3rd Social Circus Festival in Armenia

The 3rd Social Circus Festival will take place from September 29 to October 4, 2026, bringing professional circus performances, creative workshops, and community activities to children and families across Syunik. Over six days, an international team of circus artists from Argentina, Austria, and Germany will travel through Goris and surrounding communities, including Vorotan, Hartashen, Kornidzor, Tegh, Khndzoresk, Karahunj, Sisian, Verishen, and Akner, offering free cultural activities in places where access to professional arts and creative experiences can be limited.

In Armenia, many professional cultural and artistic activities are concentrated in Yerevan and larger urban centres. For children and families living in smaller towns and villages, opportunities to experience professional contemporary arts, participate in creative workshops or meet international artists can be much more limited.

The Social Circus Festival was created to address this gap by bringing artistic experiences directly into communities.

Instead of asking communities to come to a central festival location, the festival goes to them. In 2026, our Social Circus Caravan will travel through Syunik with an international team of artists, bringing performances and creative activities directly to communities.

Expected reach: The 2026 programme is planned to reach hundreds of children, families and community members through free performances, workshops and community activities across 9+ communities in Syunik. We aim to reach at least 700+ kids and teenagers from Goris and surrounding villages.

OUR EXPERIENCE

The Social Circus Festival is part of the year-round work of South Caucasus Social Circus, founded in Armenia in 2023. Our work brings circus and creative activities to cities, towns, and communities across Armenia, working with children, young people, educators, people with disabilities, and local organisations. The festival grew from this ongoing community work. The first editions created a meeting point between international artists, Armenian artists, local communities and children, while demonstrating that professional circus can successfully take place outside traditional cultural centres. The 2026 edition builds on that experience and expands the model into a larger regional programme.

About the director: Ezequiel Guiragossian is an Argentinian-Armenian artist, educator and social worker, dedicating his career to developing meaningful projects related to arts and community development. Working in Armenia since 2023, he is the founder and director of South Caucasus Social Circus.