Pupi & Pini 2026: Street Theater, Puppets, and Family Shows

The “Pupi & Pini” festival returns to Lignano Sabbiadoro in 2026. Dedicated to street theater and puppetry for families, it features a rich lineup of performances that combine the charm of fairy tales, children’s literature, and the magic of live theater.

Organized by the City of Lignano Sabbiadoro in collaboration with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the Lignano Sabbiadoro Library, under the artistic direction of Ortoteatro, the festival offers events for young and old alike featuring marionettes, puppets, music, circus acts, and timeless storytelling.

The performance schedule:

📅 Monday, August 3 – 9:00 p.m.
📍 UNICEF Park – Lignano Riviera
“Hansel and Gretel” – Granteatrino of Bari
One of the Grimm Brothers’ most beloved fairy tales comes to life through marionettes, large animated puppets, and sets inspired by the illustrations of Nicoletta Costa.

📅 Wednesday, August 5 – 9:00 p.m.
📍 Hemingway Park – Lignano Pineta
“The Tale of King Orcone and the Magic Potion” – Ortoteatro / C’è un Asino che Vola
An original story filled with adventures, fantastical characters, and magic potions, where friendship and courage help defeat the wicked King Orcone.


📅 Monday, August 10 – 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
📍 Lignano Sabbiadoro Library
“3D Readings” – AIDA Foundation
An immersive experience for children ages 5 to 9: thanks to binaural 3D audio technology, stories come to life through sounds and special effects. Theme: Fairy Tales of Peace and Friendship.
Limited seating; reservations recommended.

📅 Wednesday, August 12 – 9:00 PM
📍 Piazza del Sole – Lignano Pineta
“Caravan Circus” – Barbamoccolo
A circus caravan full of surprises featuring jugglers, acrobats, and clowns, where imagination and entertainment come together in a fairy-tale atmosphere.

📅 Monday, August 17 – 9:00 PM
📍 Hemingway Park – Lignano Pineta
“Puss in Boots” – Bottega Buffa CircoVacanti
A fun and poetic reimagining of the famous fairy tale, blending puppetry and storytelling.

📅 Wednesday, August 19 – 9:00 p.m.
📍 Unicef Park – Lignano Riviera
“The Adventures of Pinocchio” – Compagnia Il Cerchio Tondo
Collodi’s great classic returns to the stage with puppets, music, and an engaging narrative for the whole family.

📅 Monday, August 24 – 9:00 PM
📍 Hemingway Park – Lignano Pineta
“Cuccioli and Maga Cornacchia’s Dinosaur” – Gruppo Alcuni and Rai Kids
A show dedicated to the characters from the famous animated series “Cuccioli,” featuring mascots, music, and audience participation.

📅 Wednesday, August 26 – 9:00 p.m.
📍 Piazza Ursella – Lignano Sabbiadoro
“Canzoncine” – Carlo Pastori Theater Company
A concert-show for the whole family


All performances are free of charge (with the exception of the 3D Readings event, which has limited seating; reservations are recommended).

A summer in Lignano to enjoy together, filled with stories, imagination, and performances under the stars for the whole family.

For more information:

Lignano Sabbiadoro Public Library
email: biblio@lignano.org
tel.: 0431409160