In total, 19 circus companies bring life to Circarte festival in Alicante, delivering nearly twenty shows and events—an increase from 14 last year. The 13th edition marks post-pandemic normalization, beginning on Thursday and running through the 23rd, a welcome return for audiences.
That momentum is fueling bigger galas. At the festival’s presentation, organizers described a format with a very special circus character that feels essential. Longtime festival director Szil handed the reins to Elena Ludwig. The change is framed as a rebirth, with Circarte forming a family that now oversees other projects beyond the festival itself.
The opening gala kicks off on ADDAs last day, with a second event planned at Fractal Space on the 15th, and a third Circarte Grand Gala at the Teatro Principal in Alicante on the 16th. Seven companies will participate across different techniques, including two international acts, making the gala also the opening ceremony of the VI CircoRed Congress, which will bring together groups from all over the country from the 16th to the 18th in Alicante.
Szil highlighted a revived parade featuring transportable acts with resonance and a playful Monty Python-inspired concept on the 15th. Valencia Circus School will return for a second consecutive year with a performance by Fkanys Bimsa, scheduled for the Auditorium on the 19th. Street shows will also come from Hortzmugait, with End of the Road performances on the 14th in the Northern Territory area.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, two Circarte works from Alicante-based companies were presented through Alacant a Escena. Two shows in Vilo featured Foul Friday on the 7th at Cigarreras, and Hyacinth Siphon Fontana with Enthusiasm on October 21 at the Gastón Castelló Social Center.
Circarte will host CircoRed’s 6th State Congress
Two additional companies from the Valencian Community are taking part: Patricia Brown on the 20th at Teatre Arniches and Malabo Community at El Campello Auditorium on the 21st. The festival’s artistic director also underscored the presence of a Majorcan company, D’Es Tro, a spinning top act, and a Basque ensemble to close Circarte at the Casa de Cultura in El Campello on the 22nd, with Bancal Escènic in Beniardà on the 23rd. Zirko Zaurere will perform on the same day at the El Campello Auditorium.
The presentation took place at the Municipal Art Center, setting the tone for a busy program.
Activities will begin with Circarte’s opening event: an exhibition titled Consolidation of the Circus Arts in Alicante, one of several parallel events within the festival hosted at the Municipal Art Center and running through the 28th. Ludwig emphasized three family circus workshops planned in Alcoraia, Cigarreras, and Beniardà, along with Circus of the Chaplin workshops, which resumed this year due to public demand at the Filmoteca on the 13th.
a circus school
Both Circarte’s general manager and artistic director stressed the need to establish a circus school in Alicante to meet growing interest. This issue has surfaced before, with discussions dating back to when the Doney Ardit association was founded twenty-five years ago. Ludwig noted the difficulty in finding a suitable space with the proper technical conditions, not just any venue would do. Cultural Consultant Anthony Manresa added a cautious optimism, suggesting it will require a future legislature, while the mayor highlighted financial support, including nine thousand euros for the festival and venue transfers, underscoring a commitment to bringing culture to the streets. The Deputy Director of the Teatro noted that Circarte Grand Gala remains a unique show crafted for the moment and that support for circus programming continues to grow. Paraninfo’s new facilities are expected to host Circarte’s show on the 19th, signaling expanded opportunities for the festival’s stage.