Published: 23 April 2026
A stage battle with fears and weaknesses: Sébastien Wojdan’s “Blanc”
Imagine a life where you shed your fears—not by erasing them, but by accepting them as part of your daily existence. You tame them, turn them into a joke, and finally, let them go. This is the story told in “Blanc,” a stage production by Sébastien Wojdan, which will open this year’s Carnaval Sztukmistrzów (July 23—26, Lublin).
Sébastien Wojdan / Galapiat Cirque | “Blanc” (FRA)
July 23, 2026 (Thursday), 20:00 | BUY TICKETS | check out the event
July 24, 2026 (Friday), 16:00 | BUY TICKETS | check out the event
About the performance
In this solo performance, Sébastien Wojdan lays himself bare and grapples with his own fears, namely hypochondria and an inexhaustible dread of dying. Fear of not being fulfilled, of not being loved, of being abandoned, rejected, of being ridiculous, of dying alone…
The real challenge of contemporary circus for me is showing our hidden side. On stage, I am not a circus artist, but first and foremost an ordinary person with my daily life, excesses, madness, and obsessions—but also dreams,
says Wojdan in an interview with “Sorties de secours” magazine.
A unique challenge for the artist is the 10-kilometre run he completes through the city before every performance. He seeks to reach a state of exhaustion and trance, yet paradoxically, relaxation. Only then does he step into the center of a white space surrounded by high walls. After a ten-kilometre jog through the city, the artist places himself in the middle of a white space surrounded by high walls. The stage is therefore transformed into a real laboratory in which the human body and the living world in its plurality are dissected, through words and objects: coffee, cups, oranges, loads of nails, knives, a moving body, balance acts, video projection, music…
My circus involves bringing many objects onto the stage to explore and play with them. I build, I arrange, I try to find the right architecture, and the meaning gradually emerges on its own,
Wojdan adds.
“Blanc” touches on taming fear and confronting one’s own fragility, blending movement, circus, and performance into an intense, physical experience. The artist exposes the thin line between control and liberation, perfectionism and surrender.
For the first time in the festival’s history, a performance will be presented in the nearly 1,000-seat opera hall at the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures—Lublin’s only venue of this scale. This space allows for the realization of a production featuring an incredibly original, elaborate set designed by the author. This new location opens fresh possibilities for Carnaval Sztukmistrzów, allowing for productions that were previously out of reach.
Details
When:
July 23, 2026 (Thursday), 20:00
July 24, 2026 (Friday), 16:00
Where: Centrum Spotkania Kultur, Lublin
Tickets: available on Stage24.pl.
Watch the trailer
About the artist
A co-founder of Galapiat Cirque, a collective redefining contemporary circus. He first captivated audiences at Carnaval Sztukmistrzów in 2014 with “Marathon,” one of the most frequently remembered performances in the festival’s history.
Born in Poland, Sébastien Wojdan emigrated to France with his parents as a child. He graduated from prestigious circus schools, including Balthazar, ENACR, and CNAC. He is a multi-talented artist—juggler, equilibrist, musician, set designer, and performer. In 2006, he co-founded Galapiat Cirque, an artistic collective that’s still active today. Beyond his stage work, Sébastien is deeply involved in educational and social projects, leading workshops and collaborating with schools and hospitals. Along with the Galapiat team, he is an active cultural collaborator in Poland, involved in projects like “Most” in Olsztyn (2024) and last year’s Circus Lab masterclasses for Polish circus artists in Lublin during the “Incydent polski” project.
More events
Julian Vogel / Cie. unlisted | “Ceramic Circus” | BUY TICKETS
A poetic spectacle unfolds to the beat of a drumroll. A spinning ceramic ball in the center of the room, a bicycle that defies all expectations and plates that dance on fishing rods. Amidst this sensory overload, Julian Vogel creates calm.
La Bande à Tyrex | admission free
Nine bicycles and nine performers with musical instruments in their hands stand before us. La Bande à Tyrex presents a show that defies easy classification. Throughout the performance, accompanied by live music, the artists play, sing, and breathe as one, turning the stage into a pulsating orchestra. Sounds intertwine with movement, and every moment brings a new surprise.
Tickets available on Stage24.pl. More programme highlights coming soon.
About the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów is the largest festival in Poland showcasing contemporary circus arts. For years the event has attracted crowds of residents and tourists to the city. They are drawn not only by world-class circus performances, but also by the magical atmosphere of the festival. The program includes clowning, acrobatics, juggling, and illusion shows presented as engaging circus performances, as well as attractions for children and concerts. It is the most performatively diverse festival in the country. In addition, the Carnaval is accompanied by the Urban Highline Festival—the oldest and largest highline festival in the world held in an urban space. Most of the festival program is free of charge and takes place in streets, squares, and public spaces. Some events are ticketed and can be seen in theatres and performance halls.
Details
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
July 23–26, 2026
Lublin
Admission free. Selected events are ticketed.
More information about the festival can be found on the website carnavallublin.eu.
