Puglia. In the heart of Nardò for the Circonauta Festival

Until 12 July 2026, the contemporary circus, with all its music, will be taking to the stage in the narrow streets of the village of Nardò. The 12th edition of Circonauta, the International Festival of Contemporary Circus, brings some of the finest examples of the contemporary circus scene to Puglia: clowning, music, aerial acrobatics, juggling and performances that attract an audience of over 20,000 spectators every year. The stage for these performances is the entire historic centre, a masterpiece of Salento Baroque. This in itself is a great reason to visit Salento and lose yourself in the narrow streets of its sunny towns, to enjoy the coast and the crystal-clear sea, the countryside dotted with olive trees and dry-stone walls, and the simple yet intense flavours of the local cuisine. The 2026 edition sets its feet firmly on the #earth, an invitation to return to the ground to listen to its breath, feel its weight and embrace its promise, imagining new and shared ways of inhabiting and experiencing it. Circonauta reaffirms its role as an open space, in constant dialogue with the local area and with social and cultural organisations such as the Museum of Prehistory in Nardò, which hosts the photographic exhibitions organised for the Festival, the Sigismondo Castromediano Museum in Lecce, the Calimera Natural History Museum and Wildlife Reserve, and the Salento Aquarium in Santa Maria al Bagno, where complimentary festival entry tickets can be collected. Circonauta is also present at the University of Salento and numerous schools, with the aim of promoting contemporary circus culture and inspiring the younger generations. This year, the Circonauta Festival will host the exclusive national ‘Trampolino Vetrina 2026’ award; this is a showcase dedicated to young Italian circus talent as part of Circ_Up 3.0, supported by the Ministry of Culture and organised in collaboration with A.C.C.I. – Associazione Circo Contemporaneo Italia

www.associazionecircocontemporaneo.it