A Festival Growing with Children
From 10 to 18 October 2026, Cyprus welcomed the third edition of the Mitsikouri International Performing Arts Festival for Children and Young People, organised by ASSITEJ Cyprus. With 14 productions from 12 countries and 37 performances, Mitsikouri continued to grow as an international meeting point for artists, children, families and professionals.
This year’s edition celebrated the diversity of performing arts for young audiences, bringing together theatre, dance, contemporary circus and interactive experiences.
An important part of the programme was dedicated to babies and very young children, offering opportunities for some of the youngest audience members to experience the performing arts, often for the very first time. Many of the productions were non-verbal, allowing children and families from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds to share the same artistic experience.
The festival took place across five cities – Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos and Famagusta – extending its reach beyond the capital. A special collaboration with the Troodos Cultural Foundation also brought a performance to the mountain village of Pelendri, creating opportunities for children living outside the main urban centres.
Accessibility, inclusion and children’s participation remained central to Mitsikouri. Through the initiative Every Child at Mitsikouri, free tickets were offered to children from vulnerable backgrounds. The festival also continued its BUS Project, bringing 29 children from rural communities to Nicosia to attend performances and experience the festival. These initiatives, together with collaborations with organisations supporting children and families, helped make the performing arts accessible to communities that may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend.
Children also had an active voice in the festival through the Young Ambassadors programme, which brought together 12 children aged 7 to 15. Rather than simply attending performances, they were invited to share their perspectives, engage with artists and contribute to the festival experience.
Alongside the artistic programme, Mitsikouri hosted workshops, interactive installations and professional encounters. An international roundtable on inclusion and accessibility brought together artists and cultural professionals to discuss how the performing arts can become more welcoming and accessible to all children.
The festival also welcomed international colleagues, strengthening connections between Cyprus and the global TYA community. Mitsikouri -through ASSITEJ Cyprus– is also a partner in the large-scale Creative Europe project THE RIGHT TIME, an international collaboration focusing on performing arts for children in their earliest years, reflecting the festival’s wider commitment to artistic experiences for young children.
With an audience of more than 3,800 people, Mitsikouri 2026 demonstrated the growing interest in performing arts for children and young people in Cyprus.
More than a festival presenting international productions, Mitsikouri is gradually becoming a space for encounter, participation and exchange – one that grows alongside its young audiences.
Watch the official Mitsikouri 2026 aftermovie: https://vimeo.com/1244861989
The next edition of Mitsikouri will take place in October 2027.
