C'est le Cirque à Courcelles
Rural circus festival in Courcelles-sur-Aujon
2026
About Le Cirque à Courcelles
Le Cirque à Courcelles — edition 2026
C’est le Cirque à Courcelles returns on September 11 and 12, 2026, at the Maison de Courcelles in Courcelles-sur-Aujon. Five circus shows will be performed on Saturday under the big top, in the open-air theater, and in the nettle field, following Friday night's dance with Le Figuier sur la Falaise, and leading up to the SACADO concert at 10:00 PM and the Empreinte Carbone DJ set. Entry to the site is free; shows are pay-what-you-wish and require reservation.
2026 Edition — September 11 and 12
The Maison de Courcelles opens its doors on Friday, September 11 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, September 12 at 1:30 PM. Performances take place under the big top, in the open-air theater, in the nettle field, and in the pillar room.
Reservations and Pricing
Entry to the site is free. Shows are pay-what-you-wish, by reservation only: the online ticketing system asks you to specify the amount paid per person and the number of attendees. The organizers suggest that an average price of 6 € to 7 € per seat helps them cover costs. Seating is limited and shows start on time: late entry is not possible once a performance has begun. Children under 3 enter for free but must still have a reserved ticket as they count toward the capacity. Concerts are free to access.
On-site
Bar and homemade food using local products: 7 € to 9 € for a main dish, 1 € to 3 € for a drink (excluding bottles). Pets are not allowed on site due to the large number of children present. Reusable cups are used with a 1 € deposit, which is refunded upon return; you are welcome to bring your own cup. A token system will be explained on-site on the day.
Payment and Access
On-site payments can be made by check or cash; the online ticketing system also accepts credit cards. There are no ATMs within 20 km, so please plan accordingly before arriving. The organizers encourage carpooling via www.covoiturage.linggo.fr.
Highlights Le Cirque à Courcelles 2026
- Quatuor, a joint creation by Cie 126 kilos and Cie Toi d’abord, Saturday, September 12 at 9:00 PM under the big top
- Not’Pièce, an acrobatic portrait of a 93-year-old farmer by Cie La Volière de Velours, Saturday at 4:30 PM at the open-air theater
- Bal de Traverse with Le Figuier sur la Falaise to kick off the Friday night at 9:30 PM
- SACADO concert at 10:00 PM followed by an Empreinte Carbone DJ set at 11:00 PM on Saturday
- Sensory installation for ages 0-4, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM in the pillar room
- Free entry to the site, shows are pay-what-you-wish by reservation
Programme Le Cirque à Courcelles 2026
Friday, September 11, 2026
- 7:00 PM — Site opens · bar and homemade, locally-sourced food
- 7:30 PM — Show to be announced on the official website, listed as "CADA show" on the online ticketing platform
- 9:30 PM — Bal de Traverse // Le Figuier sur la Falaise · under the big top
Saturday, September 12, 2026
- 1:30 PM — Site opens · games, workshops, bar, and food
- 2:30 PM — Banc de Sable // Cie 126 kilos · under the big top · all ages from 5+, 50 minutes · clown duo, "he carries, she flies, she falls, he catches"
- 3:00 PM — Face à Face // Cie Toi d’abord · in the nettle field · all ages, 30 minutes · the legend of William Tell revisited, "where blood and watermelon juice will flow freely"
- 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM — With a little imagination · immersive installation for ages 0-4 · pillar room · open duration, sensory trail; older siblings are welcome to join
- 4:30 PM — Not’Pièce // Cie La Volière de Velours · open-air theater · all ages, 40 minutes · "Nôt Pièce" means "our field" in local dialect: the story of 93-year-old farmer Mauricette, performed by an acrobat suspended from a metal frame
- 5:00 PM — Face à Face // Cie Toi d’abord · in the nettle field · second performance
- 6:00 PM — Accroche-toi si tu peux // Compagnie Les Invendus · under the big top · all ages, 45 minutes · juggling duo
- 9:00 PM — Quatuor // Cie 126 kilos & Cie Toi d’abord · under the big top · all ages, 55 minutes
- 10:00 PM — SACADO · outdoors · concert for all · sax, trumpet, trombone, and sampler, blending 90s electro with world music
- 11:00 PM — DJ set Empreinte Carbone · outdoors
Ongoing Saturday afternoon
- Parent-child discovery workshops, toddler workshops, face painting, collaborative art project, wooden games
- Bar and food: dishes between 7 € and 9 €, drinks between 1 € and 3 € (excluding bottles)
Prices Le Cirque à Courcelles 2026
Shows: pay-what-you-wish, by reservation only (you choose the amount you pay per person). The organizers suggest an average of 6 € to 7 € per seat to help cover costs.
Free for children under 3, but a ticket must be reserved.
Concerts: free access.
