7th Edition of Carthage Puppet Arts Days Comes to a Close
The 7th edition of the Carthage Puppet Arts Days (February 2-8, 2026) has come to a close at the Theatre of Regions in the City of Culture, Tunis, with the announcement of the awards.
Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony, attended by Amina Srarfi, Minister of Cultural Affairs, featured puppet performances, a recap of the session, a summary of the workshops and masterclasses, and a video projection on the 50th anniversary of the birth of puppetry.
Jury Recommendations and Awards
The jury, led by journalist Lotfi Arbi Snoussi and comprising Fathi Dhhibi, Director of the Centre for Dramatic and Scenic Arts of La Manouba, and Walid Loussiï, puppeteer, recommended increasing the number of awards, re-evaluating the texts of the shows, particularly those for children, and involving children in the creation of puppets. The jury then announced the awards, with two Tunisian puppet shows for children standing out among the six performances.
The Grand Prize of 10,000 dinars, offered by the Opera Theatre, was awarded ex-aequo to the Tunisian shows for children: "Tidinît" by Hafedh Khelifa, Sipario Production, and "La paix et les fourmis" by Hassen Sellami, Masque Production.
Performances and Tributes
The ceremony began with a choreographed performance without words featuring three puppet characters, followed by a short performance by Algerian puppeteer Damo with a pink flamingo. The ceremony also included a tribute to the partners of the Carthage Puppet Arts Days, with the Centre for Puppet Arts presenting trophies representing puppets made by workshop participants. The ceremony concluded with a video projection summarizing the 50 years of puppetry in Tunisia.
7th Edition Highlights
The 7th edition of the Carthage Puppet Arts Days presented 30 shows for children and families, 6 for adults, as well as performances by amateur groups and music. The event also included workshops and masterclasses for students of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art and the interested public, as well as two colloquia on puppetry between intangible heritage and creative economy. The event paid tribute to three iconic figures in the world of puppetry in Tunisia: Monia Abid, former director of the Centre for Puppet Arts, Habiba Jendoubi, puppeteer, and Kacem Ismail Chermiti, artist.
Read also: 7th JAMC: "Atyef" by Habiba Jendoubi (Tunisia): A Visual Epic in Carried Shadows
