Pesta Boneka happens in Yogyakarta, a city famous for its vibrant culture. The festival blends local traditions with creative ideas from around the world. Pesta Boneka, also known as Papermoon Puppet Theatre, is a well-known event in Yogyakarta that began in 2008. In Javanese tradition, puppetry is a long-standing art form tied to spiritual, moral, and community traditions such as wayang kulit, or shadow puppetry.
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The festival has grown from a local event to an international event that draws talented puppet artists from around the world. Pesta Boneka highlights this change by offering performances, workshops, and cultural exchanges in a friendly, open setting.
What’s Pesta Boneka?
Pesta Boneka is an independent international puppet festival held every two years in Yogyakarta. It gathers puppet artists from many countries to share their work, learn from each other, and introduce new puppetry styles to Indonesia.
Papermoon Puppet Theatre organizes the festival, bringing together both local and international artists. At Pesta Boneka, traditional Javanese puppetry meets modern styles from across the world.
The festival features live shows both indoors and outdoors, artist talks, workshops, film screenings, and community events. You’ll see many types of puppets, shadow puppets, object theatre, and mixed-media art. The performances bring objects to life and tell stories about connection, memory, and hope. Papermoon’s philosophy is that “everything holds life somewhere inside of it”.
Over the years, the festival has expanded from small local events to a major international biennale. For example, the 9th edition featured 120 artists from 25 countries at Kampoeng Media in Sleman, Yogyakarta. Even as it grows, the festival keeps its close community feel.
Behind the Story of Pesta Boneka International Biennale Puppet Festival
Pesta Boneka began with Papermoon Puppet Theatre, founded in 2006 by Maria Tri Sulistyani (Ria) and Iwan Effendi in Yogyakarta. They wanted to find new and creative ways to do puppetry. In 2008, they held the first Pesta Boneka as a space for both local and international artists.
The festival happens every two years, giving time for preparation, international invitations, and planning. The 10th edition, set for October 2026, will have the theme “HOLDING HANDS,” which stands for unity, support, and connection across borders.
At the festival, you can watch the opening show, see puppet parades, join workshops to try puppetry, and take part in talks with artists. The festival uses handmade puppets, creative lighting, stages, and sometimes traditional gamelan music or modern sounds. Puppets are more than just objects; they tell stories and connect people and ideas.
Pesta Boneka has grown from a mostly Indonesian art event into a global festival, now featuring artists from over 25 countries. It still centers on Yogyakarta and nearby villages but welcomes ideas from everywhere. This mix makes the festival both traditional and new.
Ticket
For example, the 9th edition in October 2024 ran from 23-27 October at Kampoeng Media, Yogyakarta. You can usually choose daily passes, tickets for certain performances, or festival packages that include workshops and shows. Check the official festival page for the latest prices and dates.
- Operating Hours: 11 AM – 11 PM
- Location: Jl. Sembungan, Bangunjiwo, Kasihan, Bantul (Studio of Papermoon Puppet Theatre)
- Instagram: @pesta_boneka
Visit the official website pestaboneka.com, and Instagram@pesta_boneka for more updates.