Fidena Festival 2026: Open Stage brings puppet theater to Bochum
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Fidena Festival: Open Stage in the Rotunda – an evening full of puppet theater, experimentation, and festival excitement
The Fidena brings international puppet theater back to Bochum and the region in 2026: The festival takes place from May 13 to May 21, 2026; the new edition has represented strong productions, curated discoveries, and a special sense of community in Bochum since 1958. The Open Stage evening in the Rotunda promises intimacy, surprises, and that lively festival atmosphere for which Fidena has been known for decades. ([fidena.de](https://www.fidena.de/programm/fidena/fidena-2026/mn_48640?utm_source=openai))
A festival with history and a clear signature
Fidena is more than just a schedule: The festival is a cornerstone of the puppet theater scene and has been presenting international works, new perspectives, and artistic signatures with profile for decades. For 2026, the organizer announces the start of ticket sales from March 26, 2026, and refers to performances in Bochum as well as other cities in the Ruhr area. ([fidena.de](https://www.fidena.de/programm/fidena/fidena-2026/mn_48640?utm_source=openai))
Open Stage in the Rotunda: close, direct, surprising
The Rotunda at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 3 in Bochum, with its urban character, provides the perfect setting for an evening that emphasizes spontaneity, exchange, and edgy stage moments. Those who love puppet theater will not experience a distant high culture here, but an immediate multi-day experience in festival mode – concentrated, curious, and close to the artists. ([mc-bochum.de](https://www.mc-bochum.de/locations/rotunde-alter-katholikentagsbahnhof/?utm_source=openai))
Festival organization, community, and new perspectives
A special feature of Fidena 2026 is the citizen jury: A nine-member group from the Ruhr area participates in the selection of productions, thereby strengthening the dialogue between the festival and city society. The festival is consciously opening up to collaborative curation and thus sets a clear sign for cultural participation. ([fidena.de](https://www.fidena.de/programm/fidena/fidena-2026/buerger-innenjury/mn_48639?utm_source=openai))
What visitors can expect on site
The Open Stage evening thrives on the mix of artistic concentration, creative surprise, and the typical community feeling of a festival that is deeply rooted in Bochum. The Rotunda is centrally located, easily accessible, and the surroundings around Konrad-Adenauer-Platz offer urban festival atmosphere instead of anonymous large events. ([mc-bochum.de](https://www.mc-bochum.de/locations/rotunde-alter-katholikentagsbahnhof/?utm_source=openai))
Conclusion
Fidena Festival: Open Stage is a date for everyone who wants to not only see puppet theater but experience it as a living festival moment. Here, tradition, new ideas, and an open audience come together. Those who are excited about extraordinary stage art should not miss this evening live in Bochum. ([fidena.de](https://www.fidena.de/programm/fidena/fidena-2026/mn_48640?utm_source=openai))
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