Festival Dates

2026-08-25 > 2026-08-27

Location

Haifa, Israel

Description

The 36th Haifa International Festival of Children’s Theatre

The Haifa International Children’s Play Festival celebrates 36 years of quality, diversity and pluralism.

This is the 36th year of the festival, and as always, Haifa Theatre puts itself at the forefront of activity, creativity and culture for children.

The Festival this year will be bigger, more versatile and wider. The Festival will be spread over 12 halls and spaces, and will include 7 original plays and 25 guest plays of the best Children’s Theatres in Israel.

At the “Open Area”, the visitors will be able to enjoy for free a variety of street performances.

The festival expands its area of activity throughout the city and will also present, for the first time, at the Haifa Museum, Beit Hagafen, and Talpiot Market!

Artisan classes for children’s activities will also take place for the first time.

The Haifa International Children’s Play Festival always ensures it is egalitarian, pluralistic, accessible, and inviting to everyone. That’s why this year we also made sure to include Arabic-speaking shows and a show accessible to children on the spectrum.

The Haifa International Children’s Play Festival, 14th-16th April, Haifa Theatre, Israel.

Open Air Street Theatre – 15 shows from 7 countries

Even in this year, the Open Air Street Theatre has not been ignored, despite the obvious difficulties. Street artist groups from 6 countries will participate in the festival this year: Spain, Catalonia, Italy, Portugal, Germany and the Czech Republic. They will be joined by another 5 Israeli groups, who will perform original shows. Bringing the groups and organising the Open-Air complex is again this year the responsibility of the Ortho-Da group, under the artistic direction of Yanon Tzafir and Gibson Bar-El.

The Open-Air Street Theatre complex of the Haifa International Children’s Plays Festival has become a household name in the community of street theatre and circus artists around the world.

This is due to the wonderful hospitality and attitude of the Haifa Theater under the management of Nitza Ben Zvi, the festival’s CEO, and also due to the careful selection of the artists and the construction of a unique, dynamic artistic program rich in imagination, depth and skill, which fits like a glove to the magical Binyamin Garden and the Haifa Theater Square.

Entrance to the open area is free.

This year, the Festival will host 14 spectacular and colourful Street-Theatre bands from Italy, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Catalonia, the Czech Republic, and of course Israel. Each group brings a unique style that combines skills from the worlds of theatre, circus, puppet theatre, pantomime, clowning, and performance, creating an exciting and immersive theatrical experience for the audience.

The presence of the international artists in Israel in this complex period is not taken for granted, and we deeply appreciate their willingness to take part in the cultural celebration with the understanding that art is a bridge that connects cultures, hearts and people – even in moments of challenge and uncertainty. It allows us to share experiences, evoke emotions and give hope through co-creation and a universal language of beauty, imagination and inspiration. We hope that the weather will brighten our faces and allow three magical days of theatrical experiences, pleasure, peace and dedication to art – in the best of the glorious tradition of the Haifa International Children’s Plays Festival.

Come and let’s make memories and experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime.