Mitsikouri 2026 International Performing Arts Festival For Children And Young People

Mitsikouri is Cyprus’ first international performing arts festival dedicated to children and young people. The 2026 edition presents 14 productions from 11 countries for audiences aged 0–18, across cities and communities throughout Cyprus, introducing young audiences to contemporary theatre, dance, circus and participatory performance experiences.

Immobile & Rebondi

Compagnie Lamento | France | 3+

Immobile is struggling with a lack of inspiration: faced with a blank page, the artist broods… But he has not counted on Rebondi, a strange creature born from a pile of failed drawings and never short of ideas! Against a black-and-white backdrop, two seemingly opposite characters come to life through drawing, dance and acrobatics. With humour and imagination, the colours of a world full of possibilities emerge on stage. A story that encourages us to embrace mistakes and let our imagination take flight.

Performances

• Saturday 10 October 2026, 11:00 & 16:00 - Melina Merkouri Cultural Centre, Nicosia

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of France and the French Institute in Cyprus.

Archipelago

Teatro Telaio | Italy | 7+

An emotional theatre installation brought to life and animated by the children themselves. The luminous archipelago is made up of separate islands: small glowing tents that create a real miniature sea, where even the sound of the waves can be heard. Guided by magical and meaningful words - listen, look, hear, tell - each child enters this world and responds to the different stimuli offered by every island. At the end, the children gather for a moment of sharing and symbolic reflection.

Performances

• Saturday 10 October 2026, 17:00 & 19:00 - Limassol Municipal Arts Centre – Papadakis Warehouses, Limassol

• Sunday 11 October 2026, 16:00 & 18:00 - Dancehouse Lefkosia, Nicosia

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of Italy in Cyprus.

The Story of Larry

Moritz Praxmarer | Switzerland | 12+

Welcome to the true story of Larry Walters - the most flight-incompetent pilot who ever took off anyway. Equipped with only a packet of teabags, this minimalist object-theatre performance pursues big dreams and asks why we chase them in the first place.

Performances

• Saturday 10 October 2026, 17:00 - Picnic, Nicosia

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of Switzerland in Cyprus.

Kiki and Koko Go Loco

Yasemin Collective | Cyprus | 4+

Two friends dream of flying, even though everyone around them believes their dream is impossible. Through comic and absurd situations, physical theatre, rhythm and lively interaction with the audience, the performance explores friendship, freedom of expression, failure, courage and perseverance in the face of challenges. This interactive, non-verbal clown-theatre performance creates an accessible theatrical world that transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Performances

• Saturday 10 October 2026, 17:00 - Olympos Cultural Centre, Pelendri

• Sunday 11 October 2026, 11:00 - Dancehouse Lefkosia, Nicosia

Club Origami

Ichi Ni San | United Kingdom / Japan | 2-6

Rip, fold and scrunch! What can we make with a single square of paper? As you crumple it, watch your imagination begin to dance… Enter the magical world of Club Origami, an immersive and interactive dance performance inviting the whole family to create, imagine and explore new ways of thinking, playing and moving. Dance, fashion and live music meet the magic of origami, sweeping us into a spirited and inspiring adventure in a world made entirely of paper and play.

Performances

• Sunday 11 October 2026, 11:00 & 16:00 - Melina Merkouri Cultural Centre, Nicosia

Held under the auspices of the British High Commission in Cyprus and the Embassy of Japan in Cyprus.

Solitarium

Teatrodistinto | Italy | 7+

Two people live apart, each in their own solitude, shaped by everyday life and routine, with gestures marking time in a rhythmic and inexorable pattern. They prepare themselves for life, separated by an imaginary wall. A short road allows them to draw closer, face their desire to meet and overcome their shyness. Small gestures, fleeting glances and the sound of their footsteps shorten the distance, until they open their doors and find each other without fear. Through image, dance and sound, Solitarium explores human relationships in their simplicity and purity.

Performances

• Sunday 11 October 2026, 18:00 - Melina Merkouri Cultural Centre, Nicosia

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of Italy in Cyprus.

Kuris Kuri

No Shoes Theatre | Lithuania | 6+

Mitsikouri Festival x Cyprus Sports Organisation

*Within the framework of the Be Active and Sport for All (AGO) programmes

Two athletes of different nationalities meet in competitions across a range of sports. Both want to win, but success alternates between them. The performance explores competition: how to accept defeat, hold on to hope and continue working towards our goals. It also searches for paths towards friendship, reconciliation and mutual support. Dance meets sport, conveying the qualities of different disciplines, the principles of play and their rules. The audience is not a passive observer: it becomes a supporter, a judge or even a player.

Performances

• Tuesday 13 October 2026, 17:00 - Zouhouri Square, Larnaca

• Wednesday 14 October 2026, 17:00 - Old GSP Square, Nicosia

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of Lithuania in Greece and Cyprus.

