Festival Jours [et nuits] de cirque(s)
The CIAM contemporary circus festival in Aix-en-Provence
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2026
About Jours et Nuits de Cirque(s)
Jours [et nuits] de cirque(s) is the contemporary circus festival hosted by the CIAM (Centre International des Arts en Mouvement) in Aix-en-Provence. Held every year in late September at the La Molière site on Route de Galice, the CIAM sets up its big tops and Magic Mirrors tent within the pine forest. The program includes big top performances, a Cabaret, circus workshops, and flying trapeze taster sessions. Additionally, the free Patrimoine [en mouvement] segment brings artists to various heritage sites across Aix and neighboring towns.
Jours et Nuits de Cirque(s) — edition 2026
The Jours [et nuits] de cirque(s) festival returns from September 19th to 27th, 2026, at the CIAM in Aix-en-Provence, focusing on the theme of intergenerational bonds. Five free Heritage [in motion] events kick off the edition on September 19th and 20th in Aix, Jouques, La Roque d'Anthéron, Venelles, and Vitrolles, followed by four days of big top performances from September 24th to 27th: Hourvari (Cie Rasposo), Biographies (Cie Ea Eo), Peau d'âme (Camille Judic), and six Cabaret performances.
2026 Edition: The Thread of Connection
The CIAM dedicates this edition to the theme of transmission: what is passed from parent to child, the roles we receive and reinvent, and the gestures and stories shared from hand to hand. Marie Molliens, director of the Rasposo company, is the CIAM associate artist for 2026 and will present Hourvari.
Three Acts
The festival opens on September 19th and 20th with Heritage [in motion], five free events requiring reservation at heritage sites in Aix-en-Provence and four partner municipalities. From September 24th to 27th, performances take place at the CIAM under the Rasposo big top, the Grand Chapiteau, and the Magic Mirrors. On the 26th and 27th, the pine forest will host circus workshops, flying trapeze experiences, and a free collective juggling session.
A Condensed Cabaret Format
The 2026 Cabaret will last 1h15 without an intermission, instead of the 2h30 originally announced. The CIAM explains that it has adapted its programming due to uncertainties regarding public funding for cultural events. The full price has been reduced from 32 € to 27 €, the Apéro Duo offer from 95 € to 85 €, and the P'tit Cabaret has been replaced by a standard Cabaret session. Tickets purchased at the old price remain valid, with the difference being refunded within ten business days or converted into a donation to the CIAM, at the buyer's discretion.
Highlights Jours et Nuits de Cirque(s) 2026
- Hourvari, Cie Rasposo — creation by Marie Molliens, CIAM associate artist for 2026, under the Rasposo big top on September 24th, 25th, and 26th
- The Cabaret, directed by Davis Bogino — six performances from September 24th to 27th, in a condensed 1h15 format without intermission
- Biographies, Cie Ea Eo — juggling and rap by Neta Oren and Pierre Laloge, September 26th and 27th at the Grand Chapiteau
- Peau d'âme, Camille Judic — 25-minute aerial straps solo, September 26th and 27th at the Magic Mirrors
- Heritage [in motion] — five free events on September 19th and 20th in Aix-en-Provence, Vitrolles, La Roque d'Anthéron, Jouques, and Venelles
Programme Jours et Nuits de Cirque(s) 2026
Act I — Heritage [in motion], Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th, 2026
Five free events as a prelude to the festival for the European Heritage Days. Reservations are required; ticket sales open in early September.
Saturday, September 19th — Aix-en-Provence, "The Circus from Fountain to Fountain"
Three walking tours presented as part of the Aix-en-Provence Biennale of Art and Culture. Each stop lasts about 20 minutes; there is no seating provided between stops.