Published: 23 April 2026
A stage battle with fears and weaknesses: Sébastien Wojdan’s “Blanc”
Imagine a life where you shed your fears—not by erasing them, but by accepting them as part of your daily existence. You tame them, turn them into a joke, and finally, let them go. This is the story told in “Blanc,” a stage production by Sébastien Wojdan, which will open this year’s Carnaval Sztukmistrzów (July 23—26, Lublin).
Sébastien Wojdan / Galapiat Cirque | “Blanc” (FRA)
July 23, 2026 (Thursday), 20:00 | BUY TICKETS | check out the event
July 24, 2026 (Friday), 16:00 | BUY TICKETS | check out the event
About the performance
In this solo performance, Sébastien Wojdan lays himself bare and grapples with his own fears, namely hypochondria and an inexhaustible dread of dying. Fear of not being fulfilled, of not being loved, of being abandoned, rejected, of being ridiculous, of dying alone…
The real challenge of contemporary circus for me is showing our hidden side. On stage, I am not a circus artist, but first and foremost an ordinary person with my daily life, excesses, madness, and obsessions—but also dreams,
says Wojdan in an interview with “Sorties de secours” magazine.
A unique challenge for the artist is the 10-kilometre run he completes through the city before every performance. He seeks to reach a state of exhaustion and trance, yet paradoxically, relaxation. Only then does he step into the center of a white space surrounded by high walls. After a ten-kilometre jog through the city, the artist places himself in the middle of a white space surrounded by high walls. The stage is therefore transformed into a real laboratory in which the human body and the living world in its plurality are dissected, through words and objects: coffee, cups, oranges, loads of nails, knives, a moving body, balance acts, video projection, music…
My circus involves bringing many objects onto the stage to explore and play with them. I build, I arrange, I try to find the right architecture, and the meaning gradually emerges on its own,
Wojdan adds.
“Blanc” touches on taming fear and confronting one’s own fragility, blending movement, circus, and performance into an intense, physical experience. The artist exposes the thin line between control and liberation, perfectionism and surrender.
For the first time in the festival’s history, a performance will be presented in the nearly 1,000-seat opera hall at the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures—Lublin’s only venue of this scale. This space allows for the realization of a production featuring an incredibly original, elaborate set designed by the author. This new location opens fresh possibilities for Carnaval Sztukmistrzów, allowing for productions that were previously out of reach.
Details
When:
July 23, 2026 (Thursday), 20:00
July 24, 2026 (Friday), 16:00
Where: Centrum Spotkania Kultur, Lublin
Tickets: available on Stage24.pl.
Watch the trailer
About the artist
A co-founder of Galapiat Cirque, a collective redefining contemporary circus. He first captivated audiences at Carnaval Sztukmistrzów in 2014 with “Marathon,” one of the most frequently remembered performances in the festival’s history.
Born in Poland, Sébastien Wojdan emigrated to France with his parents as a child. He graduated from prestigious circus schools, including Balthazar, ENACR, and CNAC. He is a multi-talented artist—juggler, equilibrist, musician, set designer, and performer. In 2006, he co-founded Galapiat Cirque, an artistic collective that’s still active today. Beyond his stage work, Sébastien is deeply involved in educational and social projects, leading workshops and collaborating with schools and hospitals. Along with the Galapiat team, he is an active cultural collaborator in Poland, involved in projects like “Most” in Olsztyn (2024) and last year’s Circus Lab masterclasses for Polish circus artists in Lublin during the “Incydent polski” project.
More events
Julian Vogel / Cie. unlisted | “Ceramic Circus” | BUY TICKETS
A poetic spectacle unfolds to the beat of a drumroll. A spinning ceramic ball in the center of the room, a bicycle that defies all expectations and plates that dance on fishing rods. Amidst this sensory overload, Julian Vogel creates calm.
La Bande à Tyrex | admission free
Nine bicycles and nine performers with musical instruments in their hands stand before us. La Bande à Tyrex presents a show that defies easy classification. Throughout the performance, accompanied by live music, the artists play, sing, and breathe as one, turning the stage into a pulsating orchestra. Sounds intertwine with movement, and every moment brings a new surprise.
Tickets available on Stage24.pl. More programme highlights coming soon.
About the Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów is the largest festival in Poland showcasing contemporary circus arts. For years the event has attracted crowds of residents and tourists to the city. They are drawn not only by world-class circus performances, but also by the magical atmosphere of the festival. The program includes clowning, acrobatics, juggling, and illusion shows presented as engaging circus performances, as well as attractions for children and concerts. It is the most performatively diverse festival in the country. In addition, the Carnaval is accompanied by the Urban Highline Festival—the oldest and largest highline festival in the world held in an urban space. Most of the festival program is free of charge and takes place in streets, squares, and public spaces. Some events are ticketed and can be seen in theatres and performance halls.
Details
Carnaval Sztukmistrzów
July 23–26, 2026
Lublin
Admission free. Selected events are ticketed.
More information about the festival can be found on the website carnavallublin.eu.
