A sea of puppets and masks is sweeping over Calgary for nine days this March

Get ready to immerse yourself in a sea of whimsical puppets and masks galore. With both free and ticketed events to choose from, the International Festival of Animated Objects is back in Calgary for its 15th year, taking over the city from March 14 to 22, 2026. So get ready to lean into the weird and wacky, because you never know where you might find your next dose of inspiration.

For the duration of the festival, guests can expect a mix of live performances, film screenings, exhibitions, and workshops, with something for everyone, “from ages one to 100,” according to Tourism Calgary.

International Festival of Animated Objects Society is a non-profit dedicated to spotlighting mask and puppet-related art. The festival serves as an “incubator of animated objects,” presenting local, national, and international puppetry to Alberta audiences.

This one-of-a-kind series of immersive shows and events is truly like no other, allowing emerging artists and the public to converge and explore some surreal themes and mediums together.

Here are just some of the events you’ll find at this year’s festival and beyond:

• Monsters, Fables + Moving Things: March 1 to April 30, 2026
• Body Objects: Jeanne Crandall and Anna Ugolkova: March 5 to 29, 2026
• Enchanted Matter: Puppetry, animation and magic: March 9 to 20, 2026
• Tiny Wonders: The Guided Tour: March 14, 2026
• Memory Hotel: March 14, 2026
• Working With Media: March 16, 2026
• Enchanted Matter Exhibition: Reception: March 17, 2026
• The Light of the Deep: March 17, 2026
• Twilight Glow of Romeo: March 18 and 19, 2026
• Dolly Wiggler Cabaret: March 20, 2026
• Silly Sock Monster Puppets Family Workshop: March 21, 2026

And that’s just a taste of this year’s lineup. So mark your calendars, and consider checking out one or a couple of these exhibitions and shows!

It’s time to embrace your inner weirdo, Calgary.

When: March 14 to 22, 2026
Time: Varies per event
Where: Multiple venues across Calgary 
Cost: Free and ticketed events

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Isabelle Vauclair

Staff Writer, Vancouver – Isabelle is a West Coast native with an appreciation for Vancouver’s natural landscape, patio scene, and community spaces. She loves to discover new hidden gems in her neighbourhood and share them with readers across the city.

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