Welcome to Silkeborg Puppetry Festival
Dear audience
Welcome to Festival of Wonder, Silkeborg’s international festival for puppet, object and visual theatre.
The theme for this year 2026 is Magical Masterpieces.
We are celebrating the 40th birthday of Festival of Wonder.
Silkeborg Puppetry Festival was founded in 1986 by: Silkeborg Puppet Theatre, Silkeborg Library, the association Teater I Tiden schools in Silkeborg and author Bent Rasmussen. The intention was to show international and Danish puppetry for adults and for children. At that time performing puppetry solely for adults was very rare in Denmark.
The festival’s 40th birthday will be celebrated with a grand and wonderful festival for adults and for children. Vi are looking back at some of the many great successes we have presented during the 40 years, and we have invited some of them to return for our theme ‘Magical Masterpieces’.
Some of the performances from many years ago no longer exist, but many of those which do exist have been invited. Look forward to many unique experiences at Festival of Wonder 2026.
There will of course be new performances, ones which no doubt will be the magical masterpieces of the future.
We present theatres from Denmark, Greece, Peru, Norway, France, Norway/Israel, Canada, Portugal and 4 different theatres from Czech Republic.
I recommend that you study our anniversary program and choose the shows you want as early as possible. There will be Magical Masterpieces for both children and adults.
See and hear Yael Rasooly’s beautiful interpretation of Edith Piaf’s songs, in an exuberant performance – a true masterpiece.
There will also be a concert with Yael Rasooly and the fantastic accordion musician Iliya Magalnyk. Hear several Piaf songs as well as other masterpieces from Yael Rasooly’s repertoire.
There are performances for the whole family and happy reunions with Forman Brothers Theatre, Theatre La Pendue, Theatre Drak, Plexus Polaire with their ‘Moby Dick’, and many more. For children we welcome back Goodbye Mr. Muffin, Winnie-the Pooh, Mr. Barti and many others.
As usual there is an active puppetry workshop for children and parents.
We owe a great thank you to the sponsors of the festival, Lars Larsen’s JYSK Fond, Statens Kunstfond and not least Silkeborg Kommune.
We could not present such a large program without the enormous help of our faithful corps of volunteers. Thanks to all of you. Also a huge thanks to Gødvad Efterskole and FGU- Midtjylland.
Dear audience. Study our program. There are amazing experiences waiting for each of you.
We wish you all a wonderful festival.
Ulla Dengsøe
Artistic Director
Welcome to Silkeborg
Every other year a very special atmosphere takes over Silkeborg. An expectation, a buzz, and a feeling that something unique is about to happen.
From November 4-8, 2026, the city will once again be filled with life, fantasy, and stories, when Festival of Wonder opens its doors.
This year’s festival is a tribute to the art of puppetry, an art form which has existed for centuries, and which has had a strong, lively home in Silkeborg since 1986.
There is something quite special, almost magical about puppet theatre. Something which happens when life meets hand-made creativity, storytelling, and imagination.
In a time when much of our daily lives are digital, puppetry reminds us of the positive assets of analog.
Intimacy, engagement and the moments we share together in a common space, children and adults, allowing ourselves to be swept away by that which is in front of us. No screen, no filter, only fantasy, hands and the art of storytelling.
Through the years our audience has come to Silkeborg to experience classic puppet theatre as well as grand, new performances.
Today Festival of Wonder is a well-known international event, gathering audiences, artists and theatres from all over the world, while filling the city with creativity and life, on and off stage.
A huge thank you to the organizers, to the many volunteers and collaborators, all of whom make the festival possible.
Your enthusiasm is crucial in enabling Silkeborg to once again host this unique event.
I hope you will enjoy the festival – and take some of the magic home with you.
I am looking forward to it!
Helle Gade
Mayor
Welcome to Silkeborg From the cultural committee
Culture of high quality is not only something we desire in Silkeborg. It is something expected in a city and in a county of our size.
Today we are the 8th largest county, and our present and coming citizens expect a wide variety of excellent cultural activities for all ages.
This is where Festival of Wonder plays a central role.
The festival has been here for 40 years. From the local puppetry days many years ago to today it has grown into a world class puppetry festival which attracts artists and audiences from around the world.
It has been an impressive journey, driven throughout the years by committed and enthusiastic people. It is important to remember, that sort of success does not happen by itself.
There is an enormous amount of hard work behind the scenes. A special recognition to Ulla and the many other active people who have lifted the festival to the level of expertise we see today.
Silkeborg is a growing county. More citizens, more families who specifically choose our area. If we wish this development to continue, it requires more than lovely nature and a good framework. It needs many experiences, groups and exceptional culture.
Festival of Wonder is exactly that.
A festival which brings international quality to Silkeborg, presented to adults and to children. A festival which brings families together and gives children an opening to art and culture in a memorable way.
This is the type of event which helps to make Silkeborg an attractive place to live.
I am looking forward to experiencing Festival of Wonder together with you.
Thomas Tonsberg Schlie
Chairman for Culture and Leisure Silkeborg Kommune
CONTACTS:
Artistic director and PR manager: Ulla Dengsøe.
Mail: ulla.dengsoe@silkeborg.dk
Technology and logistics: Poul Andreasen. Phone 0045 50571295. Mail: festivalofwonder@silkeborg.dk