International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo

What it is

Monaco holds a circus competition every January, and it has run for more than fifty years. Troupes and solo artists travel there from many countries to perform for audiences who buy tickets. A panel then decides which acts deserve recognition. The Chapiteau de Fontvieille, a large big top in Monaco's Fontvieille district, is the event's permanent home. Before that building was ready, the festival was staged in Monte Carlo. Clowns, flyers, jugglers, acrobats and animal trainers all take part, and the shows draw both residents and visitors.

Origins and history

Prince Rainier III of Monaco began the festival in 1974. His purpose was to give circus artists at the peak of their profession public recognition and encouragement. The early editions took place in Monte Carlo, and the event later moved once a permanent big top had been built in Fontvieille. Princess Stéphanie of Monaco became president in 2006, taking the post her late father had held. She is closely involved in arranging the contests and the gala evenings.

Prizes and the palmarès

A panel of judges gives the awards. Its members are drawn from the circus profession, from specialist fields and from journalism. The chief honour is the Golden Clown, and below it come the Silver Clown and the Bronze Clown, each in the form of a statuette. Companies, institutions and private individuals add special prizes of their own. The full roll of awards, known as the Palmarès, is announced during a closing gala, with members of Monaco's ruling family in the audience.

Performers honoured

Golden Clowns have gone to artists from many circus traditions. The Spanish clown Charlie Rivel received one in 1974, the festival's first year, and the American trapeze artist Elvin Bale in 1976. Oleg Popov, a Russian clown, was honoured in 1981, the Italian clown David Larible in 1999 and the juggler Anthony Gatto in 2000. Alexis Grüss, a French circus director, won twice, in 1975 and 2001. Later winners include the American clown Bello Nock, the Russian teeterboard group the Trushin Troupe, and the Hungarian animal trainers Merrylu and Jozsef Richter.

Today and change

The festival returns each January. In 2025 the Golden Clown went to the Galkynysh Equestrian Group from Turkmenistan. The 2026 awards included the Flying Fuentes Gasca, the Suining Troupe and Angelina Richter. Princess Stéphanie continues as president. Over the decades the event has become a meeting point for circus people, filling the Fontvieille big top with audiences. The festival also has a published history, Pierre Paret's Monte-Carlo ou la Renaissance du Cirque, which came out in 1985.

How International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo is kept

Circus companies and solo artists come from many countries to take part. Their acts are performed for audiences who have bought tickets, and then judged by the panel. Prizes are settled once the performances are over. Golden, Silver and Bronze Clown statuettes are given, alongside special awards funded by companies, organisations and individuals. The results are gathered into the Palmarès, the list of winners. The festival ends with a gala performance at which the awards are handed over, with Monaco's princely family present.

When and where

It is an annual event, held each January. That has been the pattern since the first edition in 1974. The sources do not name a fixed day within the month.

The festival belongs to Monaco and is staged there. Its first performances were given in Monte Carlo. Later it moved to a permanent big top, the Chapiteau de Fontvieille, in Monaco's Fontvieille district. Audiences and competitors come from far beyond the principality, but the event itself stays in Monaco.

What International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo means

For circus people, the Clown statuettes mark the top of the profession. Prince Rainier III set up the competition so that skill and daring would be acknowledged and the art form encouraged. Taking part is itself a statement: acts are chosen, seen and judged by peers. For Monaco, the January festival is a moment when the principality welcomes the international circus world, and the presence of the ruling family at the closing gala underlines that welcome.

Questions people ask about International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo

See also

Thrissur PooramA grand Kerala temple gathering with elephant pageantry, percussion, and fireworksChelsea Flower ShowA five-day May horticultural festival held in London by the Royal Horticultural SocietyCulture DayJapan's 3 November holiday for the arts, learning and the Order of CultureSaint David's DayThe national feast day of Wales, marked with parades, poetry contests and daffodils

Good reading and sources

• Roll up, roll up ... behind the scenes at the circusThe Guardian, Article
• Roll up, roll up ... behind the scenes at the circusThe Guardian, Article

• International Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

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