De Leon Cirque Fest™ 2027

Join us February 16 – 21, 2027, for the 8th Annual De Leon Cirque Fest™ in San Diego, California!

De Leon Cirque Fest™ is a premier student and emerging pro aerial competition where artists come to test their skills, share their artistry, and connect with the cirque community. In its 7th year, the festival brought together over 430 acts from across the globe. DLCF has grown into one of the largest aerial competitions in the U.S., offering a fully produced cirque-style stage experience, clear industry-focused judging, and a supportive environment for performers to grow, connect, and be seen.

Competitors are welcome to attend each session to cheer on the other competitors – seating will be prioritized for paid ticket holders.

De Leon Cirque Fest™

When: February 2027
Where:
De Leon Dynamics
340 Rancheros Drive #184
San Marcos, CA 92069

Participant Entries:

Compulsory Level – Pre-choreographed routine on silks:
Cost: $75

Set routine (everyone competes the same routine on silks) – a link to the choreography will be found here
2 min routine with up to 4 performers on stage – one judge per performer

Novice Student:
First act: $150 (regular), (+$30 per act for late registration) – solos must be registered first.
Additional acts: $130

Under 150 seconds (2.5 min)
Must be on apparatus for at least 80% of routine
Judged not on difficulty – judging is based 50% on character/artistry and 50% on form/execution/technique.

Student:
First act: $175 (regular), +$30 per act (late registration) – solos must be registered first
Additional acts: $130 (solo), Duo ($100pp), Trio ($80pp), Quad ($70pp)
*rigging must be approved for trios/quads*

Under 180 seconds (3 min)
Must be on apparatus for at least 80% of routine
Judging criteria:
- Up to 30 points possible – up to 10 points based on difficulty, up to 10 points based on character and artistry and up to 10 points based on form, execution and technique.
- No neck hangs
- No full release moves
Judging may be adjusted to reflect judging changes that will be implemented at VivaFest 2027.

Advanced Student:
Cost:
First act: $190 (regular), +$30 per act (late registration) – solos must be registered first
Additional acts: $130 (solo), Duo ($100pp), Trio ($80pp), Quad ($70pp)
*rigging must be approved for trios/quads*

Under 210 seconds (3.5 min)
Must be on apparatus for at least 80% of routine
Judging criteria: Up to 30 points possible – up to 10 points based on difficulty, up to 10 points based on character and artistry and up to 10 points based on form, execution and technique.
Judging may be adjusted to reflect judging changes that will be implemented at VivaFest 2027.

Emerging Pro:
Cost:
First act: $225 (regular), +$30 per act (late registration) – solos must be registered first
Additional acts: $130 (solo), Duo ($100pp), Trio ($80pp), Quad ($70pp)
*rigging must be approved for trios/quads*

Under 240 seconds (4 min)
Must be on apparatus for at least 80% of routine
Judging criteria: Up to 30 points possible – up to 10 points based on difficulty, up to 10 points based on character and artistry and up to 10 points based on form, execution and technique.
Judging may be adjusted to reflect judging changes that will be implemented at VivaFest 2027.

For more information about judging, visit our judging criteria page.