The 15th Budapest International Circus Festival is set to kick off on January 10, showcasing a spectacular gathering of over a hundred artists from across the globe. Brace yourself for more than fifty breathtaking performances at the Budapest Circus Festival, including a riveting competition lineup.

This prestigious event commences on January 9 with a pre-festival program presented by the Imre Baross Circus Academy, featuring a special Nutcracker variation performance. The official competition, starting on January 10 at the Budapest Grand Circus, begins with a dazzling Red Carpet Show where festival artists will parade in grandeur. Leading the show are the acclaimed Rippel Brothers, a Guinness record-holding Hungarian acrobatic duo.

Widely recognized as one of the world’s top circus art extravaganzas, the Budapest International Circus Festival is a biennial celebration hosted at the Capital Circus. Renowned circus directors and artistic pioneers gather annually to partake in this grand spectacle, dating back to its inception in 1996.

Adding depth to the festival are its established academic programs, featuring groundbreaking research at the National Circus Arts Center. This year marks the fourth International Circus-Professional-Academic Conference organized by the European Circus Association (ECA). Held at Vajdahunyad Castle on January 11, the conference will delve into pressing European circus culture matters, fostering dialogue on diverse topics such as animal welfare, circus culture recognition, artist mobility regulations, education for traveling circus children, circus pedagogy, higher education, and circus museology.

The conference, open to all without prior registration, will offer simultaneous interpretation in English, French, German, Russian, and Hungarian. Presentations will spotlight innovative circus education approaches, public engagement initiatives, and the pedagogical significance of circus values.

The afternoon session will explore the preservation of cultural heritage, spotlighting the vital role circuses play in this domain. Hungary, pioneering this effort, has officially recognized circus art as part of its national cultural heritage.

Moreover, on January 11, at Vajdahunyad Castle, the grand opening of the Wonderful Circus World – International Circus History Exhibition is set to captivate audiences. This exhibition, an integral part of the 15th Budapest International Circus Festival, brings together Hungarian artist lineages, historical artifacts, cinematic treasures, and the rich circus legacy, offering a glimpse into the collections and research work of the Hungarian Circus Arts Museum, Library, and Archives.

Main image: Budapest Circus Show, Photo@ Adam Urban