Food: dishes from 7 € to 9 €, drinks from 1 € to 3 € (excluding bottles). Reusable cup with a 1 € deposit refunded upon return.
On-site payment by check or cash; online ticketing also accepts credit cards. No ATM within 20 km.
Practical information — Le Cirque à Courcelles
Access
By car: The hamlet of Courcelles-sur-Aujon is located in the commune of Saint-Loup-sur-Aujon, about 30 km south of Chaumont and 25 km west of Langres. From the A31 motorway (Langres Sud exit), follow the D428 then the D20 towards Saint-Loup-sur-Aujon and Courcelles-sur-Aujon. From Chaumont, take the D65 towards Châteauvillain then the D20. Parking is available near the festival site.
By train: The nearest station is Culmont-Chalindrey (about 30 km away), served by TGV Paris-Bâle and TER Champagne-Ardenne. From the station, you will need a vehicle to reach Courcelles-sur-Aujon.
Festival Venue
The festival takes place at the Maison de Courcelles and in its outdoor spaces: circus big tops erected in the meadows, open-air stages, and the House's rooms. The entire site is accessible on foot once you are there.
Prices
The festival operates on a pay-what-you-can basis (pay-what-you-think/donation) for all shows. Access to the site is free. On-site catering (homemade meals, local and seasonal products) and drinks are offered at affordable prices.
Food & Drink
Festival volunteers prepare homemade meals using local and seasonal products. Local drinks (craft beers, fruit juices, wines) are available on site. It is recommended to bring a picnic for Saturday lunch if you arrive early.
Practical Information
- The festival takes place over two days, usually the second weekend of September
- Site opens at 7:00 PM on Friday evening and during the day on Saturday
- Bring warm clothing for evening shows (September in Haute-Marne can be cool)
- The site is family-friendly: circus workshops, relaxation areas
- Camping is available nearby, contact Maison de Courcelles for information
Contact
Maison de Courcelles
7 rue Pierre Devignon
52210 Courcelles-sur-Aujon
Phone: 03 25 84 41 61
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.maisondecourcelles.fr
C'est le Cirque à Courcelles: Circus in the heart of the Haute-Marne countryside
Since 2014, the C'est le Cirque à Courcelles festival has been making the hamlet of Courcelles-sur-Aujon vibrate to the rhythm of circus arts. Organized by the Maison de Courcelles, a popular education association based on the pedagogy of freedom, this event was born from a simple and generous idea: how to reopen the House to the inhabitants of the territory and infuse it with cultural energy? The volunteers' response was unanimous: create a circus festival.
From artisanal origins to a recognized event
The festival was born from the meeting of two companies hosted in residence at the Maison de Courcelles, with the desire to present the different stages of show creation to the public. Over the years, the event has grown step by step: first local artists, then companies recruited from all over France; first the rooms of the House, then circus big tops erected in the surrounding meadows. In 2024, the festival celebrated its 10th anniversary with a memorable edition.
A circus and multidisciplinary program
Each edition offers a selection of shows blending disciplines of contemporary circus: acrobatics, balancing, juggling, trapeze, tightrope walking, clowning, and physical performances. The festival hosts both intimate solos under the big top and collective outdoor performances. Clowns play an increasingly important role in the programming, alongside acrobatic acts and musical creations.
Among the companies that have marked recent editions:
- Compagnie La Parataxe: circus solos for all audiences
- Les Branques Associés with their show “Percollons-nous”
- Les Humains Gauches: “Les raisins de la connerie”
- Le Cirque du Corbak: residency shows and creations
- Compagnie L'Encordée: “Baudrières”
- Le Courcirkoui: “Boys Band Baroque”
A village festival spirit
What distinguishes C'est le Cirque à Courcelles from other festivals is its deeply convivial and popular spirit. Here, there are no barriers between ages, styles, or disciplines. The festival is a true moment of village life where neighbors, friends, families, and curious passers-by come together.
Shows are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, allowing everyone to access them according to their means. Meals are prepared on-site by volunteers, using local and seasonal products, accompanied by local drinks. Circus practice workshops are offered to children and families, turning every visitor into an apprentice acrobat for an afternoon.
La Maison de Courcelles: a place for popular education
The festival is part of the overall project of the Maison de Courcelles, a popular education association that organizes holiday camps, discovery classes (including circus arts stays), artistic residencies, and cultural events throughout the year. Since 2015, the Maison has hosted numerous companies in residence, fostering a close link between artistic creation and rural territory.
The Maison de Courcelles also hosts the family festival HOP la!, aimed at very young children, and develops partnerships with cultural players in the Grand Est region, notably the Grand CIEL network (Circus and itinerancy in Lorraine and Grand Est).
Where does it take place — Le Cirque à Courcelles
Le Cirque à Courcelles in brief
History of Le Cirque à Courcelles
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Saint-Loup-sur-Aujon
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