La Luna è Azzurra – International Puppet Theatre Festival

The festival that makes San Miniato dream

La Luna è Azzurra is the International Puppet Theatre Festival that every June enlivens the historic centre of San Miniato, in the province of Pisa, in the heart of Tuscany. Founded in 1984 and reaching its 43rd edition in 2026, it is one of the longest-running and most beloved festivals dedicated to the art of puppets, marionettes, and figure theatre in Italy, having continued uninterrupted to this day.

For three evenings, the medieval village overlooking the lower Valdarno valley turns into a grand theatre-city: squares, alleys, and scenic viewpoints become natural stages where imagination comes to life. The festival is promoted by the Municipality of San Miniato in collaboration with Terzostudio Progetti per lo Spettacolo, a national leader in street and puppet theatre.

A universal language beyond words

The strength of puppet theatre lies in its ability to communicate visually and directly, breaking down language barriers through a cross-cultural code that speaks to everyone, young and old. The programme features a wide range of disciplines:

• String puppets and puppet theatre in its most classic forms;
• Shadow theatre and mask play;
• Musical clowning and poetic comedy;
• Illusionism, magic, and sleight of hand;
• Juggling and itinerant street art performances.

Companies from all over the world

The festival has a deeply international vocation: every edition brings companies and artists from different continents to San Miniato, alongside the best Italian acts. Over the years, the lineup has hosted performers from Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania, making this Tuscan town a meeting point for different theatrical cultures and traditions.

Since 1994, the festival has also awarded La Luna d'Argento, a lifetime achievement award dedicated to those who have made a significant contribution to the art of puppet theatre.

An experience for the whole family

With free admission to all shows, La Luna è Azzurra is designed to engage families, children, and spectators of all ages. Strolling through the historic centre of San Miniato in the evening, stopping from square to square to discover a new performance at every turn, is an experience that combines the wonder of theatre with the beauty of one of Tuscany's most evocative villages, also famous for its white truffle tradition.