The Ukrainian Flag Flies High at the International Circus Festival in Italy

In November 2025, Ukrainian circus art proudly took the international stage: representatives from Ukraine participated in a prestigious talent festival in Italy — and our young artists brought home three awards! This is a story of talent, perseverance, support, and an unshakable belief in the future.

Ukraine's Voice on the International Jury

This year, the international jury was composed of representatives from 11 countries. And among them — only one came from Ukraine. It was a special honor: by invitation of the organizers, Andrii Shmandrovskyi, Head of the Magic Wings Charitable Foundation, joined the jury.

His participation was not just symbolic — it was a strong representation of our culture, our circus traditions, and our talented youth on a global stage.

"This was more than judging performances — it was a mission to show the international community that even during wartime, Ukrainian children deserve a stage, opportunities, and support,"
Andrii Shmandrovskyi.

His experience, sincere love for circus art, and years of working with children made a meaningful contribution to the professionalism of the jury and strengthened Ukraine’s international image.

Rising Stars from Ukraine: Victory in the Ring

After being selected during the Magic Arena festival in Kyiv, three young artists traveled to represent Ukraine in Italy — and each of them returned as a winner: «Магічна Арена» в Києві троє молодих артистів поїхали представляти нашу країну в Італії. І кожен із них — повернувся з перемогою:

  • 🥇 Gold — Viktoriia Voitko

  • 🥈 Silver — Veronika Nepomniashcha

  • 🥉 Bronze — Elmaks Duo

The competition was incredibly tough — the festival gathered top performers from around the world, including Italy’s legendary circus dynasties. But our Ukrainian children not only held their ground — they amazed the audience and jury with their skill, sincerity, and undeniable talent.

“These awards are not just medals. They are symbols of the strength of the Ukrainian spirit, talent, and hope.”

Heartfelt Gratitude to All Who Made This Possible

We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this journey possible. Every victory is a result of teamwork, belief, inspiration, and international cooperation.

  • Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts (KMAECM) — for their invaluable educational and organizational support, their commitment to developing circus arts in Ukraine, and for preparing the young talents who proudly represented our country.

  • The Magic Arena Festival — thanks to this selection stage held in Kyiv, talented artists were discovered and given a chance to perform on an international stage. This became a reality through the hard work of the entire festival team and the support of KMAECM.

  • The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and especially the Minister — for supporting initiatives that open new opportunities for Ukrainian children abroad.

  • The Embassy of Ukraine in Rome — for their warm presence, heartfelt words, and unwavering support that symbolized unity and hope.

  • The professional trainers and educators, without whom these achievements would not have been possible:

    Oleh Kurinskyi (Ale-Ap)

    Svitlana Nepomniashcha (Edelweiss)

  • To the organizers of the festival in Italy::

    Fabio Montico

    Fabrizio Montico

    Elena Shurubenko and the entire team — for your warmth, care, and the atmosphere you created, allowing our children to feel confident and supported, even far from home.

    This project is a shining example of how Ukrainian excellence, paired with international support, can create true magic.

A Stage Where Ukraine Shines

This trip to Italy was not only a creative challenge — it was proof that Ukrainian culture is competitive, vibrant, and deeply inspiring. Our children are the future — and every success they achieve is a victory for all of Ukraine.

We will continue our work so the world can see: our talents are our pride, and our culture deserves to be heard.

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