Puppet Shows in Bologna | May–June 2026

With the arrival of the warm season, Fagiolino and Sganapino return outdoors, at the Mercato Ritrovato and Villa Torchi, with four free-admission events bringing the tradition of Bolognese puppetry into shared community spaces.

Performance schedule:

• Wednesday, May 13 at 5:00 PM at Mercato Ritrovato (via Azzo Gardino 65, Bologna)
  Puppets in a Crate
  A recycling-themed show with Fagiolino and Sganapino
  Through laughter, banter, and surprises, Bologna’s most beloved puppets will introduce the “circular crate”: a crate that travels, returns, and is reused, reducing waste and benefiting the environment.
  Free admission
  
  
• Wednesday, May 27 and Wednesday, June 17 at 5:30 PM at Villa Torchi (via Colombarola 46, Bologna)
  Tribute to Febo Vignoli
  Corticella pays tribute to Febo Vignoli, a local puppeteer, with two puppet shows for all ages: Fagiolino, Barber of the Dead and Fagiolino, Doctor by Necessity.
  Free admission
  
  
• Saturday, June 20 at 5:00 PM at Mercato Ritrovato (via Azzo Gardino 65, Bologna)
  Farces with Bolognese Puppets
  Fagiolino and Sganapino, armed only with a stick and a broom, deliver the inevitable comic beatings to those who deserve them! Along the way, they will also meet Doctor Balanzone, who will offer wise advice and bring the performance to a joyful conclusion with a meaningful moral.
  Free admission