19/08/2026
SONGKHLA HARMONY WORLD PUPPET FESTIVAL & UNIMA ASIA-PACIFIC FORUM THAILAND 2026.
This gathering represents far more than an international festival. It is a celebration of our shared humanity, expressed through the timeless language of puppetry. Across continents and cultures, puppets have long carried our stories, beliefs, dreams, humour, and collective memory.
They connect generations, preserve cultural heritage, encourage imagination, and create meaningful dialogue beyond the boundaries of language, nationality, and ideology.
For centuries, puppetry has reflected the identity of communities while continually evolving through artistic innovation. Today, as our societies face unprecedented cultural, environmental, and technological transformations, the role of puppetry has become even more significant. It reminds us that creativity, empathy, and cultural diversity remain essential foundations for building peaceful and sustainable societies..
This Festival and Forum embody our shared commitment to safeguarding both traditional and contemporary puppetry while encouraging innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international friendship. Through performances, exhibitions, academic forums, workshops, and community engagement, we celebrate not only artistic excellence but also the enduring power of culture to unite people across differences.
We believe that puppetry is more than an art form. It is a living expression of intangible cultural heritage, a bridge between generations, a catalyst for education, and a powerful medium for cultural diplomacy. In an increasingly interconnected world, our collective responsibility is not only to preserve these traditions but also to inspire future generations to reimagine them with creativity, respect, and hope.
The SONGKHLA HARMONY WORLD PUPPET FESTIVAL & UNIMA ASIA-PACIFIC FORUM THAILAND 2026 reflects the spirit of collaboration that has always defined UNIMA. Every artist, every performance, every conversation, and every new friendship contributes to strengthening the global puppetry community and enriching our shared cultural future.
On behalf of UNIMA Thailand and the Organizing Committee, I extend my deepest appreciation to UNIMA International, the UNIMA Asia-Pacific Commission, all UNIMA National Centres, participating puppet companies, artists, speakers, volunteers, government agencies, cultural institutions, educational partners, sponsors, and the people of Songkhla. Your generosity, dedication, and collaboration have made this remarkable gathering possible.
May these days together inspire new artistic journeys, lasting partnerships, and renewed commitment to the values that unite us
creativity, cultural diversity, mutual respect, and peace.
May the friendships formed here continue long after the festival concludes, and may the spirit of puppetry continue to illuminate hearts
From
Precident of Unima Thailand
Konglar Kanchanahoti
Unima Thailand Committee
Semathai Mariontte Puppet Semathai Foundation
We Are Unima Harmony World Puppet Festival
Thanks for Supported from TCEB Domestic MICE Thanks for all Dream teams from Songkhla ,every Participants and Everyone thats join with our worldwide UNIMA family
