The World's Theatres - International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences
A week of theatre, circus, and workshops for children and families on the Porto Sant'Elpidio seafront
About The World's Theatres
A Historic Festival for Young Audiences
The World's Theatres is the International Festival of Theatre for Young Audiences in Porto Sant'Elpidio, in the province of Fermo, in the Marche region. Founded in 1990, it is now one of the longest-running and most recognized festivals of children's theatre in Italy: every summer it fills the parks, squares, and open spaces of the Adriatic town with performances designed for children and those who accompany them. The festival is organized by the Municipality of Porto Sant'Elpidio together with the Lagrù association and is supported by the Ministry of Culture through the National Fund for Live Performance, with funding confirmed until the 2025-2027 triennium.
What to See
The heart of the festival is the evening performances, but the program covers the whole day. The offerings span all genres of performing arts for children:
- Actor theatre and storytelling for young audiences
- Puppetry, hand puppets, and marionettes
- Dance theatre and circus arts
- Italian and international companies selected each year
Mornings are dedicated to workshops for children and young people (typically aged 5-6 to 13-14) on theatre, music, circus arts, and illustration, while the Theatre Campus offers an immersive week of guided activities and performances.
The 'Città dei bambini' Award
A distinctive element of the event is the Porto Sant'Elpidio - Città dei bambini Award, a competition decided by a jury of children themselves. Alongside this is the Gianni Battilà Award, given by the youth jury. It's a way to truly put children at the center, making them protagonists and not just spectators.
A Festival Spread Across the Marche
While its hub is in Porto Sant'Elpidio, The World's Theatres is a widespread festival: in recent editions, it has also brought performances to other municipalities in the Marche region such as Macerata, Monte Urano, Sant'Elpidio a Mare, and Porto Recanati, extending the festival beyond the main week in July. For families vacationing on the Riviera delle Palme, it's an opportunity to combine the sea with quality cultural offerings, in a cool and festive evening atmosphere in the city's parks.
Tradition and Identity
With over three decades of history, the festival has become part of Porto Sant'Elpidio's cultural identity and a national reference point for children's theatre. The poster, entrusted each year to a prestigious illustrator or comic artist, is one of the distinctive signs of the festival.
The World's Theatres — edition 2026
2026 Edition — The 37th
The 37th edition of The World's Theatres is confirmed from July 11 to 18, 2026, in Porto Sant'Elpidio (Fermo). The event, organized by the Municipality and the Lagrù association with support from the Ministry of Culture, confirms its established format: evening outdoor performances, morning workshops, and the 'Città dei bambini' competition with a jury of young people.
The 2026 poster has been entrusted to Paolo Bacilieri, an award-winning illustrator and comic artist (Gran Guinigi Award and ANAFI Award), confirming the festival's tradition of associating each edition with a major name in illustration.
The detailed program with the selected companies and show times will be published by the organization in the weeks preceding the festival.
Programme The World's Theatres 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition, including the selected companies and individual show times, will be announced by the organization in the weeks preceding the festival and published on the official website iteatridelmondo.it.
The usual daily structure includes:
- Morning — workshops for children and young people (theatre, music, circus arts, illustration) and Theatre Campus activities
- Afternoon and evening — performances of actor theatre, puppetry, marionettes, dance, and circus in the city's outdoor spaces
- Selection of competing companies for the Porto Sant'Elpidio - Città dei bambini Award, voted by the youth jury, and for the Gianni Battilà Award
No company names or show titles not yet officially published for 2026 are anticipated here.
Highlights The World's Theatres 2026
- 37th edition of the festival, founded in 1990
- 2026 poster by Paolo Bacilieri
- 'Città dei bambini' Award and Gianni Battilà Award
- International shows of theatre, puppetry, dance, and circus
- Morning workshops and Theatre Campus for young people
Prices The World's Theatres 2026
Practical information — The World's Theatres
Where
Performances take place in outdoor spaces in Porto Sant'Elpidio (province of Fermo, Marche), including the Parco della Resistenza in the San Filippo district. The ticket office and festival offices are traditionally located at Villa Murri, in Via San Giovanni Bosco 26/a.
How to Get Here
By train: Porto Sant'Elpidio station on the Bologna-Lecce Adriatic line. By car: take the Porto Sant'Elpidio exit from the A14 motorway. The nearest airport is Marche-Ancona (Falconara), about 50 km away.
Tickets
Admission to performances is ticketed at an affordable price; some events and activities are free. Season tickets for multiple shows are available. Tickets can be purchased online and at the festival offices.
When
The festival is held in July. The 2026 edition is scheduled from July 11 to 18.
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Where does it take place — The World's Theatres
Parco della Resistenza e spazi all'aperto del centro