Any emerging artist whose work is based in an EU member state or a non-EU country participating in the Creative Europe program may apply for the circusnext support program with an ongoing circus project. All creative contexts, forms, formats, durations, aesthetics, themes, target audiences, circus disciplines, and interdisciplinary approaches between circus and other art forms are eligible (except for acts/individual numbers). 

Projects are evaluated based on the following criteria: 

• Originality of the project: A new approach to circus techniques, an original research process, the creation of a strong and unique artistic universe, the development of a new circus vocabulary, etc. 

• Authorship: The ability to advocate for one’s work and artistic choices, to position oneself and one’s work within the field of circus arts, the necessity to create. 

• Coherence and relevance of the project: Alignment between artistic intentions and the way the work, ideas, and production are structured. 

• Stage performance quality: The ability to convey artistic intentions on stage, the quality of movement, rhythm, and stage presence. 

Note: The definitions of these criteria are not limited to the above explanations, which are provided for a better understanding. 

Eligible artists: 

• reside in Europe and have their work based in a country participating in Creative Europe (see list below*) 

• are emerging circus authors (see definition below**) applying as individuals or companies 

• are at least 18 years old 

• are not necessarily circus schools’ graduates  

• shouldn’t be enrolled in a circus school at the start of the circusnext 2026 edition, i.e. in September 2025
• shouldn’t have previously been selected as a circusnext Laureate or Finalist (pre-selected artists may reapply the following year) 
• should apply through a legal entity based in a Creative Europe country (freelancers are eligible) 

Eligible projects: 

• must be in the creation phase 

• can belong to any circus discipline 

• one author = one project = one application per edition 

• can be submitted again in the next call if not selected as a Finalist or Laureate 

Eligible Countries: 

• The country selected in the application form must be where the production is based. 

European Union countries: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and the Netherlands. 

Other countries participating in Creative Europe: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Ukraine. 

Definition of “Emerging” Artists 

circusnext and its partners assess artistic emergence with regards to national context. Emergence is scrutinized according to professional recognition rather than age, and is assessed on the following criteria: 

• Number of professional creations: 

• Artists can apply with their 1st or 2nd creation if based in France, Belgium, or the Netherlands. 

• Artists can apply with their 3rd creation if based in other eligible countries. 

• Self-produced works are not counted. 

• Visibility of previous works: Have the author’s previous creations toured significantly in Europe or internationally? 

• Financial support for past works: Have the author’s previous projects received significant public funding? 

Note: Emerging criteria apply to all authors of the project but not to its performers. Collectives including a non-emerging author are ineligible. 

Availability & Timeline 

Applicants must be available to present a work-in-progress on stage on the following periods: 

• September 2026: Laureate selection in Paris, France 

• October–December 2026: circusnext Revelations in Paris, France 

• September 2026: Revelations on tour in Tilburg, The Netherlands 

Each year, circusnext organizes a three-stage selection process, leading to the selection of four Laureate projects. 

Step 1: National/Regional Pre-Selections 

Based on written application and video 

• National/regional committees across Europe (composed of platform members, cultural professionals, and local artists) review applications. 

• Each committee can select up to five applications. 

New in 2026: Seeding Labs 

• Artists whose projects show promising elements but for which the jury deems it is too early for them to join the selection process may be invited to participate in a Seeding Lab. 

• These 10-day labs bring together 8–9 artists from different countries and are facilitated by an experienced artist. 

Step 2: European Selection of Finalists 

Based on the same application and video 

• The 24 members of the Platform and the artistic jury review the preselected applications. 

• 10 projects are chosen as Finalists. 

Step 3: Selection of Laureates 

On-stage presentation and interview 

• The 10 Finalists present a 15–20 minute-long work-in-progress in Paris. 

• They undergo an individual interview with the jury. 

• Four projects are selected as Laureates. 

circusnext offers various types of support throughout the selection process. 

1 – For some projects not preselected

> Seeding Labs 

• 10-day artistic laboratories facilitated by experienced artists, allowing selected participants to develop their projects collectively. 

2 – For Finalists 

> Financial Support 

• Each Finalist receives a € 3,000 co-production grant. 

> Participation in the Laureate Selection in Paris 

• Finalists present a 15-to-20-minute work-in-progress in front of European and French professionals. 

• They attend networking sessions, pitch meetings, and individual interviews. 

> Creative Support 

• Residency or work-in-progress presentations abroad in a Platform member venue. 

• Participation in an international artistic laboratory with other Finalists. 

> Online Training Sessions 

• Topics include care, ecoresponsibility in performing arts, intellectual property, etc. 

> Promotion, Follow-Up, and Networking 

• circusnext provides individualized follow-up, promoting projects within its network. 

• circusnext arranges online and in-person meetings and actively shares project updates on its communication channels. 

3 – For Laureates 

> Financial Support 

• Each Laureate receives a € 5,000 co-production grant. 

> Participation in circusnext Revelations 

• Laureates present a 20-minute work-in-progress to the public on two occasions: 

• In Paris, between October and December, 2026 

• In Tilburg, Netherlands during the Circolo Festival in September 2026 

> Creative & Touring Support 

• Laureates may be hosted in residency or for performances by Platform members. 

> Communication & Promotion 

• A media training session with a journalist on how to present their project. 

• A video portrait and in-depth interview. 

• Extensive promotional support on circusnext’s website, social media, and through its partners.