Cambodia’s only international circus festival returns for seven festival days, expanding to both Siem Reap and Battambang with world-class performances, cultural exchange and community celebration from 17–24 November 2026.
Phare Ponleu Selpak, in collaboration with Phare, The Cambodian Circus, is proud to officially announce that the Tini Tinou International Circus Festival, Cambodia’s only international circus festival, is returning this year for its 13th edition.
BOLDER. BRIGHTER. BIGGER. Taking place over seven festival days, the festival will run from 17–19 November in Siem Reap before continuing in Battambang from 21–24 November 2026. Returning to both Siem Reap and Battambang, two of Cambodia’s leading cultural destinations, Tini Tinou will welcome an exceptional lineup of Cambodian and international artists and troupes while creating an even greater platform for artistic exchange, cultural collaboration and audience engagement.
Named after the Khmer expression meaning “here and there,” Tini Tinou celebrates the creativity, diversity and universal language of contemporary circus. Every two years, the festival brings the Big Top, public spaces and city streets to life with spectacular performances, creating unforgettable experiences for local communities and visitors from around the world.
Osman KHAWAJA, Executive Director of Phare Ponleu Selpak, said:
“For more than twenty years, Tini Tinou has celebrated the power of circus to bring people together across cultures and generations. This year marks an exciting new chapter as the festival expands across both Siem Reap and Battambang, allowing us to welcome even more audiences, artists and cultural partners. Together with Phare, The Cambodian Circus, we look forward to sharing seven days of creativity, collaboration and unforgettable performances that showcase Cambodia as a vibrant destination for arts and culture.”
Across seven festival days, audiences can experience an exciting programme of contemporary circus performances by an expected lineup of Cambodian and international artists and troupes, alongside exclusive collaborative performances between international and Cambodian artists, pop-up performances, cultural exchanges, family-friendly activities, arts and crafts markets, food experiences and community celebrations.
The festival opens in Siem Reap from 17–19 November, with performances taking place under the Big Top at Phare, The Cambodian Circus and at selected locations across the city. Visitors can enjoy spectacular circus productions alongside children’s activities, workshops, face painting, live caricature drawing, creative markets and free pop-up performances that bring the magic of circus into public spaces.
The festival will then continue in Battambang from 21–24 November, centred at the Phare Ponleu Selpak campus and extending into public spaces throughout the city. Audiences can enjoy four days of performances, a vibrant circus street parade, artist talks, professional exchanges, community workshops, evening entertainment, arts and crafts markets, and free pop-up performances celebrating the creativity of Cambodian and international artists.
Beyond public performances, Tini Tinou continues its mission of strengthening Cambodia’s creative sector by providing opportunities for artists to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and build lasting international networks and partnerships. One of the major highlights of the 2026 edition is a special performance celebrating the 40th anniversary of Phare’s origins, showcasing the inspiring story of how Phare began. The performance honours four decades of resilience, creativity and hope that have shaped the organisation and its lasting impact on generations of Cambodian artists and communities. The festival will also present the premiere of the first Phare production created in collaboration with Arc Circus Australia, featuring both Cambodian and Australian artists in the cast. In addition, the festival will mark the opening of a permanent gallery showcasing artworks created by Cambodian refugee children during the 1980s and 1990s, preserving an important chapter of Cambodia’s artistic and cultural history.
Another major highlight of the 2026 edition is the hosting of the Circus Asia Network Annual General Meeting (AGM), bringing together leading circus professionals, producers and cultural organisations from across Asia. This further reinforces Cambodia’s growing role as a regional hub for contemporary circus and international cultural collaboration.
The 2026 edition has also been strategically scheduled to maximize its cultural and tourism impact. The Siem Reap programme takes place following the Francophonie Summit, creating opportunities to welcome international delegates and visitors already in Cambodia. The festival then continues in Battambang during the Cambodia’s Water Festival celebrations, when thousands of Cambodian families travel domestically. This unique timing is expected to broaden the festival’s reach and give travelers another reasonto make Battambang their destination of choice while showcasing Cambodia’s vibrant arts and culture to both local and international audiences.
This year’s Festival will build on the remarkable success of the previous edition, the 12th Tini Tinou International Circus Festival in 2024 when 117 artists representing 10 countries were welcomed, and presented performances to more than 14,000 audience members, and achieved an online reach of over 14 million people through social media, media coverage and digital content. The 13th edition aims to build on this momentum through its expanded programme across two cities while strengthening Cambodia’s position as a regional destination for contemporary circus and cultural tourism.
Through its continued growth, Tini Tinou remains committed to establishing contemporary circus as an integral part of Cambodia’s cultural landscape, creating opportunities for Cambodian and international artists to collaborate and develop professionally, strengthening cultural tourism in Siem Reap and Battambang, positioning Cambodia as a regional gateway for contemporary circus within ASEAN, and creating joyful, inclusive and accessible experiences for audiences of all ages.
As ASEAN’s only international circus festival, Tini Tinou offers an experience unlike any other in the region, combining world-class performances with authentic cultural exchange, community engagement and social impact through the arts.
The 13th edition of the Tini Tinou International Circus Festival invites audiences from Cambodia and around the world to experience seven unforgettable days of contemporary circus, creativity and cultural exchange. Join us under the Big Top this November and discover why Tini Tinou continues to inspire, connect communities and celebrate the universal language of circus.
About the Organizers
Phare Ponleu Selpak is a Cambodian non-profit association that has empowered children, youth and communities through arts, education, social support and outreach programmes since 1994.
Phare, The Cambodian Circus is the organisation’s social enterprise, creating sustainable employment for Cambodian artists while presenting internationally acclaimed contemporary circus performances that showcase Cambodian creativity to audiences from around the world.
Learn more: www.phareps.org | www.pharecircus.org
For more information about festival, please visit: https://phareps.org/festivals/tini-tinou-
circus-festival/
Follow Tini Tinou International Circus Festival Social Media Channels for the latest updates: Facebook | Instagram | Telegram
Festival Enquiries:
[EN, KH] Mr. KHUON Chanreaksmey, Director of Project
[email protected] , +855 92 633 357
[EN, KH] Ms. RY Moni Sovanya (Fia), Senior Festival and Event Coordinator
[email protected], +855 93809027
Sponsorship Enquiries:
[EN] Mr. Osman KHAWAJA, Executive Director
Media Enquiries:
[EN, KH] Mr. VAN Ponlork, Marketing & Communications Manager
[email protected], +855 (0)89 555 702
[KH] Mr. SOUN Alexander, Communication Assistant, Events