Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival 2026: Magic at the Fontvieille Chapiteau

For ten magical days every January, the iconic Fontvieille Chapiteau in Monaco transforms into the global epicenter of circus arts. In 2026, the 48th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, alongside the 13th New Generation Festival, has once again proven why it is the most prestigious event of its kind in the world.

A Royal Legacy of Circus Traditions

Founded in 1974 by Prince Rainier III, a lifelong circus enthusiast, the festival was created to preserve and celebrate traditional circus families. Today, that passion lives on through Princess Stéphanie, who serves as President of the festival, and her daughter Pauline Ducruet, who leads the New Generation Festival jury.

The 2026 Golden Clown Winners: Redefining the Impossible

The Golden Clown (Clown d’Or) is the “Oscar” of the circus world. This year, the jury awarded three performances that pushed the boundaries of human capability:

  • The Flying Fuentes Gasca Troupe: This legendary group rewrote the history of the flying trapeze. Their performance on double lines featured extreme technical difficulty, headlined by Juan Cebolla, who executed his celebrated quadruple somersaults with millimetric precision.
  • Angelina Richter: At just 20 years old, this equestrienne mastered ‘La Poste’ —one of the most complex equestrian acts ever devised. She managed twenty horses while standing atop two of them, showing maturity far beyond her years.
  • The Suining Troupe: This young Chinese formation dazzled with their “bowl pagoda” act, maintaining stacks of bowls on their heads while performing complex balancing manoeuvres.

Junior Gold Winner: The Suining Troupe doubled their glory by also taking home the Junior Gold, marking them as the future stars of the international stage.

Silver and Bronze Honors: Skill, Strength, and Innovation

The talent pool in 2026 was exceptionally deep, with the Silver and Bronze clowns representing a diverse range of global disciplines.

Silver Clown (Clown d’Argent) Winners:

  • The Kolfe Troupe: Exceptional collective acrobatic strength.
  • Ilya, Regina, and Zara: A trio noted for their elegance and precision.
  • The Dalian Troupe: Impeccable mastery of Chinese meteors.
  • The Navas Troupe: A heart-stopping parallel “Double Wheel of Death”.
  • Ambra and Ives: Original and artistic aerial silks.
  • Junior Silver: Stefan Dvorak, a self-taught Austrian artist who stacked ten boards on a rola-bola.

Bronze Clown (Clown de Bronze) Winners:

  • Angels of Mongolian Contortion: A fusion of tradition and contemporary style.
  • Tanzania Hakuna Matata Troupe: High-energy human pyramids and rola-bola.
  • The Reyes Brothers: Masters of technical juggling.
  • João Godinho: Elegant high-trapeze artistry.

Special Mentions and Audience Favorites

The festival isn’t just about the jury; it’s about the heartbeat of the crowd.

  • The Princess Antoinette Cup: Awarded to Zara, the festival’s youngest artist.
  • The Audience Award: Won by Ilya, Regina, and Zara for the main festival, and the Duo Peperoni (comic trapeze artists from Chile) for the New Generation.
  • Junior Bronze: Shared by Duo Peperoni and the talented Italian contortionist Soery Dell’Acqua.

Why Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival 2026 Matters

The 2026 edition has shown that circus is a living, breathing art form. From the great dynasties of the past to the young prodigies of tomorrow, the Fontvieille Chapiteau remains the place where extreme risk and poetic beauty coexist.