- 10:00 AM & 3:00 PM — Fountain of Lights tour: Fountain of Lights, Thermal Baths Fountain, then Pavillon de Vendôme · free with reservation
- 10:30 AM & 3:30 PM — Albertas Fountain tour: Albertas Fountain, Thermal Baths Fountain, then Pavillon de Vendôme · free with reservation
- On both city center routes: Cie Sombra (choreographic juggling), Maria Celeste (aerial rope, at the Thermal Baths Fountain), and Cie Zec with Zenzero e Cannella, a hand-to-hand duo by Magdalena Vicente and Nicolò Bussi, performing the finale in the gardens of the Pavillon de Vendôme
- 11:15 AM & 4:15 PM — Zenzero e Cannella, Cie Zec · Pavillon de Vendôme gardens · bookable separately, without the walking tours
- 11:00 AM & 3:30 PM — "L'échappée du Jas", Bastide du Jas de Bouffan, a site dear to Cézanne, exceptionally open: three stops around the water features, featuring Roberto Stellino (slackrope, Bambouin), Chiara Gauvin (Cyr wheel), and Viola Dix (rola bola)
Sunday, September 20th — in partner municipalities
- 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM — Stadium de Vitrolles: Chiara Gauvin, Entre deux souffles (Cyr wheel), Maria Celeste Funghi (carte blanche on aerial rope), and the Benelo duo (hand-to-hand) · all ages · free
- 11:00 AM & 3:30 PM — Silvacane Abbey, La Roque d'Anthéron: Cie Sombra (juggling), Viola Dix (rola bola), and Roberto Stellino (slackrope) · all ages · free
- 12:00 PM — Le Grand Pré, Jouques: Cie ZeC, La 8ème balle · acrobatics, juggling, and live music · 35 min · all ages · free
- 12:00 PM — Place Jean-Pierre Saez, Venelles: Cie Laskaskas, Mue · Cyr wheel and object manipulation · 20 min · ages 5 and up · free
Act II — Performances at the CIAM, from Thursday, September 24th to Sunday, September 27th, 2026
Three venues at the La Molière site: the Chapiteau Rasposo (350 seats), the Grand Chapiteau (160 seats), and the Magic Mirrors (350 seats).
Thursday, September 24th — Opening
- 7:00 PM — Hourvari, Cie Rasposo · Chapiteau Rasposo · 1h20 · ages 7 and up
- 8:45 PM — Cabaret, directed by Davis Bogino · Magic Mirrors · 1h15 without intermission · ages 6 and up
Friday, September 25th
- 7:15 PM — Hourvari, Cie Rasposo · Chapiteau Rasposo · 1h20 · ages 7 and up
- 9:00 PM — Cabaret, directed by Davis Bogino · Magic Mirrors · 1h15 without intermission · ages 6 and up
Saturday, September 26th
- 2:30 PM — Peau d'âme, aerial solo by Camille Judic · Magic Mirrors · 25 min · ages 7 and up
- 4:30 PM — Cabaret, family session · Magic Mirrors · 1h15 without intermission · ages 6 and up
- 6:00 PM — Biographies, Cie Ea Eo · Grand Chapiteau · 1h · ages 12 and up
- 7:30 PM — Hourvari, Cie Rasposo · Chapiteau Rasposo · 1h20 · ages 7 and up
- 9:30 PM — Cabaret · Magic Mirrors · 1h15 without intermission · ages 6 and up
Sunday, September 27th
- 2:30 PM — Peau d'âme, aerial solo by Camille Judic · Magic Mirrors · 25 min · ages 7 and up
- 4:30 PM — Cabaret, family session · Magic Mirrors · 1h15 without intermission · ages 6 and up
- 6:00 PM — Biographies, Cie Ea Eo · Grand Chapiteau · 1h · ages 12 and up
- 7:30 PM — Cabaret, final performance of the edition · Magic Mirrors · 1h15 without intermission · ages 6 and up
Act III — Circus workshops, Saturday, September 26th and Sunday, September 27th
Workshops in the CIAM pine forest; limited spots, online booking recommended. Accompanying persons not participating do not need a ticket.
