Monaco’s winter calendar will once again include the popular Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, which returns for its 48th edition from January 16th to 25th, uniting 200 of the world’s finest talents at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille.
This year, the famous festival will combine its main competition with the 13th New Generation showcase to bring both established stars and emerging talents together.
Held under the patronage of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, this year’s merged programme will see performers at every stage of their careers perform at the Chapiteau, judged by an international panel and compete for the ultimate prize: the ‘Golden Clown’.
Competition’s line up and programme
The festival will feature an extraordinary array of disciplines including equestrianism and animal training, flying trapeze, hand-to-hand acrobatics, teeterboard jumping, contortion, juggling and much more.
Among the programme highlights, the Richter family will present an elegant equestrian liberty act, culminating with ‘La Poste’, one of the most demanding exercises in classical horsemanship. Andrejs Fjodorov is also set to dazzle audiences with a pigeon training act while the Chinese acrobatic troupe from Dalian will revive the ancient art of meteors, also called shooting stars, a complex discipline dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.
Another breathtaking movement will come from the aerial performances of the Mexican troupe led by Juan Cebolla. Meanwhile, humor will be well represented with Italian clown Davide Vassallo and the Toni Alexis family. Entertainment will once again be provided by the Bingo troupe, with Petit Gougou serving as master of ceremonies.
The competitive phase of the festival begins on January 16th and 17th, with two different programmes presented across the opening nights. These performances determine which artists advance to the awards stage, all leading to the prestigious gala on January 20th at 8pm, when the Golden Clown and other prizes will be announced. Tickets for the gala range from €45 to €210, depending on seating.
From January 21st to 25th, people will then have the chance to see the prize-winning acts during the winners’ shows, with tickets ranging between €35 and €100. Across its 10 day run, the festival will present 16 performances.
Special events and family-friendly access
Like any other year, the festival also offers reduced rates for families on specific dates, so everyone can enjoy the acts. The discounted prices apply to the morning performances on January 18th, 24th and 25th at 10:30am. Children aged five to 12 receive half-price tickets for all performances, while children under five can attend for free.
Keeping up with tradition, special events are also organised during the festival. On January 19th, an ecumenical celebration will take place under the big top.
Meanwhile, a charity football match will take place once again on January 24th at 3:30pm at Stade Louis II, as part of the Fight Aids Cup 2026, with Prince Albert II’s Barbagiuans taking on Princess Stéphanie’s FC Cirque. Entry costs €10 and is free for festival ticket holders, while all proceeds benefit Fight Aids Monaco.
Tickets can be purchased either on site, at the ticket office open at the Chapiteau de l’Espace Fontvieille, Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm, and Saturday from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm or online at www.montecarlofestival.mc and www.francebillet.com or by phone at +377 92 05 23 45
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Main photo credit: Festival International du Cirque de Monte Carlo