The International Galicreques Festival will celebrate its 31st edition from October 10 to 18, featuring approximately 50 performances by companies and artists from nine countries. Organized by the Asociación Barriga Verde, the festival receives support from the Xunta de Galicia, which has allocated €37,210 through its grants for professional performing arts festivals.
Jacobo Sutil, director of the Galician Agency for Cultural Industries (Axencia Galega das Industrias Culturais), participated in the presentation of the festival's program, highlighting Galicreques' establishment as a key event for puppet theater that connects Galician creativity with companies and professionals from various countries.
The representative from the Consellería de Cultura, Lingua emphasized that the support for the festival is part of the Xunta de Galicia's funding line for professional performing arts festivals, which in 2026 distributes €290,000 among 13 specialized events in theater, puppetry, circus, dance, improvisation, and monologues.
International Participation
This year's festival will prominently feature international acts. In addition to Galician companies and those from other Spanish regions, the program will include performances from Chile, Uruguay, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, and India. Notable participants include:
- Vagabundo Títeres (Chile)
- Coriolis (Uruguay)
- Ocelot Teatro (El Salvador)
- Títeres en Vuelo, Manu Mansilla, Los Pompas, and El Telón (Argentina)
- La Libélula Dorada and La Pepa del Mamoncillo (Colombia)
- Habib and Valeria (Brazil)
Additionally, companies from various autonomous communities will participate, including Teatro Arbolé, Zorro Gallego, La Gotera de Lazotea, La Tartana, Teatro La Estrella, and La Carreta.
Special Events and Workshops
A central figure in this edition will be Indian puppeteer Dadi Pudumjee, a global reference in contemporary puppet theater, who will conduct a masterclass on Sunday, October 18, and will receive the Galicreques 2026 Award for his artistic career and efforts to promote this theatrical form.
The festival's educational programming will also have an international dimension, featuring the Italian company Zaches Teatro, which will conduct a workshop titled L'arte della maschera on October 15 and 16, focusing on mask artistry.
Local Contributions and New Initiatives
Galicreques will showcase six Galician productions: Espagueti Títeres, Mircromina Títeres, Teatro Escena, Uxía Algarra, Títeres Alakrán, and Marcos PTT. The latter will premiere a theatrical investigation on October 17 at Salón Teatro, exploring the relationship between societies and their territories.
The festival will offer performances for both general and school audiences, street activities, and educational proposals across 16 venues in Santiago, with the Alameda and Teatro Principal serving as key locations. A new initiative, CaraBé, will focus on the adult side of puppet theater, featuring both Galician and international acts, along with a cabaret on Saturday, October 17.
The festival will also host the exhibition Marionetas do Mundo by Títeres Cachirulo, available for viewing until October 29 at the Biblioteca Ánxel Casal.