- 10:15 AM · 11:30 AM · 1:30 PM · 2:45 PM · 4:00 PM — Children's circus workshops, ages 4 to 14: juggling, balancing, and trapeze · 1h · 10 €
- 11:00 AM · 11:45 AM · 2:15 PM · 3:00 PM — Parent/child workshop, ages 4 to 6: acrobatics and partner juggling · 30 min · 10 €
- 10:15 AM · 11:30 AM — Family Flying Trapeze experience, 1 adult + 1 child (ages 6+) · 1h · 20 €
- Saturday 26th: 2:00 PM · 2:30 PM · 3:00 PM · 5:30 PM — Individual Flying Trapeze experience, ages 15+ · 30 min · 10 €
- Sunday 27th: 2:00 PM · 2:30 PM · 3:00 PM · 4:30 PM · 5:00 PM · 5:30 PM — Individual Flying Trapeze experience, ages 15+ · 30 min · 10 €
- Saturday 26th at 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM, Sunday 27th at 1:00 PM — Collective juggling in the pine forest: balls, scarves, and rings passed from hand to hand, all levels welcome · free
On-site services
- Food trucks and refreshments; outside food is not permitted
- On-site ticket office, in addition to online booking
- Parking a few steps from the site and bicycle parking
- Strollers and pets are welcome
Prices Jours et Nuits de Cirque(s) 2026
Biographies (Category A): full 20 € · reduced 15 € · solidarity 22 € or 25 €
Peau d'âme (Category C): full 10 € · reduced 8 € · children under 12 5 € · solidarity 12 € or 15 €
Cabaret: full 27 € · reduced 20 € · under 12 12 € · solidarity 30 € or 35 €
Privilege Aperitif Duo at the Cabaret: 85 € for two people (2 table seats, a sharing platter, 2 glasses of wine or fruit juice, priority entry)
Children's circus workshops, parent-child workshop, and individual flying trapeze experience: 10 € (solidarity rates 12 € and 15 €) · parent-child flying trapeze experience: 20 €
Heritage [in motion] on September 19th and 20th and collective juggling: free, reservation required for Heritage [in motion], ticket office opens early September
A ticket is required for every participant, regardless of age. Tickets are non-refundable, non-exchangeable, and non-returnable, except in the event of cancellation by the organizer. Sales also available on-site.
Practical information — Jours et Nuits de Cirque(s)
Access
The festival is held at the CIAM – La Molière, 4181 route de Galice, Aix-en-Provence. By bus: take line 9 to the CIAM stop. From the TGV station or the Aix city center station: take the Aixpress shuttle, then line 9. By car from Marseille or Nice: take the Jas de Bouffan exit; from Montpellier: take exit 30a towards Les Milles. Parking is available a short walk from the site, along with bicycle parking. The CIAM encourages carpooling.
On-site
Food trucks and a bar are available; outside food is not permitted. Strollers and leashed pets are welcome. Tickets are sold online and on-site; they are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and non-refundable, except in the event of cancellation by the organizer. We recommend arriving 45 minutes before the start of a show.
Accessibility
The site is accessible to people with reduced mobility: please notify security staff upon arrival, or email [email protected] in advance to prepare for your visit.
Contact
CIAM – Centre International des Arts en Mouvement, 4181 route de Galice, Aix-en-Provence. Phone: 04 65 04 61 42. Email: [email protected]. Festival website: joursetnuitsdecirques.fr
A contemporary circus festival at the CIAM
Launched in 2013 as the inaugural event for the CIAM and established as a festival in 2014, Jours [et nuits] de cirque(s) takes place during the last week of September in Aix-en-Provence. The CIAM welcomes 10,000 spectators and around forty artists each year. The program blends traditional and contemporary circus arts, including acrobatics, juggling, rope, Cyr wheel, hand-to-hand, rola bola, slack wire, and aerial straps.
The CIAM: Festival organizer and venue
The Centre International des Arts en Mouvement is located at La Molière, 4181 route de Galice. It serves as a circus school, a flying trapeze hub, and a creative space that hosts companies in residence. During the festival, its pine forest becomes the heart of the event, housing the big tops, the Magic Mirrors tent, workshops, a bar, and food trucks.
Patrimoine [en mouvement]
As a prelude to the festival, in celebration of the European Heritage Days, the CIAM takes its artists off-site with short, free performances available by reservation. In 2026, these will be held in Aix-en-Provence—at the city center fountains, the Pavillon de Vendôme gardens, and the Bastide du Jas de Bouffan—as well as in four towns within the Pays d'Aix: Jouques, La Roque d'Anthéron, Venelles, and Vitrolles.
Where does it take place — Jours et Nuits de Cirque(s)
Jours et Nuits de Cirque(s) in brief
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