Penang Puppet Festival 2026 檳城偶戲節 2026

BERBUNGA | 生花

Penang Puppet Festival (PPF) returns from 12–23 August 2026 with its third edition, BERBUNGA (生花), celebrating puppetry as a living tradition that continues to grow, adapt and inspire across generations.

The festival opens with a historic gathering of representatives from five regions where Hokkien glove puppetry (POTEHI) continues to flourish—Penang, Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei and Zhangzhou (Fujian)—marking the first time these living traditions come together in Southeast Asia.

Over 12 days, audiences can experience performances, exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, forums and community programmes featuring diverse forms of puppetry, including POTEHI, Teochew iron-rod puppetry, Wayang Kulit Kelantan, contemporary puppetry and shadow theatre.

More than a celebration of performance, PPF 2026 creates a platform for intercultural dialogue, artistic exchange and heritage transmission, inviting audiences to discover how traditional puppetry continues to bloom in the contemporary world.

檳城偶戲節(Penang Puppet Festival, PPF)將於 2026 年 8 月 12 至 23 日舉行,以 「生花 BERBUNGA」 為主題,透過演出、交流與創作,展現偶戲作為活態文化,如何在不同土地持續生長、傳承與創新。

本屆偶戲節將迎來東南亞首次——來自檳城、雅加達、新加坡、臺北及福建漳州五個仍延續閩南布袋戲(POTEHI)傳承的地區代表齊聚檳城,共同呈現同源文化在不同社會與歷史脈絡下所發展出的多元風貌。

十二天的節目涵蓋布袋戲、潮州鐵枝木偶、吉蘭丹皮影戲、當代偶戲及影子戲等多元偶戲形式,並設有展覽、講座、工作坊、論壇及社區活動,打造一個連結藝術、文化、教育與國際交流的平台,讓傳統偶戲在當代持續綻放新的生命力。

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Venture into a forest of memories, identities, and unseen connections in “Shifting Whispers”, a multidisciplinary exhibition by the artistic collective Parallax. Structured around a unique “Core and Canopy” concept, the exhibition brings together five artists whose distinct perspectives on landscape, belonging, and transformation converge within The Nexus—a collaborative installation where their creative practices intertwine. Through immersive artworks and sensory encounters, “Shifting Whispers” invites audiences to explore the fluid boundaries between self and environment, revealing the hidden stories that shape the world around us.
“My body is a headless train. My body is a legless boat.” Premiered in 2025 to critical acclaim, the award-nominated “Lament of the Wandering Head” by Sun Son Theatre is a haunting, female-led performance that blends live music, physical theatre, and storytelling. Inspired by the flying head spirit of Southeast Asian folklore, the work reimagines myth as a powerful reflection on migration, displacement, and the fractured histories of the Chinese diaspora. Performed in Mandarin and Penang Hokkien, the production creates a rare bilingual soundscape where language, movement, and music intertwine. Combining traditional Taiwanese percussion with Southeast Asian gongs, chanting, and ritual rhythms, “Lament of the Wandering Head” invites audiences into a visceral theatrical journey where the body speaks as powerfully as words.
Roll the dice, draw a card, and discover the vibrant world of Asian board games at the Asian Board Games Festival Malaysia 2026 (ABGFMY). Inspired by the success of the original festival founded by Origame in Singapore, ABGFMY returns for its third edition in Malaysia, bringing together board game publishers, designers, and enthusiasts from across Asia to celebrate creativity, culture, and play. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or simply curious to explore something new, the festival offers visitors of all ages the chance to play and purchase the latest board games from across the region. A signature highlight is the Play Passport, where players can journey through Asia by collecting stamps as they experience board games from different countries, with exciting rewards awaiting those who complete the challenge. Gather your family and friends, meet fellow board game enthusiasts, and immerse yourself in a weekend of strategy, storytelling, and friendly competition at this celebration of Asian game design. Admission and gameplay are free. Enhance your experience with a RM10 Play Passport to collect stamps and redeem exclusive prizes. Stamp collectors can also purchase a RM5 Stamp Hunter ticket to access all festival stamps.