Al via l’XI edizione di Circonauta Festival: si parte il 4 luglio a Nardò con la mostra Circus Love e spettacoli sotto le stelle

Saturday, July 4th, 2025, at 7:30 PM, at the Cloister of the Museum of Prehistory in Piazza Sant’Antonio in Nardò, the 11th edition of Circonauta – International Festival of Contemporary Circus officially opens with an inaugural event that combines visual art, music, and live performances. Running until July 13th on the days of July 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th, 2025, Circonauta confirms its international and multidisciplinary vocation, bringing to the stage the best of new circus with artists from all over Europe and transforming the city of Nardò into an open-air stage.

The festival will kick off with the inauguration of the photo exhibition “CIRCUS LOVE – The magical life of Europe’s family circuses,” a project by the Italian-French artist Stéphanie Gengotti, which tells with extraordinary intensity and delicacy the daily life of European circus families. An intimate and poetic journey that will remain on display in the Cloister of the Museum until July 13th, open every day with free admission.

The inaugural evening will open with a welcome aperitif and institutional greetings, then continue in a festive manner with the compelling music of the traveling brass band I Fanfarroni, always a soundtrack for the festival’s most special occasions. The artistic caravan will guide the audience to Via Garibaldi, where the opening show will take place: “Undici,” a performance of experimental juggling and clowning by Giorgioliere, an eclectic artist loved by audiences of all ages.

The festival will continue in the following days with a rich program of shows, workshops, urban incursions, and moments of insight, involving big names from the national and international contemporary circus scene. Among the festival locations: Piazza Salandra, Largo Sambiasi, Piazza Vescovato, Piazza Sant’Antonio, and other urban spaces transformed into arenas of poetry and movement.

Circonauta 2025 is part of a three-year journey of reflection and action on the theme “Re-thinking the planet,” which in this edition focuses on the word “AIR,” understood as breath, lightness, change. Inspired by Air, the entire programming of the festival includes aerial performances and juggling, presenting complex disciplines that require particular dexterity and concentration; eagerly awaited are the shows by Les Quat’ fers en l’air (FR), Circus Unartiq (GE), Acrocinus (CH), Duo Padella (IT), Anatoli Akerman & Christoph Schiele – (ISR/AU), Matteo Galbusera – (IT), Emiliano Sanchez (AR), Rebel Circus (IT), Doble Mandoble (BE), El Cruce (ES), FLIC Circus School (IT), Giorgioliere (IT). The musical series I Canti delle Sirene e dei Tritoni will showcase the best musicians from the Apulian scene: Porto Madera, TV Color, Yuth Generation, the N.O.La. Project, Emanuela Gabrieli, and the Allegra brigata scanzonata.

Circonauta Festival is promoted and organized by Circonauta APS. With the support of: Regione Puglia – Department of Culture, Municipality of Nardò – Department of Culture, Piiil Cultura – Puglia Capitale Sociale 3.0, Puglia Culture, Ministry of Culture.

The photo exhibition “Circus Love - – The magical life of Europe’s family circuses” is curated by Marinella Mazzotta who created the installations for AltraMarea Productions in collaboration with Circonauta APS. The exhibition setup is itself an experience: precious brocades and recycled materials create a unique and original atmosphere that immerses visitors in a dreamlike and private world, as if peering through the keyhole of a mobile home. The photographs, the result of a long journey of observation and sharing, poetically narrate the everyday life of new circus families: a contemporary universe where traditional stage lights give way to human stories, intense bonds, and a constant balance between freedom and sacrifice.

2025 marks the first chapter of the exhibition which will develop over three years to present various families, beginning with Cirque Bidon and Le Pêcheurs de Rêves.

The exhibition, selected as the winner of the MIC “FUS Special Projects” call, is destined to be hosted at the most important circus festivals.

Stephanie Gengotti, living and traveling with six circus families, captured exclusive moments: children’s games, preparation before the show, affectionate bonds, and the most authentic details of caravan life. Each shot reveals the intimacy of nomadic communities living out passion united by the magic of the circus and the desire for self-determination.

Stephanie Gengotti's works have been awarded and exhibited in numerous exhibitions, in Italy and abroad. Among the major published editorial collaborations: Internazionale, GEO Magazine, Le Monde, Stern, Der Spiegel, National Geographic, The New York Times, The Sunday Times Magazine, Sekai, The Guardian, 6 Mois, L’Espresso, Yo Dona, China Newsweek, El Mundo, Vanity Fair, Il Reportage.

www.circonauta.it – info@circonauta.it – infoline: +39.379.2405586

Press Office
Marinella Mazzotta +39 347 8157272
Altramarea.produzioni@gmail.com
Web: www.circonauta.it