Golden Clowns, Gala evening, Winners' Show and New Generation: the complete guide to the 49th Monte-Carlo Circus Festival, minutes from the Port Palace.
The Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival 2027 takes place from 22 to 31 January 2027 under the Fontvieille Big Top in Monaco. For its 49th edition, the Monte-Carlo circus brings together the world's finest artists for ten days, all competing for the most coveted award in their art: the Golden Clown. Alongside it, the 14th edition of New Generation puts the spotlight on the rising stars of the circus, with young talents from across the globe.
Dates, day-by-day programme, ticketing, reference prices, how to reach the big top and ideas to extend your stay: this guide gathers everything you need to know to enjoy the Monaco circus in January 2027. The information follows the official calendar published by Monte-Carlo Festivals; the final 2027 price list is available on the organiser's website.
The Monte-Carlo Circus Festival 2027 at a glance
Before going into detail, here are the key facts of this 49th edition, as announced by the organiser.
Since 1974, the Monte-Carlo Festival has been to the circus what Cannes is to cinema: the stage where careers are made. Acrobats, trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, animal trainers and balancing acts follow one another in front of an international jury, under the presidency of H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie. Attending a performance means seeing, in a single evening, some fifteen acts selected from the most accomplished in the world.
When is the Monaco Circus Festival 2027?
The Monaco Circus Festival 2027 runs from Friday 22 to Sunday 31 January 2027. As every year, it unfolds in three stages: the competition shows, the Gala evening with the awards ceremony, and then the Winners' Show bringing together the prize-winning acts.
The competition shows (22 to 24 January)
The Festival opens on Friday 22 January at 8 pm with the first competition programme. Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January alternate between the first and second programmes, in the afternoon and in the evening. The two programmes are different: to discover all the competing artists, you need to attend both. This is the moment true enthusiasts favour, as every act is still in the running for the Clowns.
On Sunday 24 January at 10.30 am, a two-hour show at a reduced price is the ideal way in for families with young children: a shorter format, a morning slot and gentler prices.
The Gala evening and the Clown awards (26 January)
On Tuesday 26 January 2027 at 7.30 pm, the Gala evening closes the competition with the presentation of the Golden, Silver and Bronze Clowns, along with special prizes and the New Generation Junior awards. It is the most sought-after evening of the Festival, attended by the Princely Family: seats sell out first, so book as soon as tickets go on sale.
The evening before, on Monday 25 January at 7 pm, an ecumenical celebration is held under the big top. It brings artists and audience together in an atmosphere very different from the competition evenings, and regulars consider it one of the most moving moments of the week.
The Winners' Show (27 to 31 January)
From Wednesday 27 to Sunday 31 January, the Winners' Show gathers the acts rewarded by the jury on a single ring. Eleven performances are scheduled, several of them in the afternoon, which makes it the most flexible option for a weekend stay. As 27 January is a public holiday in Monaco (the feast of Sainte-Dévote), that day features two performances at 3 pm and 8 pm, preceded by a reduced-price show at 11 am.
The reduced-price morning shows on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 January at 10.30 am are a good choice if you are travelling with family: two hours of show, a big top that is often less crowded, and a finish that leaves the whole afternoon free to explore the Principality.
Why is the Monte-Carlo Festival the most prestigious in the world?
The Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival was founded in 1974 by Prince Rainier III, a great circus enthusiast, with the ambition of supporting traditional circus, its artists and its great families. At the very first edition, the Prince himself presented the first Golden Clown to Spanish artist Charlie Rivel. Since then, the award has become the equivalent of an Oscar in the circus world, as the Monaco Tourist Office points out.
In 2005, H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie succeeded her father as President of the Festival. Under her leadership, the event continues to bring the most renowned companies from Europe, Asia and the Americas together under the Fontvieille Big Top every year, while upholding the values and transmission of the circus arts. The regular presence of Prince Albert II and his children at performances is also part of the charm of these evenings.
New Generation: the future of the circus
Created in 2012 by Princess Stéphanie and her daughter Pauline Ducruet, New Generation is the only circus competition in the world dedicated to young talent. An international jury, chaired by Pauline Ducruet since the first edition, awards the Gold, Silver and Bronze Juniors. In 2027, the 14th edition of New Generation takes place during the Festival, and the young prize-winners join the established artists in the ring for the Winners' Show.
Where to buy tickets for the Monaco circus in 2027?
Official ticketing is handled by Monte-Carlo Festivals. There are three channels: online booking at montecarlofestival.mc, the box office at the Fontvieille Big Top (5 avenue des Ligures), and telephone booking on +377 92 05 23 45. Tickets are also distributed through the France Billet and Fnac Spectacles networks.
The big top is divided into two main areas: the armchairs, closest to the ring, and the bleachers, higher up. Each area has several categories (A, B, C, D, E), with prices decreasing the further you sit from the ring. The 2027 price list is published by the organiser; as a reference, here are the prices charged during the 2026 edition.
☉ Good to know
The competition shows are split into two different programmes: a ticket for the 1st programme does not give access to the acts of the 2nd. To see all the competing artists, plan two sessions, for example Saturday 23 January at 2 pm and then at 8 pm. The Winners' Show, on the other hand, brings the prize-winning acts together in a single performance.
