The International Festival of Puppetry Art is organised by the Jerzy Zitzman Banialuka Puppet Theatre every two years. It has been held for over 50 years now. Since its very beginning, which overlapped with politically difficult times, it has been a platform for a free flow of ideas and experience exchange as well as a meeting point for puppetry artists from the East and the West, all in a congenial atmosphere.

The Festival is a review of the most interesting and insightful performances by the most outstanding and renowned theatres from across the globe, including Poland. The programme of each edition of the Festival is the result of thorough and careful selection in the form of a competition. The international jury selects the winners of the Grand Prix, the award for the best performance for children, and special awards for shows of exceptional quality.

Thanks to its open framework, the Festival offers a variety of forms, motifs, and activities, including both performances as such and other accompanying events: exhibitions, seminars, workshops, and concerts. There are also outdoor shows open to the public, so the Festival is directed not only to puppetry experts but also to wide audiences. The Festival is always opened with a colourful puppet parade crossing the city of Bielsko-Biała. The participants of the festival, coming from all the European countries and other, more distant parts of the world, are accompanied by local amateur theatre groups of all ages.

All the editions of the Festival have been highly valued both by theatre critics and by the audience. The Festival has attracted a number of viewers from Poland and abroad. What is more, the event enjoys indisputable prestige among the theatrical community.