ASSITEJ Hungary is excited to share some major news from the Hungarian performing arts scene: the official program for the 12th ASSITEJ Theatre Biennial for Children and Youth has been announced for 2026.
What is the ASSITEJ Biennial?
The ASSITEJ Biennal is Hungary’s most prestigious festival for theatre for young audiences. Organised by the Hungarian centre of ASSITEJ, this festival showcases the absolute best of Hungarian TYA and puppetry every two years.
A New, Nationwide Format
Traditionally, the festival takes place in the city of Kaposvár. However, this year marks a bold turning point. Due to the discontinuation of state funding, the 12th Biennial is transforming into a nationwide (and cross-border) celebration.
Instead of a single host city, 37 selected productions—selected by acclaimed puppet artist Károly Szívós—will be performed at the companies’ own home venues across Hungary and neighbouring Hungarian-speaking regions.
Event Highlights:
- When: May 16 – May 23, 2026.
- The Jury on the Road: A professional jury will travel across the country to evaluate the shows in person.
- Digital Access for All: In a modern twist, the professional “post-show” discussions will be held online, making the artistic analysis accessible to anyone in the world.
- Youth Perspective: Theatre students from the University of Szeged will be blogging about every performance, offering a fresh, academic look at the competition.
The Grand Finale in Veszprém
The festival will wrap up on May 23, 2026, in the historic city of Veszprém at the Kabóca Puppet Theatre. The event will conclude with a grand award ceremony where the most prestigious honour in Hungarian youth theatre, the “Üveghegy” (Glass Hill) Award, will be presented to the winners of each category.
It’s a unique year for Hungarian theatre—turning a logistical challenge into an opportunity to bring high-quality art to every corner of the country!
