GET INVOLVED
The next Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival takes place
Monday 26 October to Saturday 31 October 2026
Whether you want to volunteer, bring a group, work with us, support the Festival or simply become more involved, we would love to hear from you.
Come and help us bring Tunbridge Wells to life through puppetry.
Ways to be part of Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival
Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival brings extraordinary puppetry and visual theatre from the UK and around the world to the heart of Tunbridge Wells.
From intimate theatre performances and hands-on workshops to spectacular outdoor events, community projects and our much-loved Puppet Parade, the Festival transforms venues and public spaces across the town.
Over the years we have welcomed internationally recognised artists alongside emerging talent, presented new work and premieres plus created opportunities for thousands of people to experience puppetry in all its forms.
None of this happens without the people behind the Festival. Volunteers, local businesses, community organisations, funders and supporters all play a part.
There are many ways to get involved.
Volunteer with us
Our volunteers are at the heart of the Festival.
They welcome audiences, steward performances, help artists and companies, support workshops, assist at outdoor events plus help us with the many practical things that make a Festival happen.
You do not need previous experience. Whether you can give us a few hours, help with one performance or join us for several days, we would love to hear from you.
Volunteering is also a great way to meet people, experience the Festival from behind the scenes plus discover more about puppetry and live performance.
The 2026 Festival runs from Monday 26 October to Saturday 31 October.
If you would like to volunteer, please get in touch.
Schools and young people
Introducing children and young people to puppetry has always been an important part of the Festival.
Our programme can include performances, workshops and creative opportunities designed to introduce young audiences to puppetry, storytelling, making and performance.
We welcome conversations with schools, nurseries, colleges, youth organisations and other groups interested in taking part.
Community goups
TWPF takes place throughout Tunbridge Wells. Working with local organisations helps us reach people who might not otherwise encounter professional puppetry and visual theatre.
We would love to hear from community centres, charities, cultural organisations and local groups interested in working with us.
That might mean hosting an activity, helping us reach a particular community, taking part in a workshop or becoming involved in a future Festival project.
Have an idea? Talk to us.
Businesses and venues
The Festival works with businesses and venues across Tunbridge Wells to bring performances and activity into the heart of the town.
There are many ways to become involved, from hosting an event or helping us promote the Festival to providing practical support, services or sponsorship.
If your organisation would like to be associated with an ambitious cultural event that brings artists, residents and visitors together across Tunbridge Wells, we would be delighted to talk.
Support the Festival
Support from our partners, funders and individual supporters enables us to bring professional artists to Tunbridge Wells, present free public performances plus create opportunities for people of different ages and backgrounds to experience puppetry.
If you would like to support the Festival through sponsorship, a donation, practical assistance or a partnership, please contact us.
Artists and puppetry companies
We are always interested in discovering exciting puppetry and visual theatre.
If you are an artist or company interested in the Festival, please introduce yourself and tell us about your work. While we cannot promise that unsolicited approaches will lead to programming, we are always interested in knowing what is being created.