Located in the heart of the Ardennes, Charleville-Mézières, city of Art and Historyseduced by its heritage, its cultural dynamism and its art of living. Known worldwide as the world capital of puppetry, it hosts the prestigious World Festival of Puppet Theaters, a true international showcase of contemporary creation. Arthur Rimbaud's birthplaceIt combines poetry, art and innovation, offering visitors a unique experience where culture, history and conviviality come together.
1/ Charleville-Mézières, a love story with puppetry
The history of puppetry in Charleville-Mézières is inseparable from that of Jacques Félix, a visionary and passionatewhich has managed to transform a local passion into a global phenomenon.
The Little Rag Actors
It all began when Jacques Félix discovered the art of puppetry and founded the company Les Petits Comédiens de Chiffons in 1948, with which he creates shows inspired by Ardennes folklore, including the famous Les Quatre Fils Aymon.
Birth of the World Puppet Theatre Festival
In 1961, Jacques Félix launched the World Puppet Theatre Festival. This first event marked the beginning of an exceptional adventure. The festival, initially irregular, became triennial in 1976, then biennial from 2009. Today it attracts more than 150,000 visitors and companies from all over the world, making Charleville-Mézières the world capital of puppetry.
Creation of puppet institutions
- To prolong this momentum, In 1981, Jacques Félix created the International Institute of Puppetry, a place for training, research and creation dedicated to the art of puppetry. He is the founder of the National Higher School of Puppet Arts (ESNAM), unique in its kind, which trains generations of actor-puppeteers.
- In 2025, the two structures founded by Jacques Félix – Les Petits Comédiens de Chiffons and the International Puppet Institute – merged to create the Jacques Félix International Puppet Center, thus consolidating the legacy of its founder and further affirming the role of Charleville-Mézières as a world center for puppetry.
2/ Charleville-Mézières: a unique ecosystem dedicated to puppetry
National Higher School of Puppet Arts – Margareta Niculescu (ESNAM)
Located in Charleville-Mézières, theNational School of Puppet Arts (ESNAM) is a global benchmark in the training of puppeteer artists.
Founded in 1987 under the impetus of Margareta Niculescu and Jacques FélixESNAM is the only school in France entirely dedicated to the professional training of actor-puppeteers.
Attached to the Ministry of Culture, it offers a three-year course culminating in the National Higher Professional Diploma for Actors (DNSPC), specializing in puppetry. Each class, consisting of 16 students, is recruited through a competitive process every three years. The school welcomes artists from all over the world and promotes a multidisciplinary approach, combining manipulation, visual arts, theatre, voice and personal creation.
Since 2025, ESNAM has been integrated into the International Puppet Centre – Jacques Félix, alongside the World Puppet Theatre Festival.
International Puppet Centre – Jacques Félix
Born in 2025 from the merger of Les Petits Comédiens de Chiffons and the International Institute of Puppetry, the International Puppet Center – Jacques Félix embodies the cultural ambition of Charleville-Mézières, the world capital of puppetry.
This unique hub brings together all the components of the puppetry industry. : training with ESNAM, creation, research, documentation, artistic residencies, dissemination and festival. A true hub for resources and exchange, it supports artists, assists companies and fosters encounters between professionals and the public. Through his actions, he extends the visionary momentum of Jacques Félix, a pioneer in the renewal of contemporary puppetry, and confirms Charleville's unique place as the world capital of puppetry.
Charleville-Mézières, headquarters of the International Puppetry Association (UNIMA)
Founded in 1929 and based in Charleville-Mézières since 1981, the International Puppetry Association (UNIMA) is the oldest international cultural organization still in operation. Present in more than 90 countries, it works to develop and promote the art of puppetry throughout the world. By hosting its headquarters, Charleville-Mézières confirms its central role and international influence as the world capital of puppetry.
3/ The World Puppet Theatre Festival of Charleville-Mézières
Every two years in September, Charleville-Mézières comes alive to the rhythm of the World Festival of Puppet Theaters, a unique event in the world that thrills the entire city and attracts spectators from all over the world. For ten days, artists from five continents take over squares, streets and performance halls to share the richness and modernity of puppetry art. Between contemporary creations, revisited classics and street performances accessible to all, the festival attracts thousands of visitors, seduced by the friendly and festive atmosphere that takes over the world capital of puppetry. Whether you come with family, friends, or as a curious passerby, you will be swept away by the magic of puppetry. and the vibrant energy that makes the heart of the world capital of puppetry beat. A perfect opportunity to discover Charleville in a different light, between culture, festivities and unforgettable encounters.
Renowned troupes perform in Charleville-Mézières
Philippe Genty (France), Ilka Schönbein (Germany), Agnès Limbos (Belgium), Duda Paiva (Netherlands), Green Ginger (England), Bread & Puppet Theater (USA), Les Anges au Plafond (France)… The greatest troupes, the most famous names have performed there, some even owe their birth to it. A theatre of innovations fully of the 21st century, because it is at the crossroads of all the arts.
Relive the magic of the 2025 World Puppet Theatre Festival!
4/ Puppets, all year round in Charleville-Mézières
In Charleville-Mézières, the puppet doesn't disappear once the festival is over: it animates the city throughout the year., carried by places, artists and institutions that keep its spirit alive on a daily basis. A brief overview.
The locations:
- The Great Puppeteer The Legend of the Four Sons of Aymon is told hour by hour. (The whole story on Saturday at 21 pm) – Free admission – Place Winston Churchill, a stone's throw from Place Ducale – Charleville-Mézières
- The puppet collection of the Ardennes Museum as well as the mechanism of the Great Puppeteer – Entrance Place Ducale – Charleville-Mézières
- The National Higher School of Puppet Arts – Margareta Niculescu – Students regularly put on puppet shows throughout their studies – 16 avenue Jean Jaurès – Charleville-Mézières
- International Puppet Center – Jacques Félix – 7 Place Winston Churchill – Charleville-Mézières
The animations:
- Barionnettes Launched in 2022, the Barionnettes festival offers the opportunity to rediscover puppetry throughout the year in Charleville-Mézières. It's a regular event where puppeteers perform in bars around the city.
- M time Temps d'M is the inter-festival event that takes place in September of even-numbered years. The next one will take place from 16 20 September 2026 in Die.
- The Off Puppets at the Forum : In 2024, as part of the City of Puppet Arts, the City of Charleville-Mézières wanted to organize puppet shows for young audiences and families at the Forum (former cinema transformed into a performance hall) one Wednesday a month, outside of school holidays, from companies that participated in the OFF (street or indoor)
5/ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the world's largest puppet festival?
Le World Festival of Puppet Theaters from Charleville-Mézières.
What are the dates of the next World Puppet Theatre Festival in Charleville-Mézières?
From 17 to 26 September 2027
Is the festival suitable for families and children?
Yes, many shows and activities are planned for a young audience.
How to buy tickets for the Charleville-Mézières Festival?
Online at the Official website or directly on site.
What types of shows are presented there?
String puppets, hand puppets, shadow puppets, ventriloquist puppets, stage puppets and contemporary puppets.
Can we visit ESNAM or the International Puppet Centre – Jacques Félix?
No, only during the European Heritage Days.
How to prepare for your visit to the festival?
Book your accommodation early and check the program which comes out in June to choose between paid shows and free activities.
