14/07/2026
The Penang Puppet Festival returns this August with 🌷 Berbunga🌷, a joyful celebration of puppetry traditions as they continue to grow, evolve and bloom across generations. 🌸
Organised by Ombak Potehi (), this year’s festival brings together artists and puppetry traditions from across Asia through performances, exhibitions, workshops, talks and cultural exchanges.
Ombak Potehi was founded by Prof. Tan Sooi Beng, a renowned ethnomusicologist, scholar-activist and recipient of the 🏆20th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement Award🏆.
Check out Kakiseni’s YouTube channel to watch a video of her contributions and achievements to the arts!
👉🏽 Week 1: 12–16 August
🌺 Mekar Raya: The Blossoming of POTEHI
For the first time in Southeast Asia, POTEHI practitioners from Penang, Jakarta, Singapore, Taipei and Zhangzhou come together to celebrate a shared tradition that has taken root and blossomed in different communities and cultures. Beyond the performances, don’t miss the roundtable discussions, talks and a rare sharing on the Ta Peng (Traditional Stage Blessing Ritual).
👉🏽 Week 2: 20–23 August
🍃Warisan: Seeds of Tomorrow
The festival continues with a celebration of heritage, education, community and the next generation. Catch Iron-Rod Puppetry (Teochew), Wayang Kulit Kelantan, hands-on workshops, artist talks, community exchanges and the Lunasinar Art Market, all exploring how puppetry continues to inspire and flourish today.
Whether you’re a lifelong puppetry lover or simply curious to discover something new, this is a festival you won’t want to miss.
🎟️ For enquiries, tickets and the other programme information, scan the QR code on the poster or head over to on Instagram!