Helix – The Hanging Garden (relaxed performance*)

Spektra | Norway | 3+ and neurodiverse people accompanied by carers

Mitsikouri Festival x ENA Foundation x University of Limassol

Welcome to a sensory performance installation where movement, sound and human connection intertwine. The experience begins before entering the space, as the performers welcome the audience through warm gestures and body language, creating a safe space of shared understanding. Inside, the audience sits on cloud-like surfaces -accessible to wheelchairs and mobility aids- within a playful, constantly shifting soundscape. Helix - The Hanging Garden offers a gentle space where everyone can simply be together, without the need for explanation. After the performance, the audience is invited to explore the interactive hanging garden and connect with the performers at their own pace.

Performances

• Wednesday 14 October 2026, 11:00 & 17:00 - Melina Merkouri Cultural Centre, Nicosia

• Thursday 15 October 2026, 11:00 & 17:00 - Melina Merkouri Cultural Centre, Nicosia*

*** A discussion will follow.**

Held under the auspices of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Greece and Cyprus.

WOW!

BonteHond | The Netherlands | 2+

WOW! is a physical and musical performance that reveals the world through the eyes of toddlers, who delight in everyday objects and situations. Ordinary things that initially seem mundane or challenging become far more interesting, exciting and beautiful than we expected. Using colourful honeycomb-paper books of different sizes, unfolding like fans or accordions, the performers explore endless possibilities and invite us into a world of play, wonder and delight.

Performances

• Saturday 17 October 2026, 10:00 & 12:00 - Melina Merkouri Cultural Centre, Nicosia

• Sunday 18 October 2026, 16:00 - Attikon Multicultural Centre, Pafos

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Cyprus.

Be Kind

Emilie Weisse Circustheater | The Netherlands | 6-18 months

Be Kind is an intimate circus-theatre experience for babies aged 6 to 18 months and their parents or caregivers. Up close, the little ones are introduced to sound, light, acrobatics and juggling. During the performance, a warm dialogue develops between the artists and their young audience. Thanks to these spontaneous interactions, each performance is slightly different. Afterwards, the artists invite the audience to explore the stage with them. The production has already been presented in 14 countries and now comes to Cyprus for the first time!

Performances

• Saturday 17 October 2026, 16:00 - Dancehouse Lefkosia, Nicosia

• Sunday 18 October 2026, 10:00 & 12:00 - Dancehouse Lefkosia, Nicosia

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Cyprus.

Coperta

Rotondes | Luxembourg | 3+

In Coperta, three young people spend their first night away from home and must confront their fears. But they do not face the challenge alone. Through the long hours until dawn, they come together under the covers, share stories and comfort one another. As the night unfolds, trust grows and a quiet, tender adventure emerges, one step at a time. A playful and moving performance showing young audiences that opening up to others can unlock unforgettable moments of shared joy.

Performances

• Saturday 17 October 2026, 16:00 - Melina Mercouri Cultural Centre, Nicosia

• Sunday 18 October 2026, 17:00 - Synergeio Performing Arts Centre, Limassol

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Greece, Cyprus and Romania.With the support of Kultur LX - Arts Council Luxembourg.

PLOCK!

Grensgeval | Belgium | 4+

Mitsikouri Festival x A. G. Leventis Gallery

Jakob tries to copy a painting by his hero, Jackson Pollock. But how can he place the right blot in the right spot? Should he drip, throw, pour or splash the paint? Should he use brushes, sticks or entire containers? He puts every part of his body to work, but however much he twists, jumps or rolls, his painting never resembles the original. PLOCK! is visual circus and sound theatre for all the senses: cans buzz, paint dances, sounds become coloured and an acrobatic painter dares to colour outside the lines.

Performances

• Saturday 17 October 2026, 17:00 - A. G. Leventis Gallery, Nicosia

• Sunday 18 October 2026, 11:00 & 17:00 - A. G. Leventis Gallery, Nicosia

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of Belgium in Greece and Cyprus.

Souvenirs

Claire & Antho | France | All ages

French performance duo Claire & Antho combine dance, shadow play and visual illusion to tell deeply human stories. The performance sensitively portrays the quiet struggles associated with mental health: anxiety, self-doubt, emotional weight and the “shadows” we often hide. It highlights the power of connection, vulnerability and healing. Through striking imagery, it reminds us that darkness and light coexist, and that facing our inner battles together can bring strength and hope.

Performances

• Saturday 17 October 2026, 19:00 - Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia

Mitsikouri Festival x NIF 2026

• Sunday 18 October 2026, 19:00 - Pattihio Municipal Theatre Limassol

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of France and the French Institute in Cyprus..

DUST

Claire Parsons Co. | Sweden | 6+

DUST is a fictional tale, a playful blend of memory and tactility, magical realism, soft circus and acrobatics in a world viewed upside down - and sometimes sideways. Three performers travel through a place where something has happened; objects move and music dances in an adventure that transforms in delightfully strange and wondrous ways.

Performances

• Sunday 18 October 2026, 15:00 & 18:00 - Melina Mercouri Cultural Centre, Nicosia

Held under the auspices of the Embassy of Sweden in Cyprus.