Organized by AMESIP and the Shems’y National Circus School, Karacena 2026 brings together Moroccan and international artists under the theme “Faire corps,” or “Coming together.” The 10-day biennale will combine circus, dance, music and equestrian arts across several venues and public spaces in the city.
Rather than keeping performances inside traditional theaters, the festival will make use of Salé’s urban and historic landscape. The city’s squares, beaches, medina and historic sites will serve as performance spaces, turning parts of Salé into what organizers describe as an open-air stage.
The program features Moroccan creations alongside productions by international artists. Among the announced works are “Le Monde à l’Envers,” directed by Aïcha Aouad, “Les Métamorphoses de Jha V2,” “Awal Qalam 2026” and “Moussa, l’Enfant de la Mer.” Young artists from the Shems’y National Circus School will also present creations including “Bateau,” “Zarbia,” “Rihla” and “Chajarah,” alongside international productions such as Spain’s “Sopla!” and Germany’s “Clo.ther.”
The biennale will open with a parade on Aug. 21, before performances unfold at locations including Bab Fès, Bab Hssain, Sidi Moussa, the National Institute of Fine Arts and the Shems’y circus tents.
The biennale is closely linked to the work of Shems’y, giving young Moroccan circus artists opportunities to develop and present their work while engaging with international artists and professionals.
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The 2026 theme, “Faire corps,” reflects the festival’s focus on collective creation, collaboration and connections between artists, audiences and the city itself.
Launched in 2006, Karacena has developed into a biennale centered on circus and travelling arts, with Salé serving as both its setting and an important part of its artistic identity. Its organizers describe the event as a space where training, artistic creation and public performance come together.
For 10 days, the result will be a festival in which the boundary between stage and city becomes less clear — with contemporary circus appearing not only in dedicated venues, but across the streets, squares and landmarks of Salé.
