Festival Jours [et nuits] de cirque(s)

The meeting point for contemporary circus in the South region

Created in 2012 by CIAM – Centre International des Arts en Mouvement, the Jours [et nuits] de cirque(s) festival has become over a decade a major event for contemporary circus in the South of France. Every autumn, the festival unfolds its program over several days, offering performances that push the boundaries of traditional circus to explore new artistic territories.

A program between tradition and innovation

The festival is distinguished by a bold program that dialogues between classic circus disciplines – juggling, acrobatics, trapeze, balancing – and contemporary forms such as the Cyr wheel, circus-theater, and multidisciplinary performances. In 2025, for its 13th edition, the festival explored the boundaries of circus-theater with associate artist Marie Molliens, highlighting scenic writing, acting, and direct connection with the audience.

CIAM, the beating heart of the festival

The festival is organized by CIAM, located at La Molière, route de Galice in Aix-en-Provence. This creation and training center for circus arts hosts resident companies and trains the circus artists of tomorrow. During the festival, CIAM opens its doors wide to the public, transforming its training spaces into performance stages for shows up close to the artists.

Heritage in motion: circus off-site

Beyond its main site, the festival develops the "Heritage in Motion" program, which takes over emblematic heritage sites in the region. On the occasion of the European Heritage Days, artists from the European network CircusNext present performances in historic sites in the Pays d'Aix and the PACA region, including the Alpes-Maritimes. This off-site extension allows contemporary circus to reach new audiences in exceptional architectural settings.

A popular and accessible festival

Jours [et nuits] de cirque(s) carries a resolutely popular and festive artistic project. The festival offers performances accessible to all, introductory circus arts workshops, guinguettes, and shared moments of celebration. Free events such as the Guinguettes Paillettes and outdoor performances complement the paid program, making this festival a friendly event open to all audiences.