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Manipulate Festival

The 19th edition of Manipulate Festival will take place between 4th and 10th February 2026.

Manipulate Festival

About Manipulate Festival

, Various Locations Edinburgh
Manipulate Festival Website
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Manipulate Festival is an annual international celebration of excellence in animated film, puppetry and visual theatre, bringing the very best of international and Scottish work to adult audiences of over 3000 across Edinburgh and beyond each February.

The programme features an eclectic range of boundary-pushing performances and screenings across many visual disciplines, creates a platform for creative exchange and discussion, and serves as a home for Scottish artists to experiment with and receive feedback on new ideas.

The Festival has gained recognition nationally and internationally for its innovative curation and unique blend of artforms, including animated film, circus, dance theatre, mime, object theatre, puppetry, physical theatre and visual theatre. The Festival offers an essential moment in the cultural calendar for audiences to gather and form communities of interest, for artists to network and exchange ideas, and for cross-cultural creative exchange between nations.

Upcoming Events at Manipulate Festival

Manipulate Festival: Coffee With Sugar?

4th February 2026 - 5th February 2026

Using thousands of coffee beans, flying candyfloss, biographical fragments, historical sources, video art and live music, ‘Coffee with Sugar?’ is a visually striking performance!

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Manipulate Festival: Size Matters

5th February 2026 - 6th February 2026

Blending puppetry, science, and surrealist theatre, Julia and Mamoru and their puppet doubles explore how time and perception shift with size.

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Manipulate Festival: Don Quixote (is a Very Big Book)

7th February 2026 - 8th February 2026

In his new one-man show, Dik Downey (Green Ginger, Pickled Image, Opposable Thumb) weaves together the crazed delusions of Don Quixote with his own struggle against reality.

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Manipulate Festival: The Wood Paths

9th February 2026 - 10th February 2026

Wood Paths is a celebration of humanity’s endless creativity and our desire to understand, to shape, and to find beauty in the mess.

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More Festivals in Edinburgh

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FuturePlay Festival

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Formerly the Edinburgh Digital Entertainment Festival, FuturePlay is on from the 3rd to 26th August.

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Curious: A free festival of knowledge

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Curious is the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s annual festival of knowledge – a free, open-to-all celebration of ideas, discovery, and conversation.

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Luminate Festival: Edinburgh & Lothians

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Edinburghs Christmas

, Various Locations Edinburgh

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Lammermuir Festival

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Festival of Migration

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Edinburgh's Festival of Migration, celebrating the vibrant cultural diversity of our city and our neighbours!

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Scottish International Storytelling Festival

, Various Locations Edinburgh

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival returns from 22nd October to 1st November 2025 with the theme 'Lights of the North'.

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Red, Red Rose Street

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Red Red Rose Street returns for 2018 with a festival of Burns’ music and words running from 25th - 27th January.

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Edinburgh International Magic Festival

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Edinburgh International Magic Festival is back this Christmas with a mind-blowing programme of shows, events and workshops!

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All Festivals listings in Edinburgh

Sponsored Links

Escape The Past
The Chocolatarium
Fayre Play
Wonder & Co
Hostelworld
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon

Sponsored Links

Escape The Past
The Chocolatarium
Fayre Play
Wonder & Co
Hostelworld
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon

Popular Events

Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk
Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young for the GIANT of a pantomime we've all BEAN waiting for!
Castle Of Light
Make Castle of Light: Fire and Ice part of your festive plans and enjoy the largest annual projection show in the UK when it returns for its sixth year!
Edinburgh’s Christmas: The Polar Ice Bar
Take some time to ‘chill’ at the Polar Ice Bar, the coolest bar in the city, where your table, chairs and glasses are sculpted entirely from ice.
Gyle Winter Wonderland
This year, the Gyle Shopping Centre is pulling out all the stops for the biggest and brightest Christmas experience yet!
Edinburgh’s Christmas: Christmas Market
One of the most iconic Christmas Markets in Europe, Edinburgh's Christmas Market returns to East Princes Street Gardens showcasing the best in artisan festive products and goods from local makers!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall