Tini Tinou Circus Festival Returns, Bringing 100 Artists to Siem Reap and Battambang
The 13th Tini Tinou Circus Festival will bring more than 100 artists from 13 countries and territories to Siem Reap from 17 to 19 November and Battambang from 21 to 24 November, with free pop-up shows in public spaces.
អត្ថបទនេះមិនទាន់មានជាភាសាខ្មែរនៅឡើយទេ។ អ្នកកំពុងអានអត្ថបទដើមជាភាសាអង់គ្លេស។
Cambodia’s international circus festival, Tini Tinou, is returning for its 13th edition this November, turning city squares, parks and stages in Siem Reap and Battambang into open-air venues. The festival will run from 17 to 19 November in Siem Reap and from 21 to 24 November in Battambang, with more than 100 artists from 13 countries and territories taking part, Cambodianess reported on 22 October.
Key points
- The 13th Tini Tinou Circus Festival runs in Siem Reap from 17 to 19 November and in Battambang from 21 to 24 November 2026.
- More than 100 artists from 13 countries and territories will perform.
- The festival is run by Phare Ponleu Selpak in partnership with the Cambodia Tourism Board.
- A permanent gallery of art by Cambodian refugee children from the 1980s and 1990s will open during the festival.
A truly international line-up
Performers are coming from Cambodia, France, Taiwan, Laos, Vietnam, Australia, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, India, Japan and South Korea. The programme mixes international contemporary circus with collaborative productions created by artists from different countries, free pop-up shows in public spaces and talks in which artists share their craft with audiences.
One highlight goes beyond the ring. During the festival, organisers will open a permanent gallery of artworks made by Cambodian refugee children in the 1980s and 1990s, a moving record of how art helped a generation heal and imagine a better future.
The festival is run by Phare Ponleu Selpak, the Battambang-based arts organisation, in partnership with the Cambodia Tourism Board. Phare’s executive director, Mr. Osman Khawaja, described the festival as “an open invitation to the world.” Project director Ms. Khuon Chanreaksmey said the event links Siem Reap and Battambang and helps show visitors that Cambodia has much to offer beyond its temples.
From refugee camp to world stage
Phare Ponleu Selpak was founded in Battambang in 1994 by young Cambodian refugees together with a French art therapist. Its schools train young Cambodians in visual and performing arts, and its circus has become one of the country’s best-known cultural exports. Tini Tinou itself began in 2003 and has been organised fully by Phare since 2008.
For travellers, the festival’s timing makes for an easy cultural itinerary: a few days around Angkor in Siem Reap, followed by the short journey to Battambang, a riverside city known for its colonial-era architecture, galleries and countryside. Many of the shows staged in public spaces are free, so families and passers-by can enjoy world-class circus without a ticket.
Events such as Tini Tinou reflect a growing creative scene in Cambodia, where young performers trained at home now share the stage with artists from across Asia, Europe and Australia, and where culture is becoming a reason in itself to visit the Kingdom.
Sources: Cambodianess.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Tini Tinou Circus Festival 2026?
It runs from 17 to 19 November 2026 in Siem Reap and from 21 to 24 November 2026 in Battambang.
Who organises Tini Tinou?
The festival is run by Phare Ponleu Selpak in partnership with the Cambodia Tourism Board.
Are Tini Tinou shows free?
The programme includes free pop-up shows in public spaces, alongside staged performances and artist talks.
