatherings.
🎟 Festival Highlights
Puppet Theatre (Indoor & Outdoor):
The Bunny and the Little Stream – Rijeka Puppet Theatre (Croatia)
The Walker – David Zuazola (Spain/Chile) & Unia Teatr Niemozliwy (Poland)
Shakespeare x5 – Hand Theatre (Bulgaria)
Special events include:
🎶 Secret acoustic concerts each night
🎥 Documentary screenings + artist talks
📰 Presentation of KuklArt Magazine's latest issue
Street Arts (TheatAir 2025):
Dragonius – Parade + fire show by Fireter Theatre
Only Once a Week – Karlsson House Theatre (Russia)
Park Takeover – puppet theatre, clowning, workshops & games in a different district each day
A Tale of the Tin Soldier – solo miniature performance in a Viennese pavilion
With events unfolding across the city, from the Roman Stadium Square to community parks, this year’s programme offers a truly immersive experience.
🧳 Travelling puppeteers, take note...
Both festivals are part of the UNIMA Passport Programme, which helps young puppetry professionals travel and attend global festivals with financial support.
If you’re an emerging artist or practitioner, this could be your chance to take part in a world-class event, meet peers, and explore Bulgaria’s dynamic arts scene.
🗞 OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
(as received from the organisers at Plovdiv Puppet Theatre)
Plovdiv Welcomes the Magic of Puppetry and Street Arts
XXVI International Puppet Theatre Festival “Three Are Too Many, Two – Not Enough” & XII International Street Arts Festival “TheatAir” – September 4–9, 2025
Plovdiv, Bulgaria – From September 4th to 9th, 2025, the historic city of Plovdiv will once again transform into a vibrant stage for artistry, imagination, and cultural exchange as it hosts two internationally acclaimed events: the XXVI International Puppet Theatre Festival “Three Are Too Many, Two – Not Enough” and the International Street Arts Festival “TheatAir”.
The Puppet Theatre Festival will bring together outstanding productions from Bulgaria and around the world – from poetic, intimate performances to bold, contemporary interpretations of the art of puppetry. Audiences of all ages will have the chance to experience the beauty, humour, and depth of this unique form of theatre, which blends tradition with innovation.
TheatAir, running alongside the puppet festival, will turn Plovdiv’s open spaces into a lively arena for acrobatics, music, dance, and spectacular street performances. The festival celebrates the free spirit of street arts, inviting residents and visitors to encounter art in unexpected places – city squares, pedestrian zones, and architectural landmarks.
Together, these festivals create a week-long cultural celebration, attracting artists, theatre professionals, and audiences from across the globe. They offer not only unforgettable performances but also opportunities for professional exchange, workshops, and international collaboration, strengthening Plovdiv’s position as a key hub for the performing arts in Europe.
Quotes:
“Both festivals are about connection – between artists and audiences, between tradition and modernity, between cultures. For six days, Plovdiv becomes a living, breathing stage,” says Petar Vlaykov, Manager of Plovdiv Puppet Theatre and Artistic Director of both events.
With free outdoor performances and ticketed indoor shows, the festivals promise an unforgettable experience for families, theatre lovers, and curious passers-by alike.
For schedules, ticket information, and updates, visit:
🔗 pptheatre.com/en
✈️ Thinking of attending?
Let us know! We’d love to share stories, photos, and reflections from UNIMA members attending the festival. Whether you're performing, volunteering, or just soaking up the atmosphere.
📩 Email: chair@unima.org.uk