Ambarabà - Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences and Puppetry
Edition 2026 Theater Puppets Storytelling

Ambarabà - Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences and Puppetry

The festival of theatre for young audiences and puppetry that starts from Jesi and enlivens the summer of the Vallesina

Jesi — Ancona (042) Since 1999
Dates 23 Jun — 23 Jun 2026
Location Jesi (042)
Prices
Status Confirmed

About Ambarabà

Ambarabà is the Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences and Puppetry organized in Jesi by the social enterprise Teatro Giovani Teatro Pirata: every summer it brings puppets, marionettes, storytelling, and new circus to the squares, parks, and theatres of the province of Ancona. In Jesi, the company's home city, the shows and theatrical picnics are designed for children and families, in places like the Teatro Studio Valeria Moriconi and the city gardens. A curated event, low-priced or free, to discover live theatre for new generations in the heart of the Marche region.

The festival of theatre for young audiences born in Jesi

Ambarabà is the Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences and Puppetry conceived and organized by the social enterprise Teatro Giovani Teatro Pirata, one of the historic players in live performance for children and youth in the Marche region. The company has its operational headquarters in Jesi, in the province of Ancona, and it is from here that every summer a travelling review takes shape, touching numerous municipalities in the Vallesina and the Misa and Nevola valleys. Jesi is therefore the beating heart of the project: the city where the programme is conceived, where the offices and ticket office are located, and where a part of the shows is staged.

Puppets, marionettes, and new circus for the little ones

The festival focuses on puppetry: traditional puppets, table marionettes, actor theatre with puppets, storytelling, fairy tales, juggling, and silent circus. Each edition features Italian companies specializing in children's audiences, with shows lasting on average an hour and a language capable of speaking to children without forgetting the adults who accompany them. Alongside the evening shows, a much-loved format is the theatrical picnics: afternoons outdoors in parks and gardens, where performers tell a story while children have a snack.

The shows in Jesi

In Jesi, Ambarabà's events find a home in various spaces in the city: from the Teatro Studio Valeria Moriconi, a theatre dedicated to research and theatre for new generations, to the gardens and courtyards of the centre, up to the Orti Pace, a green lung of the city often chosen for theatrical picnics. These are simple, quality opportunities to experience live theatre as a family, on summer evenings or in the late afternoon, when the heat subsides.

A cultural project for the territory

Ambarabà is not just entertainment: it is a project to promote theatre for children and to animate the centres of the province of Ancona, in the Marche region. The review is made possible with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Marche Region, AMAT (Marchigiana Association of Theatrical Activities), and the Municipalities involved. This network allows quality culture to be brought even to the smallest villages, valuing squares, parks, and theatres as natural stages and making Jesi the starting point of an experience that unites the entire Vallesina.

Ambarabà — edition 2026

The 2026 edition of Ambarabà opens in Jesi: on June 23, the Teatro Studio Valeria Moriconi hosts the show Il Circo Palacinca, the first event of a travelling review that continues in Corinaldo, Montecarotto, and Senigallia. An evening of puppetry and new circus for children and families, starting at 9:30 PM.

In 2026, the Ambarabà festival by Teatro Giovani Teatro Pirata inaugurates its programme in Jesi, the company's home city. The first event is scheduled for Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the Teatro Studio Valeria Moriconi with the show Il Circo Palacinca, at 9:30 PM. The 2026 review then unfolds between June and July across several municipalities in the province of Ancona — Corinaldo (Piazza Il Terreno), Montecarotto (Piazza del Teatro), and Senigallia (Cortile della Scuola Pascoli) — with shows of puppets, marionettes, actor theatre, and new circus for children.

The Jesi evening opens the summer of theatre for young audiences in the Vallesina and is designed for families with children. Evening shows have a single ticket price, with a reduced rate for the very young and a promotion valid on the festival circuit.

Programme Ambarabà 2026

The event in Jesi — Teatro Studio Valeria Moriconi

  • Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 9:30 PM — Il Circo Palacinca (puppetry and new circus for children and families)

The other stops of the 2026 review (province of Ancona)

  • July 3 — Corinaldo, Piazza Il Terreno: Burattini all'improvviso, 9:30 PM
  • July 7 — Montecarotto, Piazza del Teatro: Storie nell'armadio, 9:30 PM
  • July 9 — Senigallia, Cortile Scuola Pascoli: Le avventure di Pulcino, 9:30 PM
  • July 16 — Senigallia, Cortile Scuola Pascoli: Mago per svago, 9:30 PM
  • July 17 — Corinaldo, Piazza Il Terreno: Cappuccetto e il lupo, 9:30 PM

The shows last about an hour. The schedule may be supplemented with additional dates and afternoon theatrical picnics: it is advisable to check for updates on the organizer's website.

Highlights Ambarabà 2026

In Jesi, the 2026 event is Il Circo Palacinca, staged on Tuesday, June 23, at the Teatro Studio Valeria Moriconi at 9:30 PM: it is the show that opens the entire travelling review.

Prices Ambarabà 2026

<p>Evening shows: single ticket price <strong>€5.00</strong>; children under 3 years old €0.50. Promotion: 2 paid shows + 1 free show of choice on the festival circuit. Ticket office: Teatro Giovani Teatro Pirata, tel. +39 0731 56590.</p>

Practical information — Ambarabà

Where

In Jesi (Province of Ancona, Marche), Ambarabà shows are held in various venues, including the Teatro Studio Valeria Moriconi and city gardens like the Orti Pace. The review is travelling and continues in other municipalities of the Vallesina and the Misa and Nevola valleys.

Times

Evening shows generally start at 9:30 PM; theatrical picnics take place in the late afternoon (around 6:00 PM). In case of bad weather, events may be moved or postponed: it is advisable to check the official channels.

Tickets

For evening shows, there is a single ticket price of approximately €5.00; children under 3 pay €0.50. A promotion is active (2 paid shows entitle you to one free show on the festival circuit). Theatrical picnics are generally free with booking. Check updated prices with the organization.

How to get there

Jesi can be reached by car from the A14 (Ancona Nord exit) and the SS76 della Vallesina; it is also served by the railway station on the Rome-Ancona line. The historic centre is pedestrianized: it is advisable to park in the areas outside the walls.

Contacts

Teatro Giovani Teatro Pirata — tel. +39 0731 56590 / +39 334 1684688 — [email protected]

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Where does it take place — Ambarabà

Teatro Studio Valeria Moriconi

Teatro Studio Valeria Moriconi, Via Mazzini, 60035 Jesi

Contact Ambarabà

Tel
+39 0731 56590

Ambarabà in brief

Theater Puppets Storytelling Folklore Young audience Family Children Outdoor Free Multidisciplinary Ancona

History of Ambarabà