Manipulate Arts – Scotland’s home for cutting-edge animation, puppetry and visual theatre – has announced the programme for the 19th edition of Manipulate Festival in its traditional timeslot of February. But that’s about all that is traditional! Its most ambitious programme to date will feature 4 World Premieres and 6 Scottish premieres on stage, artists from over 25 countries represented between film and live performance, and an increased presence across the city of Edinburgh, popping up in eight city venues, including the festival’s first appearances at Filmhouse and Lyra, with further shows and events across venues such as the Traverse Theatre, Studio Theatre at Capital Theatres, Dance Base, Summerhall, WHALE Arts and Out of the Blue Drill Hall.
This 19th Manipulate Festival will explore themes of change and transformation from the personal to the global showing how finding empathy and seeing the world through another’s eyes can open up new possibilities and reveal moments of surprise and unpredictability while being entertained.
The live performance programme will see five leading Scottish theatre companies premiere new works, joined by five world class international puppetry and visual theatre works from across the globe. In film, Manipulate Arts will screen two features and four shorts programmes at Edinburgh’s Filmhouse, and will host the first Manipulate Festival official ‘In Competition’ to award the best in Scottish animation.
An enhanced community programme will see the return of the wonderful One Bum Cinema Club, that will tour libraries across Edinburgh; workshops in inflatable puppet-making for young people and families in collaboration with WHALE Arts and a series of small community parades which will see young people and their homegrown puppets join forces with Tim Davies’ Ocho – a larger than life inflatable Octopus puppet, where a single puppeteer manoeuvres eight independently articulated legs.
With this ambitious programme, Manipulate Arts continues its commitment to nurture homegrown Scottish talent as a key factor in sustainability in the Scottish arts, particularly in the fields of animation, puppetry and visual theatre. Over 20 lead artists from across Scotland will participate in the Festival in 2026, while Manipulate Arts also returns to form as a leader in international animation, puppetry and visual theatre, fostering global connection across the artforms.
Dawn Taylor, Artistic Director & CEO of Manipulate Arts said “We are thrilled to bring back Manipulate Festival in 2026, bigger and better, working in partnership with more organisations across Edinburgh than ever before.
Bringing the work of such a fearless, inventive, diverse and talented group of artists to stage and screen is both a privilege and a joy, and whether you’re looking for gripping stories, stunning visuals, rollicking entertainment or political provocation, there’s truly something for everyone in this year’s programme.
From the deeply personal to the deeply philosophical, this year’s programme spans a wide range of themes including explorations of our relationship with time, to the awesome power and beauty of nature, and the enduring legacies of colonialism.
Manipulate Festival is a true celebration of excellence in visual artforms, with the calibre and range of work on offer demonstrating huge potential in these forms to communicate human stories and big ideas to audiences of all ages.”
Dates: Wednesday 4th – Tuesday 10th February 2026
Full programme available at Manipulate Festival 2026 – Manipulate Arts
Irene Brown
Radio Summerhall Arts 