What Is a Juggling Convention?
A juggling convention is a gathering — ranging from a weekend regional meetup to a week-long international festival — where jugglers, circus artists, and enthusiasts come together to share skills, watch performances, attend workshops, and simply enjoy being surrounded by people who understand why you'd spend hours practising with three balls.
Conventions are among the most welcoming events in the performing arts world. Skill level is irrelevant to your welcome — beginners are encouraged to learn, and professionals are happy to teach. The atmosphere is typically joyful, open, and genuinely community-spirited.
What Happens at a Convention?
Open Juggling (The Gym)
The heart of every convention is the open juggling space — typically a large sports hall filled with people practising every discipline imaginable. Clubs fly, diabolos spin, unicycles circle, and contact balls roll. You can walk in, put down your bag, and start juggling. There's no performance pressure. You'll naturally find yourself watching someone do something incredible, asking how it's done, and being taught on the spot.
Workshops
Most conventions run a schedule of workshops led by experienced performers and teachers. Topics range from specific tricks and patterns to performance technique, prop-making, and theory. Workshops are typically included in the convention pass or available for a small additional fee.
Public and Gala Shows
Evening shows are a convention highlight. The Saturday night gala show at a major convention showcases top performers from around the world — often including acts you'd pay serious ticket prices to see at a circus theatre. Many conventions also have a "renegade show" — an informal late-night showcase where anyone can sign up to perform anything.
Competitions
Many larger conventions host competitions in categories like numbers juggling, freestyle, passing, and individual discipline championships. The British Juggling Convention (BJC), European Juggling Convention (EJC), and International Jugglers' Association (IJA) Festival are among the most prominent events that feature competition.
Major Conventions Around the World
- European Juggling Convention (EJC): The largest annual juggling event in the world, held in a different European city each year — typically attracting several thousand attendees
- IJA Festival (USA): Hosted by the International Jugglers' Association, one of North America's premier circus events
- British Juggling Convention (BJC): A beloved annual gathering in the UK, known for its inclusive atmosphere and strong workshop programme
- Regional conventions: Hundreds of smaller regional and national events exist across every continent — search for your nearest juggling club or national organisation to find local events
Tips for First-Time Convention Attendees
- Go with an open mind: You'll be exposed to disciplines you've never seen — diabolo, flower sticks, devil sticks, contact juggling, poi. Try things.
- Don't be intimidated by skill level: Elite jugglers are typically the most generous with their time and knowledge. Ask questions.
- Bring more props than you think you need: You'll want to try different things and share equipment.
- Sleep is underrated: Convention fatigue is real — juggling all day and watching shows all night catches up quickly.
- Attend the renegade show: Chaotic, hilarious, and full of surprises — the renegade show is a convention tradition you shouldn't miss.
Finding Your Local Juggling Community
You don't have to wait for a convention to connect with other jugglers. Most cities have a juggling club that meets weekly — often in a community hall, park, or sports centre. These clubs are free or low-cost to attend, and they're often where lifelong friendships and collaborations begin.
Search for local clubs via the World Juggling Federation, national organisations like Juggling UK or the IJA, or simply search for "[your city] juggling club". The juggling community, both in-person and online, is remarkably friendly and eager to welcome new faces.