Baboró International Arts Festival for Children, which runs from 10 to 19 October 2025, offers an extraordinary programme for its 29th year featuring theatre, dance, circus, puppetry, literature, visual art and workshops for audiences from newborns to teens. With artists from Ireland and around the world, this ten day festival brings magical moments to children across Galway city, county and beyond. Find out more below...
This year’s festival reaffirms Baboró’s commitment to accessibility, imagination and joy, ensuring families, schools and communities encounter creativity in new and inspiring ways. Two events made especially for children with additional needs are the charming Hello, Hands and Feet by Spanish circus company Animal Religion and the very chilled The Sound Nest by That’s Life, a collective of local artists with ID. The programme also includes access measures such as captioned performances, ISL interpretation, touch tours and audio description. There are 10 non-verbal performances and 9 relaxed events to ensure everyone feels welcome at the festival. And of course free events such as exhibitions, installations, storytime and school workshops continue to be a feature of Baboró’s annual programme.
Among the performance programme highlights are the Spanish production …and the ideas soar, a luminous circus performance filled with humour, sound and play, and Be Kind from the Netherlands, a sensory introduction to performance for babies and toddlers. From Ireland, FEN presents a gentle yet moving puppet tale about protecting the natural world, while Branar brings Leaves, a new Dublin Theatre Festival production that combines enchanting puppetry with music by Colm Mac Con Iomaire. From England comes The Little Prince, a spellbinding adaptation of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s much-loved story, staged with captioned performances to ensure inclusivity.
International circus takes centre stage with Double You from Belgium, a high-octane exploration of borders, identity and the fear of missing out. By Trial and Error from France, an acrobatic duet borrows the playful spirit of burlesque and silent cinema with hilarious consequences. Dance also brings fresh energy to the programme, with two sensational shows, Matière(s) Première(s) and [Superstrat[ from Cie par Terre and the internationally acclaimed choreographer Anne Nguyen. Together, they weave traditional African dance, street styles and contemporary movement into breathtaking performances that captivate audiences young and old.
Alongside performances, children are invited to create, play and explore through exhibitions and workshops. First Impressions, a landmark exhibition by Jane Hayes designed especially for early years, A Children’s Guide to Anarchy and The Sound Nest, an interactive music installation, are among the participatory experiences on offer. A full programme of creative workshops that allows children and young people to draw, dance, sing, write stories, explore the shoreline and even record their own songs, ensuring that every age finds a point of connection.
The wonder of the natural world features prominently with puppet theatre shows from Irish artists such as FEN and Leaves. And also throughout the participatory programme with workshops delivered by local artists such as WeWild by Lindsay Deely of Toodlelou Creativity Lab, Wild Moves by dancer Linda Schirmer and Worlds Within Ireland’s Wild Islands by naturalist and wildlife documentary presenter Eoin Warner.
"Baboró is about creating space for children to engage with big ideas, to laugh, to imagine and to see themselves reflected in extraordinary art," says Aislinn Ó hEocha, Artistic Director. "We believe every child deserves the chance to experience the arts in a way that inspires confidence, empathy and joy. This year’s programme is possibly our most vibrant and energetic yet with several dance and circus shows to get our feet tapping and hearts racing! We hope that our young audiences leave theatres and galleries with a love of the unique experience of live performance."
Audiences will enjoy performances in theatres, galleries, bookshops, libraries and even along the seashore, with events taking place across Galway city and county. From world-class international artists to homegrown Irish talent, the festival is a showcase of creativity that transforms everyday spaces into places of wonder.
Tickets are priced from €8 for children and €12 for adults, with family and group rates available. School bookings can be made via www.baboro.ie/schools with a deadline of Friday 5 September. For the full programme and updates, visit www.baboro.ie or follow Baboró on social media.
Photos by Andrew Downes of Xposure.
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