Ei! Marionetas / Teatro e Marionetas de Mandrágora

Ei! Marionetas - Encontro Internacional de Marionetas de Gondomar 2026

1 JUL > 31 JUL 2026

SHOUT WITH US EI! MARIONETAS.

12 Editions! Ei! Marionetas has established itself, both locally and internationally, as a showcase for contemporary creation, recognized for its artistic merit and the boldness of its programming. In 2026, the festival will run from July 2 to 31, transforming the month into a living stage where traditional forms and the most contemporary experiences coexist. In all its editions, Ei! has made the development and renewal of audiences its core mission, offering a diverse, pluralistic cultural program open to all audiences. With a solid and coherent vision, the festival welcomes nationally renowned companies and international artists who reflect the vitality of the contemporary scene.

Fifty-seven activities are scheduled, including 22 distinct proposals developed in dialogue with the artistic, educational, and community sectors—a set of initiatives that broadens the Encontro’s reach and deepens its impact. This edition features: — 5 international performances from Spain, Brazil, Canada, and the Netherlands; — 6 national companies; — 1 community project; — 1 art-based inclusion project developed with young people from the Projet’Arte Program; — 2 decentralization projects presented in the municipality’s parishes; — 1 exhibition by artist Vânia Costa; — animated films; — 8 workshops for families; — 5 workshops for school groups and 1 tribute to director José Caldas. The projects will be presented in five parishes of the municipality, affirming decentralization as a guiding principle.

In our artistic selections, we are interested in the major issues of our time—dehumanization, the changing world—and the dialogue with cultural heritage, whether revived in traditional forms or reinterpreted with a contemporary perspective.

The Encontro’s program seeks to enrich the journey of national companies, strengthen investment in puppet theater, and boost the cultural vitality of the municipality of Gondomar, bringing art to all its parishes. We aim to maintain an eclectic, distinctive, and inclusive program capable of welcoming diverse audiences, strengthening ties with the community through educational and inclusion projects that stimulate new forms of expression and renewed theatrical experiences. We thus foster an organic relationship with art—a collective expression that arises from the community and returns to it, strengthened.

Ei! is organized by a deeply versatile team that brings a significant portion of the educational, social, and community projects to life, sustaining the Encontro with dedication and artistic vision.