"Magical Arena" Grand Finale 2026

On June 21, the grand finale of the second All-Ukrainian Festival of Circus Art, "Magical Arena," took place at the capital's "Pechersk Palace" Cultural Center. During a vibrant gala show, the finest young artists from all across Ukraine presented their competitive acts, demonstrating a high level of mastery, creativity, and dedication.

The festival was organized by the "Magical Wings" Charitable Foundation and the "Pechersk Palace" Cultural Center, with the support of the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts.

As a reminder, the preliminary selection stage took place from April 17 to 19, bringing together over 1,000 participants from various regions of Ukraine. In total, the jury reviewed 276 competitive acts, from which only the 21 best performances were selected for the super final. More details about the selection stage can be found in other articles on our website.

During the final gala concert, participants performed routines in aerial gymnastics, acrobatics, equilibristics, and juggling, competing not only for festival awards but also for the opportunity to step onto the international professional stage.

One of the key highlights of this year's festival was the participation of representatives from the international circus community. The jury panel included experts from the USA, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Among them were directors of international festivals, producers, casting directors, representatives of circus companies, and other industry professionals.

The President of the festival and Director of the "Magical Wings" Charitable Foundation, Andriy Shmandrovsky, emphasized that the presence of international experts offers Ukrainian children a genuine chance to be noticed by leading global shows and festivals.

"We want talented Ukrainian children to receive opportunities for growth not only within Ukraine but also beyond its borders. That is why we invite those who are shaping the global circus industry today."

In addition to competitive awards, financial support for studio development was awarded to the winners of the team prizes — the "Arena Cup." These funds can be used to purchase mats, aerial gymnastics structures, props, and other equipment essential for training and refining skills.

Oles Shuravchak, Artistic Director of the "Pechersk Palace" Cultural Center and Head of the Festival Organizing Committee, noted that they succeeded in significantly strengthening the international component of the event this year.

According to him, festival participants received invitations to take part in European youth circus festivals, as well as opportunities to audition for American and Italian talent shows.

Andriy Shmandrovsky also recalled the achievements of participants from previous years. Notably, three representatives of the festival performed successfully at international competitions in Italy, where the Ukrainian artists claimed awards, and one of the gold medals was the only one awarded at that entire festival. More details about this success can also be found in other materials on our website.

Among the honored guests of the festival was Myroslava Smirnova, a deputy of the Kyiv City Council from the "UDAR" faction. She highlighted the profound importance of holding such events during a time of full-scale war.

According to her, creativity helps children maintain faith in their own strength, continue growing, and hold onto their dreams even in the most challenging times. She also pointed out that graduates of the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts are currently working in world-renowned circus projects, including Cirque du Soleil, while current festival participants are already receiving invitations to Italy, Monte Carlo, and other countries.

"Our task as adults is to create conditions for children so that they can have a dream and believe in it. We want to give them wings so they can fly toward their dreams," the festival organizers concluded.

The second All-Ukrainian Festival of Circus Art, "Magical Arena," has once again proven that Ukrainian children possess immense talent, and the support of benefactors, educators, and international partners opens up new horizons for their professional development and international recognition.