From puppetry to urban imaginings, the 2025 festival will light up Galway
Baboró International Arts Festival for children runs from this Friday, October 10, to Sunday, October 19, with an extraordinary line-up of theatre, dance, music, workshops and community events.
Now in its 29th year, this year’s programme is rich with international artistry and homegrown innovation, inviting children to explore the world through fresh eyes.
For the youngest, Be Kind is a circus theatre experience for babies, full of sensory stimuli of sound, colour and movement.
For older children and teens, the timeless wonder of The Little Prince is reimagined for a new generation by spoken word poet Toby Thompson. In a world where grown-ups have forgotten how to see with their hearts, he discovers beauty, wisdom and the importance of human connection.
Matière Première by Compagnie par Terre is a dance show offering older children and teens a unique insight into the intersection between urban moves and African tribal dances. It reflects the lasting effects of colonisation on a community.
A festival highlight is We Wild, an immersive, hands-on workshop led by designer and educator Lindsay Deely. Using upcycled materials and their own imaginations, young participants will collaborate to create a miniature green city that honours both the ancient past and our natural environment.
Baboró 2025 also shines a light on inclusive artistic practice with Feel The Beat, a music workshop designed specifically for children who are deaf, or hard of hearing. Led by Palestinian musician and educator Hala Jaber, the workshop uses visual observation, body movement and natural rhythms to create an accessible exploration of sound and rhythm, facilitated in both ISL and spoken English.
First Impressions, a landmark exhibition created especially for early years audiences by Cork-based visual artist Jane Hayes. Bringing together a body of work developed over several years, the exhibition invites young children - from eight months to seven years old - and their families, into a visually rich and imaginative world that reflects how children encounter art. It runs at Galway Arts Centre throughout the festival.
At Outset Gallery, A Children's Guide to Anarchy presents radical child-led work that comprises seven musical animated videos exploring key elements of anarchical thinking, such as autonomy, kindness and human connectivity. Admission is free, and the exhibition space invites children over the age of six to respond creatively.
For 29 years, Baboró has championed the right of every child to experience the arts in an atmosphere of wonder, openness and joy. Organisers promise this year’s festival will transform Galway into a city alive with imagination, where children and families are not just audiences, but collaborators, creators and explorers.
For information, visit www.baboro.ie