For the Gala evening and the evening performances of the Winners' Show, the categories closest to the ring sell out within a few weeks. If your dates are already set, book your tickets before your hotel rather than the other way round: rooms in Monaco in late January remain available longer than the best armchairs under the big top.
How to get to the Fontvieille Big Top?
The Fontvieille Big Top stands on the Espace Fontvieille, at 5 avenue des Ligures, at the western end of the Principality. From Port Hercule, allow around 20 to 25 minutes on foot around the Rock via the tunnel, or under ten minutes by taxi. Buses run by the Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco serve the Fontvieille district from La Condamine, and the public lifts make the descent from the Rock easy.
If you come by car, the nearest public car parks are those of the Stade Louis II, Les Salines and Fontvieille. Our guide to parking in Monaco details rates and access. On Gala evenings, the area around the big top gets very busy: arrive 45 minutes before the show starts.
💡 Concierge's tip
"For an 8 pm performance, leave the hotel around 6.45 pm and walk through the tunnel under the Rock: you follow the Fontvieille harbour and reach the big top in about twenty minutes, with no parking to worry about. For the way back, taxis are scarce at the exit; our guests most often ask us to book a car in advance for the end of the show."
From Nice-Côte d'Azur airport, Monaco is 30 minutes away by motorway, 25 minutes by train from Nice-Ville station, or seven minutes by helicopter. All options are compared in our article on how to get to Monaco.
What to do in Monaco around the Circus Festival?
In late January, the Principality lives one of its most authentic moments. On the evening of 26 January, the feast of Sainte-Dévote, patron saint of Monaco, is celebrated on Port Hercule: a procession, the burning of the symbolic boat in front of the church and fireworks over the harbour. On 27 January, a public holiday, a solemn mass and a procession pass through the old town. These celebrations coincide with the Gala evening and the first day of the Winners' Show.
The rest of your stay lends itself to discovering Monaco in winter, when the streets are quiet and the museums can be visited without queues:
- The Oceanographic Museum on the Rock, one of the favourite outings of families who come for the circus.
- Monaco-Ville and the Prince's Palace, with the changing of the guard every day at 11.55 am.
- The Exotic Garden and its sweeping views over Fontvieille and the big top.
- An evening at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, whose season is in full swing in January.
- For couples, the Festival combines beautifully with a romantic stay in Monaco, between the show, the casino and dinner overlooking the harbour.
Our complete selection of Monaco's must-sees will help you put together a two- or three-day itinerary.
The circus in Fontvieille, Sainte-Dévote on the harbour: stay in the heart of Monaco in late January.
Check availabilityStaying at the Port Palace during the Circus Festival
The Port Palace is a 4-star boutique hotel, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, set directly on Port Hercule. Its 50 harbour-view rooms and suites look out over the yacht basin and the Rock: on the evening of 26 January, the burning of the Sainte-Dévote boat and the fireworks can be enjoyed from the hotel's windows, before or after a performance.
The Festival attracts many families. The hotel's connecting suites and its family offer, with 15% off the second room for any booking of two rooms or a suite plus a room, make it a convenient base for a group stay. The conditions are detailed on our special offers page. To take care of the details, our guests benefit from a concierge service that can arrange transfers to Fontvieille, restaurant reservations and, subject to availability, show tickets.
After the show, the La Môme Monte-Carlo restaurant, on the hotel's sixth floor, serves Mediterranean cuisine with a view over the harbour: a pleasant way to round off a circus evening just minutes from the big top.
Port Palace Monaco
Your stay during the Monte-Carlo Circus Festival 2027
50 rooms and suites overlooking Port Hercule, minutes from the Fontvieille Big Top. Connecting suites for families and a concierge service reserved for our guests.
Book your stayFAQ: Monte-Carlo Circus Festival 2027
What are the dates of the Monte-Carlo Circus Festival 2027?
The 49th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival runs from Friday 22 to Sunday 31 January 2027 under the Fontvieille Big Top in Monaco. The Gala evening and awards ceremony take place on Tuesday 26 January at 7.30 pm.
How much do tickets for the Monaco circus cost?
For the 2026 edition, seats ranged from around 30 EUR (bleachers, reduced-price show) to 80 EUR (category C armchairs for the Winners' Show), with the top armchair categories and the Gala evening priced higher. The official 2027 price list is published on montecarlofestival.mc.
Where does the Monaco Circus Festival take place?
All performances are held under the Fontvieille Big Top at Espace Fontvieille, 5 avenue des Ligures, 98000 Monaco. The big top is about a 20-minute walk from Port Hercule and under ten minutes by taxi.
Is the Monte-Carlo Circus Festival suitable for children?
Yes, it is one of Monaco's great family events of the winter. The two-hour reduced-price shows, scheduled in the morning on 24, 27, 30 and 31 January 2027, are especially well suited to young children.
What is the Golden Clown?
The Golden Clown is the highest award of the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival, presented by an international jury at the Gala evening. Created in 1974 and first awarded to Charlie Rivel, it is regarded as the most prestigious prize in the circus arts.
The Monte-Carlo circus, an evening not to be missed in January
Ten days, two competition programmes, a Gala evening and a Winners' Show: the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival 2027 offers many opportunities to discover the best of world circus in a unique setting. To make the most of it, book your tickets as soon as they go on sale, then choose a base in the heart of the Principality. From the Port Palace, the big top, the feast of Sainte-Dévote and Monaco's must-sees are just minutes away, on foot or by taxi.
