San Diego Circus Festival 2026
Five Shows. Four Days. One Unforgettable Weekend.
May 21–24, 2026
From Academy Spotlight nights to the Rising Stage daytime competitions and the Mainstage evening competition, this is San Diego's premier circus event. Grab your tickets and witness extraordinary artistry live.
Moments from Previous Years
See the magic, artistry, and community that make the San Diego Circus Festival special.
A Festival for Every Stage of Development
The San Diego Circus Festival is hosted by San Diego Circus Center. We've expanded our traditional end-of-year Academy Spotlight performances into a full destination festival for circus artists at all levels—celebrating our students while welcoming the broader circus community.
Festival Opening - Thursday & Friday, May 21-22:
Academy Spotlight performances featuring polished acts from our year-long professional training programs. These evening performances celebrate the culmination of our academy year and officially open the festival weekend.
Festival Weekend - Saturday & Sunday, May 23-24:
- Evening Performances: Mainstage Competition with curated professional artists competing for festival honors
- Daytime Performances: Rising Stage Spotlight provides emerging and youth artists a supportive performance track with structured feedback and recognition
The festival takes place May 21-24, 2026 at San Diego Circus Center in San Diego, California.
What Artists Are Saying
"The organization, the structure, and thought that's been put into it has gone a long way to ease my anxiety and nerves."
Cyrus Luciano
Festival Participant
"I'm feeling extreme gratitude for a space to put on a new act and get feedback from some highly renowned casting directors and producers."
Garrett Allen
Festival Participant
Recognition & Feedback
Every performer — Mainstage and Rising Stage — is eligible for the same awards. No scores, no rankings. Judges evaluate each artist relative to where they are in their journey.
Juror Awards
Vanguard Award
Recognized for creativity. Exceptional creativity in presentation and execution, unique transitions, innovative storytelling, or courage in pushing boundaries.
Keystone Award
Recognized for technical skill. Strong technical foundation, clean execution of skills, and high overall skill level.
DaVinci Award
Recognized for overall assembly and presentation. Fluidity and creativity across all act elements: costume, music, concept, skills, and character.
Audience Award
People's Choice
People's Voice
Decided entirely by the audience. The act with the most votes wins — any performer at any level can take this one.
Mainstage — 1:1 Juror Feedback
A private 10-minute session with our professional jurors after your performance.
Rising Stage — Written Feedback Cards
Judges apply a level-relative lens, so every award is winnable by any performer. Audience picks People's Voice.
Meet the Jurors
Our jurors are active professionals working at the highest levels of circus arts casting, production, and performance. They bring decades of industry experience and a genuine dedication to helping artists grow.
Stacy Clark
Co-Founder, C-Suite Performance | Former Director of Casting, Cirque du Soleil
Stacy Clark is a creative performance strategist and talent casting expert with over two decades of experience in circus, sport, and human development. A former elite gymnast and professional circus artist, she has performed, taught, and directed on stages and at festivals worldwide. She is the co-founder of C-Suite Performance, a creative services company specializing in casting, coaching, and creating circus and action sports performances. Stacy's deep industry expertise includes 13 years at Cirque du Soleil, where she was a talent scout, acrobatic coach and then Director of Casting.
View Profile
Blaze Birge
Founder & Artistic Director, Flynn Creek Circus | Co-Creator, Daring Jones Duo
Blaze Birge is an award-winning trapeze artist, producer, and creative director whose work has helped shape contemporary circus on the West Coast and beyond. As co-creator of the celebrated Daring Jones Duo, she received multiple honors for innovative aerial performance, technical excellence, and captivating presence on the international stage. Blaze is also the founder and artistic director of Flynn Creek Circus, an acclaimed all-human circus company recognized for original productions that blend storytelling, acrobatics, and theatrical artistry.
Adam Vazquez
Co-Founder, Vazquez Integral Arts | International Award-Winning Circus Artist
Adam Vazquez is a 4th-generation circus artist carrying forward his family's rich legacy with artistic integrity, discipline, and a deep respect for tradition. As one half of the internationally award-winning Duo A&A, Adam has mastered the precision and elegance of hand-to-hand artistry, performing on some of the world's most renowned stages — including earning a plaque for "Most Standing Ovations" at the legendary Cirque d'Hiver-Bouglione in Paris. He is the co-founder of Vazquez Integral Arts in Las Vegas, a school recognized by the Global Alliance of Circus Schools (GACS).
Festival Weekend Flow
Five shows across four days. Click any show below to see the full lineup.
Doors & Arrival
Evening shows (Academy Spotlight & Mainstage):
Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. We recommend arriving early to find your seat.
Daytime Rising Stage shows:
Doors open 20 minutes before showtime. Seating is general admission — arrive early for best seats.
2026 Lineup
Click any show to see the full performer list. Academy Spotlight casts will be announced soon.
Festival Performances
Grab your tickets for the Academy Spotlight and Festival Shows.
Academy Spotlight A
Academy Spotlight performances featuring polished acts from our year-long professional training programs. These evening performances celebrate the culmination of our academy year and officially open the festival weekend.
Academy Spotlight B
Academy Spotlight performances featuring polished acts from our year-long professional training programs. These evening performances celebrate the culmination of our academy year and officially open the festival weekend.
San Diego Circus Festival - Rising Stage A
Rising Stage Spotlight provides emerging and youth artists a supportive performance track with structured feedback and recognition
San Diego Circus Festival - Mainstage
Mainstage Competition with curated professional artists competing for festival honors
San Diego Circus Festival - Rising Stage B
Rising Stage Spotlight provides emerging and youth artists a supportive performance track with structured feedback and recognition
A Professional Circus Venue
San Diego Circus Center provides a fully-equipped performance space designed specifically for circus arts.
25 ft
Rigging Height
150+
Audience Capacity
✓
Dressing Room
✓
Warmup Space
⚠ Important Rigging Note
Aerial acts with lifts: You are required to bring a caller for your act. If you do not have a caller available, we can supply one for an additional fee. Please contact us in advance to arrange.
Experience the Festival
Performances, community moments, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from past festivals.
Join Our Growing Community
The San Diego Circus Festival connects artists from around the world, fostering collaborations, friendships, and opportunities that last well beyond the festival weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Don't Miss a Show
The San Diego Circus Festival 2026 runs May 21–24. Five extraordinary shows, one unforgettable weekend. Tickets are on sale now.