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National Puppetry Conference 2026
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National Puppetry Conference 2026

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center

April 6, 2026Waterford, CT, USA

The O'Neill National Puppetry Conference is the cornerstone of professional development in North America, pushing artists to create and communicate through visual and kinetic puppet forms. It is ideal for puppeteers seeking to refine complex mechanical engineering, isolate vocal techniques, or deconstruct dramaturgical structures under master guidance. The conference is unique for its meticulou...

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Highly specialized 'strands' for focused technical or thematic exploration (e.g., 'Puppets, Storytelling, and Healing,' 'Language of Material and Objects,' 'Writing for Puppetry,' 'Everything you Wanted to Know about Mechs!', 'Marionette Construction,' 'Marionette Performance,' 'Puppet Video Bootcamp'). Nurturing, non-judgmental atmosphere. Comprehensive scholarship frameworks available.

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Open to professional puppeteers and theatermakers. All 2026 participants are strictly required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test within 24 hours prior to their arrival on campus.

Dates & details

Deadline
Early Bird deadline (offers significant discount for broader O'Neill theatermaker programs). Regula…
Programme dates
Pre-Conference intensive: May 31 - June 4, 2026; Main Conference: June 6 - June 14, 2026.
Duration
Pre-Conference: 5 days; Main Conference: 9 days.
Costs to the artist
$800-$1,675 (tuition, before scholarships)
Language
English fluency required
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No direct funding
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Free

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