The Circa Experience 2026 – FEDEC at the CIRCA Festival in Auch (France)

From 19 at 17:00 to 23 october 2026 at 18:00

Every autumn, the city of Auch becomes one of the European capitals of contemporary circus during the renowned CIRCA Festival. It is in this exceptional setting that The Circa Experience 2026, the major annual event organized by FEDEC (European Federation of Professional Circus Schools), takes place from October 19 to 23, 2026.

For five days, students, teachers, artists, school directors, and professionals from across Europe come together to share their experiences, develop new projects, and discover the latest creations in contemporary circus. A true highlight of the international network of professional circus schools, this event fosters encounters, exchanges, and cooperation between training institutions and industry professionals.

The program includes a CIRCLE Workshop, the FEDEC General Assembly, and six performances of CIRCLE, a flagship artistic project that allows young students from higher education circus schools to present original 30-minute creations to an international audience of professionals, programmers, and enthusiasts. Each performance is followed by an Aftershow, providing a special opportunity to interact with the artists and other participants.

The 2026 edition of CIRCLE revolves around the theme "Where is the limit?", inspired by the European project Take Care, which focuses on mental health and well-being in the circus sector. This guiding principle invites young artists to explore notions of physical, emotional, social, and artistic limits through original and engaging projects.

Hosted by CIRCA – Pôle National Cirque Auch – Gers – Occitanie, a long-standing partner of FEDEC, The Circa Experience benefits from the unique atmosphere of the CIRCA Festival, a must-see event created in 1988 and recognized as one of the world's leading contemporary circus festivals. Throughout the festival, Auch pulsates to the rhythm of performances under big tops, in theaters, and in public spaces, transforming the city into a true laboratory of circus creation.

FEDEC members can take advantage of full board accommodation offered at the boarding school (€49 per person per day) and benefit from preferential rates to attend the festival shows (€8 for CIRCLE shows and €10 for other performances of the CIRCA Festival).

Whether you are a student, teacher, artist or performing arts professional, The Circa Experience 2026 is a unique opportunity to discover emerging talents in contemporary circus, to meet the major players in the profession and to experience, at the heart of the CIRCA Festival, a week entirely dedicated to creation, sharing and innovation in the circus arts.

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