Campaign for animal-free circuses: Press release
On 17, 18 and 25 July 2026, One Voice is organising a large-scale campaign in twelve towns and cities across France to call for an end to the exploitation of all animals in circuses. Information stands, street performances and leafleting will encourage the public to open their eyes to the reality of life under the big top — and to the shortcomings of the Law of 2021.
Confinement in lorries, being kept in cages or tethered, the forced separation of young animals from their mothers, and constant exposure to noise, light and stress: the conditions of captivity in circuses in no way meet the needs of the animals. Training is based on submission, achieved through fear, violence or starvation. Whether wild or ‘domestic’, the lives of captive animals exploited for entertainment are nothing but physical and psychological suffering. Our organisation continues to receive reports describing animals held in appalling conditions, a reality also reflected in our investigations and footage.
Since 2021, the government has promised circuses without wild animals by 2028. However, this reform targets only travelling circuses: the government is encouraging trainers to settle in one place so that the animals can be kept in cages, promising them thousands of euros of public money — money that should be used to create sanctuaries to accommodate the 600 wild animals – including nearly 400 big cats – (figures from the Ministry of Ecology) still confined in circuses. Furthermore, this law does not concern trafficking, training, or so-called domestic animals, such as horses, camels or dromedaries. And despite the ban on the breeding of wild animals since 2023, young animals – including lion cubs – continue to be born under the big tops, with a level of impunity that raises serious questions.
In the face of this toothless law, One Voice – which has been fighting for over 25 years on behalf of all animals victimised by the entertainment industry – is calling for action. Join us in the following towns:
Friday 17 July
- Fréjus (83) — from 7 pm to 9 pm, Boulevard de la Libération, Rond-point des Sablettes: information stand, street performances and leafleting
Saturday 18 July
- Annecy (74) — from 2 pm to 4 pm, Place de la Mairie: information stand, street performances and leafleting
- Bar-le-Duc (55) — from 10 am to 12 noon, Rue du Four: information stand, street performances and leafleting
- Lille (59) — 5 pm to 7 pm, meeting point to be confirmed: information stand and leafleting
- Marseille (13) — 3 pm to 5 pm, Vieux-Port gazebo: information stand, street performances and leafleting
- Metz (57) — 10 am to 6 pm, Les Frigos, as part of the Veggie Festival: information stand
- Montpellier (34) — from 5 pm to 7 pm, Parc de la Comédie: information stand, street performances and leafleting
- Nice (06) — from 6 pm to 8 pm, Quai des États-Unis: information stand, street performances and leafleting
- Périgueux (24) — from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm, 23, rue Taillefer: information stand and leafleting
Saturday 25 July
- Limoges (87) — from 10.30 am to 12 noon, Place de l’Église des Lions: information stand, street performances and leafleting
- Toulouse (31) — from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm, Square Charles-de-Gaulle: information stand, street performances and leafleting
- La Rochelle (17) – date to be confirmed – from 2.30 pm to 5 pm – Place des Petits Bancs: information stand, street performances and leafleting
Find out more about One Voice’s campaign: https://one-voice.fr/nos-combats/cirque/
Our petition: https://one-voice.fr/petition/stop-aux-animaux-dans-les-cirques/
Campaign for animal-free circuses: Press release
One Voice is campaigning across France for animal-free circuses