Handstand Fiesta in Valencia, 2024–2026
Handstand Fiesta started in October 2024 with a simple idea: bring good handstand teachers to Valencia, put practitioners of every level in the same room, and finish each day with something fun. Two years and six editions later, here's the story so far, and where it goes next.
October 2024: the first edition
The first Handstand Fiesta mixed workshops indoors with sessions outside, in Valencia's best spots for training on your hands: the seafront, the Turia gardens, and the City of Arts and Sciences. It ended with a show night. Mau Jara taught at that first edition and has been part of Handstand Fiesta ever since.
2025: April and November
The second edition came in April 2025 and the third in November 2025. Workshops are split by level, so beginners and advanced practitioners each get classes built for them, with open sessions where everyone trains together. November ended with a group photo of the whole room.
2026: Patacona, the Arts and Sciences, and five days in September
April 2026 took training outside again, with photoshoots on canes at the City of Arts and Sciences and handstands on Patacona beach. July brought a two-day edition (18–19 July). In September (15–19 September) Handstand Fiesta ran its first five-day format at Espai de Circ: eight teachers, 32 workshops across eight blocks, vegan lunches, Thai massage, yoga, a show night and Valencian paella on the last day.
The teachers
Teachers across the Valencia editions have included:
Mau Jara (Costa Rica). Over 20 years in handbalancing; teaches at INAC in Portugal.
Elaine Briant (France). DOCH Stockholm graduate; solo, duo and group work across Europe.
Antonio "Tony" Panaro. Eleven years of artistic gymnastics, then FLIC in Turin and DOCH in Stockholm; Cirkus Cirkör, Right Way Down, Duo Bulldogs.
Katrijn De Wilde (Belgium). Handbalancer and flyer, teaching at intensives and festivals across Europe.
Javier Garrido (Spain). Canes on a 2-metre pedestal, reaching over 6 metres.
Pepo Llabrés (Mallorca). Handbalancer and physiotherapist.
Vaso Anastopoulou (Greece). Trained under Mau Jara in Portugal; works across Italy and Spain.
Nati Velez, and Julieta Tissera and Luis Mantilla of Proyecto Recóndito.
Eamonn Doran (Ireland). Founder.
What people say
Attendees keep coming back to the same three things: the community, the teachers, and the way the days end. In their words: the community gathering is amazing; meeting like-minded practitioners; well organised, with a lot of experienced teachers to learn from. One Spanish attendee put it simply: la puntualidad, el profesionalismo, el carisma de los profesores... todo estuvo excelente.
Next: Jungle Fiesta, Mexico, March 2027
The next step is the biggest one yet. Jungle Fiesta is a 5-day international handstand festival in Mexico, held 12–17 March 2027 at Ozen Resort in the Riviera Maya. It has the same idea as Valencia (several teachers, every level, evenings worth staying up for), now with accommodation and all meals included, a Temazcal ceremony and a jungle pool. Teachers include Mikael Kristiansen (Handstand Factory), Mau Jara and Dora Skelton.
Early bird $999 until 31 October.
Valencia continues too. Sign up at the bottom of this page to hear about the next dates first.
