Maggio all'Infanzia - Theatre Festival for New Generations
The widespread theatre festival for children and families, also taking place in Monopoli
About Maggio all'Infanzia
A historic festival for new generations
For nearly thirty years, Maggio all'Infanzia has been one of the most anticipated events for youth theatre in Italy. Established in the late nineties, the festival is now a widespread event that spans the entire Puglia region with over sixty appointments, including performances, workshops, and national and regional debuts, involving cities such as Bari, Lecce, Taranto, Molfetta, Ruvo di Puglia, Manfredonia, Martina Franca, and, of course, Monopoli, in the Province of Bari.
The festival is organised by the Fondazione SAT - Spettacolo Arte Territorio under the artistic direction of Teresa Ludovico, and is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Puglia Region, and a network of local bodies and national and European theatre networks.
Monopoli, an open-air stage
In Monopoli, the festival steps out of the theatres and takes over the city: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, the Prospero Rendella Library, the Teatro Radar, and the urban spaces of the centre become places for play, listening, and wonder. Alongside the performances by guest companies, the Monopoli programme offers creative workshops for schools, animated readings, and street theatre moments designed for families with children of all ages.
Quality theatre for everyone
The hallmark of Maggio all'Infanzia is the meeting of artistic research and accessibility: the programme alternates Italian productions with international companies, with a particular focus on puppet theatre, dance, contemporary circus, and storytelling. The policy of affordable tickets and solidarity initiatives like the Robin Hood Ticket, which allows people to donate entry to those who do not usually attend the theatre, testify to the festival's social vocation.
- Performances for children, teenagers, and families
- Italian and European companies
- Creative workshops and animated readings
- Street theatre in the town squares
- Affordable tickets and solidarity initiatives
For those visiting Puglia in the spring, Maggio all'Infanzia is the ideal opportunity to discover Monopoli and its historic centre overlooking the Adriatic while enjoying the theatre festival with the little ones.
Maggio all'Infanzia — edition 2026
2026 Edition - "Other Pinocchios"
The 29th edition of Maggio all'Infanzia celebrated the bicentenary of the birth of Carlo Collodi with the theme "Other Pinocchios," featured in over sixty events across Bari, Lecce, Taranto, Molfetta, Ruvo di Puglia, Manfredonia, Martina Franca, and Monopoli. Five national and five regional debuts enriched a programme designed for children, teenagers, and families.
In Monopoli, the festival animated squares, the library, and the theatre with workshops, readings, and puppet theatre performances, confirming the single affordable ticket price and the Robin Hood Ticket solidarity initiative.
Programme Maggio all'Infanzia 2026
Friday, May 2 - Prospero Rendella Library
- 5:00 PM — "Dining with Pinocchio", workshop-reading from the "Dining with..." format
Thursday, May 8 - Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II
- 9:00 AM — "The May Posters": local schoolchildren create colourful drawings that decorate the festival spaces (free admission)
Saturday, May 10 - Prospero Rendella Library
- 5:00 PM — "Dining with the Snow Queen", event from the "Dining with..." format
Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24 - outdoor amphitheatre
- "Eden" by the French company Théâtre Jaleo: an hour of cabaret blending puppet theatre, music, and dance
The Monopoli programme was part of the widespread festival across Puglia. For the full calendar of other cities and updates: www.maggioallinfanzia.it.
Highlights Maggio all'Infanzia 2026
Prices Maggio all'Infanzia 2026
Practical information — Maggio all'Infanzia
Where
Performances and workshops take place in various locations in Monopoli (BA): Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Prospero Rendella Library, Teatro Radar (via Magenta 71), and other urban spaces in the centre. The festival also takes place in other cities across Puglia.
Tickets
Many outdoor events and workshops are free; for indoor performances, tickets are affordably priced (starting from a few euros). The Robin Hood Ticket solidarity initiative is active. Advance sales are available at the Teatro Radar box office (Tuesday to Friday, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM) and online via the Vivaticket circuit.
How to get there
Monopoli is served by the railway station on the Adriatic line (Bari-Lecce) and is accessible by car via the SS16. The nearest airport is Bari-Palese, approximately 60 km away.
Information
Full programme and updates at www.maggioallinfanzia.it. Box office info: tel. +39 335 7564788, [email protected].
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
5 photos max, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Noticed an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Every proposal is verified by our team before publication.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Where does it take place — Maggio all'Infanzia
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, Biblioteca Prospero Rendella e Teatro Radar
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, 70043 Monopoli