AHA! International Theatre for Children Festival 2026: Bengaluru and Ahmedabad Schedule
June 25, 2026 16:31:23 IST MTG editorial
Ranga Shankara's AHA! International Theatre for Children Festival 2026 returns from Julyb18 to 25, bringing young audiences, parents, educators and theatre practitioners together for a celebration of live performance.
Now in its 16th edition, the festival presents an eight-day programme featuring theatre companies and artists from Argentina, South Korea, Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany and India. The Bengaluru programme will be hosted at Ranga Shankara, while selected international productions will also travel to Ahmedabad in partnership with Neekoee Foundation.
AHA! Theatre for Children is one of Ranga Shankara's most significant initiatives. The programme introduces children to imaginative, visual, physical and sensory storytelling that entertains while encouraging curiosity, empathy, collaboration and creative thinking. By transforming complex ideas into engaging stage experiences, children's theatre can help young viewers explore themes related to identity, social stereotypes, the environment and the world around them.
The 2026 festival offers a wide range of theatrical forms and storytelling approaches. Audiences can experience miniature and object theatre, physical performance, puppetry, visual storytelling and contemporary international productions. The lineup includes Sortilegio (Alchemist), Giant's Table, Miniatures, Chifumi, Jonathan & The Blue Table, Moon's Magic & Sapling, Postal and The Day My Father Became a Bush.
For theatre artists, directors, theatre groups and producers, the AHA! International Theatre for Children Festival is also an important space to observe global performance practices, discover new approaches to creating work for younger audiences and build meaningful artistic conversations.
The Ahmedabad edition extends the festival's reach through Neekoee Foundation, which works to make high-quality arts and cultural experiences accessible across communities.
At a time when digital screens dominate children's attention, the festival offers the rare experience of watching stories unfold live, together and in the moment. It is an opportunity to nurture future audiences while celebrating the creativity and possibilities of theatre for children.
Bengaluru Festival Schedule
Ahmedabad Festival Schedule
*Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule.
