November 2026 • Brattleboro, VT

See you next year!

VTCF 2026 is coming in November and applications to perform in the Alumni Showcase or to teach a workshop at the festival are now open! Click below to apply to teach, perform, or both!

From free community events and family-friendly performances to circus workshops, the Vermont Circus Festival is for everybody.

Families can enjoy the thrill of live circus shows. Recreational students can join in for fun and engaging learning experiences. Professional artists will have opportunities to teach, train, perform, and build community.

Apply to teach Apply to perform

What is the Vermont Circus Festival?

The VTCF is a week long festival celebrating circus in Brattleboro, Vermont! In early November we host a variety of family friendly performances, free public events, and circus workshops and discussions for all ages and abilities. There is something for everyone at the VTCF and we hope to see you in 2026!

Our Mission & Story

Vermont Circus Festival’s mission is to bring people together to celebrate the joy of circus through workshops, performances, and community events.

Born out of the Circus Workshop Weekend, we’ve decided to expand that programming into a community wide festival, filled with free community events, public performances, and circus for everyone!

By sharing the magic of this art form, we strengthen community connections, inspire creativity, and bring cultural and economic vibrancy to the region.

Learn more about NECCA

More about the festival

Performances, Community Events, and Workshops for Everyone!

Learn more about the events you can look forward to in 2026! If you’d like to see what happened last year, you can find our 2025 event schedule here.

Free Community Events

From ice skating clowns to book readings for kids to figure drawing sessions with live circus artists to adult and youth open gyms at NECCA, there are so many free public events that happen at the Vermont Circus Festival. Check back later for the 2026 schedule of free events around Brattleboro during the festival!

Performances

Each year during the Vermont Circus Festival we host a guest company performance, the Alumni Cabaret, and our community WIP show, Beta Night. These shows are all family friendly and fun for all ages!

Workshops

As the VTCF was born out of our annual Circus Workshop Weekend, we have kept with the tradition of hosting loads of workshops from amazing teacher from around the country! During the final weekend of the festival, we will have a jam packed schedule of workshops for ALL ages and abilities. From beginner classes to SilverCircus classes to advanced technical classes, there is something for all abilities in our workshop lineup!

Location Info

Where is the Vermont Circus Festival?

There’s a lot that goes on at the VTCF in Brattleboro! Below you can find a list of locations where our events and workshops are held. Check back later for an update on our 2026 event and workshop locations!

The Trapezium: 10 Town Crier Drive
The Cotton Mill: 74 Cotton Mill Hill
118 Elliot St.
Brooks Memorial Library
The Drawing Studio
Nelson Withington Ice Rink
Pliny Park

Plan your visit

Discounts to workshops, shows, and more!

The Vermont Circus Festival Pass

If you want to get a jump start to saving your space on our workshops, you can buy a Festival Pass to get advance registration access and some awesome bonuses and perks! In 2025 these included the following (and we expect 2026 will be similar!):

10% off all workshops
$5 off all shows
Free pop-up workshops
Free morning warm-ups
NECCA swag bag

General Workshop Registration is Open!

Sign up for your workshops today! And don’t forget, if you purchase an Advance Pass, you also get discounts to our shows and other perks.

Our 2025 Sponsors

A big thank you to our festival sponsors!

See You in 2026!

We are on for 2026! Check back later for dates and more information!

Plan your trip to NECCA