A well-told story remains something worth gathering around. We know there are countless ways to tell a story—so many in fact that at a certain point the story becomes something else. Or does it actually remain the same? At fimp’26 we invite our esteemed audience to come together around a programme of performances exploring the possibilities of puppet and object theatre as a whimsical storytelling machine. Cervantes, Gogol, Victor Hugo, Dostoyevsky, Heiner Müller, José Luis Peixoto, Regina Guimarães, among others, feature in the credits of this year’s productions, which draw their inspiration from literature and poetry. After all, words—whether written centuries ago or only a few months back—still have the power to inspire us. These are works of fiction that encourage us to think differently about the world we live in. Some projects engage directly with contemporary reality, bringing a certain disquiet to the stage that perhaps would scarcely have existed in other times—a reverberation of reality put on stage.

All this can serve to interpellate us as builders of an ever-moving image, of a possible vision for this world suspended in a trance-like state. Considering that we are speaking of puppets, objects, and tiny animated figures, it is no exaggeration to say that this is a remarkable achievement on a very small scale.

We invite you once again to witness this marvel made in real time before our very eyes—a kind of magic where the illusion takes place above all in the mind of the observer. fimp’26 will bring to Porto and Matosinhos artists from Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Belgium, France, Spain, and Portugal. Talented creators who, with skilful hands and voices seeking freedom, come to share what they do best. Let us make the most of their company.

As in previous years, fimp’26 presents a programme aimed primarily at adult audiences, while continuing to include performances for children and their families. The festival also remains a place of discovery and learning, which is why the educational programme is designed to cater to both professionals and curious newcomers alike.

fimp is the result of a remarkable collective effort, which is why we would like to thank everyone who makes this festival possible: Câmara Municipal do Porto (Porto City Council) and Teatro Municipal do Porto (Porto City Theatre), which continue to host and co-produce a significant part of the programme; Teatro Nacional São João (São João National Theatre), a long-time partner; Câmara Municipal de Matosinhos (Matosinhos City Council) and Teatro Municipal Constantino Nery (Constantino Nery City Theatre); and the theatre companies Teatro de Marionetas do Porto, Teatro do Bolhão, and Teatro de Ferro. Our thanks also go to Entidade Regional do Turismo do Porto e Norte (Porto and North Regional Tourism Authority) and Metro do Porto for their support in promoting our project. The sustained support of the Direção-Geral das Artes/Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports remains crucial to our work. We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the entire fimp team, to all the artists, and to our partners’ staff for their professionalism and dedication. And finally, our thanks go to our audience—those who have been with us for many years, and those who are discovering fimp for the first time.

Shall we meet at the festival?
Bring a friend along too!