CIRCa festival dates and location

The 39th edition of the CIRCa festival will take place from October 16 to 23, 2026, in Auch, a city in the southwest of France. The festival is dedicated to contemporary circus arts and brings together professional companies and artists from around the world.

Festival theme and structure

The organizers describe the 39th edition with the phrase « 40 minus one! », emphasizing the festival's long-standing tradition of innovation and experimentation. Over the past four decades, CIRCa has become a hub for artists, educators, and audiences to explore non-traditional forms of circus performance. This year, 18 professional companies will present 81 performances across 16 locations in Auch, along with school shows, open stages, and other events.

International and European highlights

This edition features a European journey called « Diagonale des cirques », connecting different circus aesthetics across the continent. Among the international acts, the Swedish company Below Zero presents In Praise of Shadows at the Dôme du CIRC, a performance that uses acrobatics to reflect on Nordic landscapes. From Belgium, the company Post uit Hessdalen transforms a converted truck into a traveling theater for Ballroom, a performance that breaks traditional rules of juggling.

Exploring themes of memory and identity

Several performances at the festival delve into themes of memory, family, and personal identity. The Catalan artist Manel Rosés presents Ákri, a solo piece that uses a ladder and a door to explore tipping points and transitions. The company La Côte Folle presents Parmi les vaches, an acrobatic performance inspired by a real-life story about a woman with Alzheimer's, examining aging and memory through a symbolic structure.

Intimate and personal performances

The festival includes performances that focus on personal and intimate themes. Olivier Debelhoir’s La vie de ma mère features a tightrope walk at a height of 47 centimeters, exploring the relationship between the artist and his mother. In Mahamat, Clément Dazin and Mahamat Fofana examine cultural clashes and the tension between family expectations and artistic freedom.

Monumental and large-scale acts

For those who enjoy grand performances, the Collectif XY returns with Le Pas du Monde, a large-scale acrobatic piece involving 22 performers. The company CirkVOST presents TRAXXx under a 23-meter-high tent, using trapezes and flying ropes to explore human impact on the environment.

Humor and hybrid forms

The festival also embraces humor and experimental formats. The Collectif Bislacco presents Smooth as Fiasco, a chaotic and absurd performance blending mud, burlesque, and circus. Other acts, like Pain d'chien and Sawdust Symphony, combine traditional circus elements with modern and DIY aesthetics.

Youth and professional training

CIRCa continues to support the development of young artists and professionals. The National Center for Circus Arts (CNAC) will present a satirical cabaret, while the Académie Fratellini showcases its first-year apprentices in a playful reinterpretation of musical chairs. The festival also features national and European platforms for future circus talents.