The countdown is over. This Friday, the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival returns to the Fontvieille big top for its 46th edition, a landmark celebration of circus arts under the continued patronage and passionate stewardship of Her Serene Highness Princess Stéphanie of Monaco…
In a candid interview with Monaco Info, Princess Stéphanie reflected on the enduring spirit of the Festival and the deep personal legacy she carries from her father, Prince Rainier III, who founded the event in 1974. “I feel like a child of the circus,” she said, describing the big top as a place filled with energy, emotion and artistic truth. “The artists leave everything in the ring, their soul, their worries, they perform to give dreams and happiness to others. That’s magical.”
This year’s Festival celebrates “all the records,” with an eclectic programme spanning acrobatics, clowns, animals and emerging acts from new circus nations including Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kazakhstan. Princess Stéphanie highlighted the importance of supporting social circus initiatives in Africa and giving lesser-known artists a global stage.
While animal acts are not featured this year, the Princess spoke warmly of the bond between performer and animal, calling them “artists in their own right,” and defended the role of ethical, respectful training. As ever, the Festival remains a moving celebration of courage, talent and connection, and a vital reminder, in the Princess’s words, that the circus is “not just a show, but a cultural heritage.”
The Festival runs until 25 January.
Image: Monaco Info
