The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show 2026 in Abu Dhabi

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show 2026 in Abu Dhabi brings Eric Carle’s best-loved picture book to the stage at the Cultural Foundation for two days in early November, with more than 75 puppets, a cast of storytellers and original music. Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, it is a 55-minute show in English for children aged one and over, which makes it one of the gentler ways to give a toddler their first taste of live theatre.

A picture book brought to life

Most parents in the audience will know the story by heart: a tiny caterpillar hatches, eats his way through a week of fruit and treats, and emerges at the end as something beautiful. The show keeps that story faithful to the book, so children who have turned the pages with the little holes in them will recognise every moment on stage.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is not the only tale in the programme. Each performance also includes three other Eric Carle stories, carried by the same cast of storytellers and puppets. The official listing does not name the other three, so they are a small surprise on the day.

The puppets and the production

The production is built around puppetry. More than 75 puppets appear across the four stories, from the caterpillar himself to the other creatures that fill Carle’s pages. Storytellers guide the audience from one tale to the next, and an original score runs underneath, so there is always something to look at and something to listen to.

The show has a track record that reassures parents booking a first theatre trip:

• It has been performed in more than 20 countries to over 3 million children.
• It has been praised by publications including The New York Times, Time Out and The Huffington Post.
• It received a Drama Desk nomination for Unique Theatrical Experience.

Jonathan Rockefeller created the production, which has kept Carle’s stories at its centre throughout that international run.

Who it suits

This is a show for young families. The age guidance is one and over, and children under one can sit on a parent’s lap, so it works for families with a baby and an older sibling. The 55-minute running time is pitched at toddlers and pre-schoolers, long enough to feel like a real outing and short enough to finish before attention runs out.

Grandparents and parents who grew up with Eric Carle’s books may enjoy the nostalgia as much as the children enjoy the puppets, so it can work as a three-generation trip too.

House rules at the Cultural Foundation theatre

The theatre has clear rules for this production, and a couple of them matter more than usual with little ones:

• Download the Platinumlist app before you leave home, as you need it to access your ticket.
• Doors open 30 minutes before the show, which gives time to settle in.
• Late arrivals are admitted only at a suitable break and may be seated somewhere other than their booked seats.
• Photography and recording, including on phones, are strictly prohibited inside the theatre unless otherwise specified.
• Food and drinks are not allowed in the theatre, so snacks need to be finished before you go in.

Show times are set when you choose your performance at booking, so check your confirmation for the exact slot. If plans change, the listing notes that tickets can be exchanged with another fan.

The Cultural Foundation and getting there

The Cultural Foundation is on Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street (2nd Street) in central Abu Dhabi, and most taxi drivers know it. It has its own parking, but the number of spaces is limited. The nearest bus station is Abu Dhabi Bus Station, about 1.2km away.

More for families

For other shows and activities for small children, see our kids’ events and shows and theatre pages, and explore things to do in Abu Dhabi or the wider things to do in November round-up.