The Festival
FIC 2026
The 20th edition of the Clownbaret International Festival, FIC 2026, returns to the Canary Islands from 30 September to 25 October with an extraordinary programme featuring 17 world-class companies and artists. A total of 74 performances and activities invite you to discover, experience and connect with the fascinating world of clowning and the circus arts. What’s more, we’ll be touring 12 municipalities across the Canary Islands to ensure the festival’s magic reaches every corner.
A programme designed to surprise, thrill and entertain audiences of all ages. We celebrate the art of the clown and the circus with you, featuring top-quality shows by artists from Germany, Italy, the UK and France, alongside big names from the national scene and talent from our islands. And we’re bringing back the FIC Cabaret with a performance by all the artists taking part in this great festival. Don’t miss it!
HISTORY
The FIC opens its doors to introduce you to the talent of the clown and circus professionals who, year after year, feature in its programme in the Canary Islands. Their performances showcase an extraordinary variety of disciplines, ranging from physical theatre and mime to music, magic, juggling and acrobatics, offering a comprehensive journey through the world of the circus.
Launched in 2006, the FIC emerged in response to the limited presence of clowning and the circus in the islands’ cultural programme, both in theatres and at festivals. Since then, its development has been closely linked to the work of Lasal Producciones, the promoter and driving force behind the project, whose commitment and vision have been fundamental in consolidating the festival over time. Under the artistic direction of Brian Rodríguez, a professional clown, the festival has grown to become a leading platform for bringing the work of international creators dedicated to this ancient discipline to the Canary Islands.
A pioneer in its field within the Canary Islands’ cultural scene, the FIC has successfully opened up new avenues in the islands’ artistic landscape. Its presence in both theatres and on the high street, combined with a programme spanning different regions, has helped to highlight the art of the clown and its many forms of expression on stage, in the circus and on film.
Among the festival’s highlights was what was, sadly, the final performance by the master Carlo Colombaioni, renowned for his collaboration with Federico Fellini on the film *Il Clowns*. The festival has also hosted great figures from the world of clowning who are no longer with us, such as Jango Edwards, whose legacy lives on in the public’s memory.
Throughout its history, the FIC has brought together leading national and international artists, including Umbilical Brothers, Avner The Eccentric, Les Founambules, Peter Shub, Carlo Colombaioni, Faemino and Cansado, Pepe Viyuela, Gardi Hutter, Tortell Poltrona, Laura Herts, Aga-boom, Leandre Clown, Pepa Plana and Fraser Hooper, amongst many others.
The festival is expanding with initiatives such as ‘Payasos en Ruta’, developed in collaboration with various local councils across the islands. This parallel programme brings shows, workshops, social clowning activities and family-friendly events to other parts of the archipelago. All of this is made possible thanks to the commitment of the FIC team and the professionals involved, as well as the backing of public and private organisations that support this cultural project.
