From January 15 to February 15, 2026, the Entre2 BIAC festival returns to Marseille and the wider Aix–Marseille–Provence metropolitan area, reaffirming its place as a major rendezvous for contemporary circus in France. Designed as a bridge between editions of the Biennale Internationale des Arts du Cirque (BIAC), the festival invites audiences to experience a month of performances that blend physical mastery, poetic imagery, and bold artistic experimentation.
Following the success of its 2024 edition, which drew more than 25,000 spectators, Entre2 BIAC 2026 aims to once again fill theatres, public spaces, and circus tents with a diverse program that reflects the vitality of today’s circus scene. The festival is presented in collaboration with 11 cultural partners across the region, including major venues in Marseille such as Archaos, Pôle national Cirque, Le ZEF, and Théâtre Massalia, as well as partner theatres and municipalities throughout Provence.
This year’s edition brings together 24 circus companies, including five based in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region, highlighting both local talent and international voices. In total, 24 performances are scheduled, among them six new creations, underscoring the festival’s strong commitment to artistic innovation.
Among the highlights are new works by Camille Boitel and Sève Bernard, whose creation unfolds like a fragmented puzzle reconstructed live with the audience, and Anitya – l’impermanence by Inbal Ben Haim, a visually striking performance at the crossroads of circus and visual art, where threads and structures are gradually dismantled in real time. Audiences can also discover works such as Ballroom by Dutch juggler Stijn Grupping, Faune by Fanny Soriano (Cie Libertivore), Posé.es by La Mondiale générale, and Wolf by the Australian company Circa, programmed in partnership with the long-running festival Les Élancées.
Archaos at the Heart of the Festival
As the initiator of Entre2 BIAC, Archaos, Pôle national Cirque plays a central role in the 2026 program, opening its doors to a wide audience in Marseille. The venue will host several key performances, including Anitya – l’impermanence, as well as Des nuits pour voir le jour by Cie Allégorie, a deeply personal performance exploring balance, contortion, and lived experience.
In addition to finished works, the festival offers a glimpse behind the scenes of creation. Audiences are invited to attend a residency showing by Cie Les Complémentaires, providing insight into the artistic process and the development of new work—an opportunity that reflects Archaos’s long-standing commitment to supporting creation at every stage.
Making Circus Accessible to All Ages
A defining aspect of Entre2 BIAC is its focus on accessibility and transmission. Archaos continues to champion circus as a powerful tool against exclusion, with programming tailored for children and very young audiences. Family-friendly performances such as Baoum! by Cie SCoM are complemented by parent–child workshops, while projects like Dans les grandes lignes by Cie Lunatic bring circus into municipal nurseries, engaging children aged 0–3, their families, and care professionals.
A Festive Closing by the Sea
The festival will conclude on Sunday, February 15, 2026, with a free, festive closing event titled “Au bout, la mer !” in Marseille. The day will feature performances and public animations, including Roue giratoire by Les filles du renard pâle, a high-energy piece combining live music and large-scale apparatus, and a new aerial performance created especially for the occasion by Cie Les P’tits bras. This family-focused celebration is organized in partnership with the City of Marseille.
Supporting the Future of Circus
Beyond performance, Entre2 BIAC reflects Archaos’s broader mission to support the future of circus through education and professional development. In partnership with Lycée Joliot Curie in Aubagne, Archaos has helped establish a unique secondary-school curriculum in circus arts, offering students a structured pathway that combines physical practice, theory, and critical engagement with live performance. Beginning in 2026, the program will extend through the final year of secondary education, preparing students for entry into leading national circus schools such as CNAC and Académie Fratellini.
With Entre2 BIAC 2026, Marseille once again becomes a focal point for contemporary circus—celebrating artistic risk, nurturing new generations, and reaffirming circus as one of the most dynamic and innovative performing arts of our time.
Main image: Tent Village in Marseille Photo @ Matthieu Colin
This post was last modified on January 8, 2026 3:12 pm