IJA eNewsletter March 2026

IJA logo
www.juggle.org		 IJA eNewsletter
March 2026Editors: Don Lewis & Martin Frost
(ijanews@juggle.org)

CONTENTS

  • What does it take to keep the IJA going?
  • June 20, 2026 – World Juggling Day!
  • Planting the Juggling Seed show – call for performers, teachers, and emcee!
  • IJA Board nominations open
  • Creative Club Contest
  • Joggling featured in Runner’s World
  • Festival hotel reservations open
  • The 2026 IJA Film Festival
  • Save the date: Fort Wayne Walking Tour & Pub Crawl
  • YJA Badge Book
  • IJA Board meetings
  • Upcoming juggling festivals (and juggling clubs)
  • Latest from eJuggle: podcasts & articles

 

 

What does it take to keep the IJA going?  Benjamin Domask-Ruh

Hello Fellow IJA Community Members! Benjamin Domask-Ruh

Spring is finally showing up across the Minnesotan landscape, and it is a welcome change of scenery from the snowy blizzard we had just two weeks ago.  I get plenty of opportunities for a change of scenery since I travel often for circus work.  Still, my mind and body always seem to operate in whatever season Minnesota is going through.  Even when I was in Costa Rica performing and teaching, I found myself dressing in layers.  (That is probably why I ended up with heat exhaustion.)  Somehow, `this keeps me grounded wherever I am, which in turn helps me keep going with all the work to be done.

The IJA is celebrating its 79th year in 2026, and we are so excited for this summer’s festival.  Noel Yee, our Festival Director, along with the core team, has been working hard to bring together all the usual events while also streamlining and documenting processes so future Festival Directors and Boards can navigate everything with confidence.  Some of this work includes building teams to oversee operations instead of relying on a single person, creating a digital guidebook for IJA processes, and planning ahead for future years.  Our Festival Directors for the 80th festival are already planning how to make that milestone year truly memorable.

I keep learning this lesson over and over: Community work is what makes a community work.  No matter how much things may seem to just happen, or how simple an idea might feel at first, everything around us is built by teams of dedicated people who think, plan, work, and then bring those ideas to life.  The IJA is no different.  Before I joined the board, I had not given much thought to how all of this actually comes together.  Now, sitting here in my second year as Board Chair, I still feel like I am learning something new all the time.  Thank goodness we have so many jugglers who are deeply committed to this community.

Something you may not know is that Afton Benson — the IJA’s Treasurer and a true community leader — and I talk about the IJA almost every day.  Whether it is messages, phone calls, or emails, we are constantly thinking about the foundation of this organization and how to keep it strong.

So why does the IJA keep going?  Because of you.  The IJA does not exist without a community that shows up, participates, and continues to imagine what a space for jugglers has been, what it is now, and what it can become.  I am deeply thankful for each of you who contributes your time, energy, and presence.

The IJA runs on a membership model, which helps jugglers stay connected outside of events.  Membership dues support the organization financially and make it possible to continue creating spaces for jugglers of all kinds.  Even if you are not in a position to take on an active role, your support helps sustain this work.

And speaking of staying connected, if you have ideas for how to help keep the IJA growing, I would love to hear from you.  You can always reach me at ija.chair@juggle.org.  Members are also welcome to attend Board meetings.  Just send me an email for the Zoom link.

RA2FJ,
Benjamin Domask-Ruh
IJA Board Chair

 

 

June 20, 2026 – World Juggling Day! Biz Olbrisch

World Juggling Day is Saturday, June 20, 2026!  World Juggling Day is an annual celebration of juggling commemorating the founding of the IJA in June of 1947.  We would like to encourage our members to make a plan to celebrate with us.  There’s no wrong way to celebrate WJD!  However you plan to celebrate, we want to hear about it!

If you are having a public event for World Juggling Day, please let us know by emailing the details to wjd2026@juggle.org.

We will be posting the list of events on our WJD page.  Please let us know about your event, no matter how small!  You never know when you might have that encounter that sends someone on a juggling journey!

We’ll be releasing a World Juggling Day 2026 T-Shirt!  Check next month’s newsletter to see the fresh design and order one in time to rock it on June 20th!

We’re going to offer a photo and video upload album for World Juggling Day this year so we can all see each other’s contributions to the global celebration!  Whatever you end up doing, please share it with us!

More fun plans for our members to get involved in World Juggling Day are afoot!  Stay tuned, and feel free to email us at wjd2026@juggle.org with your World Juggling Day plans and ideas.

 

 

Planting the Juggling Seed show – call for performers, teachers, and emcee!
Benjamin Domask-Ruh

Hello IJA Members and 2026 Festival Attendees!

Planting the Juggling Seed showThis year at the IJA Festival we will once again be presenting the Planting the Juggling Seed show!

This is Benjamin speaking, your IJA Board Chair and the YJA Director!  This is a call for anyone interested in being a volunteer performer, emcee, or teacher!  The first hour is a performance in the library’s theater space.  The second hour is an open and free juggling lesson for anyone in our audience interested in learning!  We are looking for performers, an emcee, and teachers.

Who might be a good fit as a performer?  The idea of this show is to connect with the local community and share a broad overview of all that juggling incorporates: classic toss juggling routines, experimental juggling ideas, flow juggling moments, historical juggling tricks, artistic expression, etc!  If you feel you have a routine or performance that represents one of the many facets of juggling, we would love to hear from you!  You do not have to be a professional full time performer.  But a confident performance piece is welcomed.  Tech will be minimal (simple lighting and sound!)  Professional photos and video will be taken and provided to you!

Who might be a good fit as an Emcee?*  The show is presented as an informational introduction to our world of juggling.  Our hope is to get the audience excited to take a lesson after the show and also come visit us in the gym AND even come to one or more of the big shows in the evenings!  A good emcee might be a teacher, a presenter, someone who has done educational programming or has theater experience.  Someone who is engaging and able to connect with the audience while letting our performers shine and demonstrate what they love about juggling through their performances.  Additionally, this Emcee would be comfortable moderating questions taken from the audience and being ready to answer them!  Professional photos and video will be taken and provided to you!  I will be helping develop the show alongside you as we get closer to the festival.

*Interested in Emcee-ing but not quite sure if you are ready?  Send us a message and let’s talk about it!  We are always interested in fostering curiosity for the future.

Who might be a good fit as a teacher?  Anyone who loves sharing the beginnings of juggling and balance tricks.  Anyone who is patient and encouraging!  The idea of this session is to share the joy and fun facilitated by juggling.  If you have experience teaching juggling?  Wonderful!  If you are new to teaching juggling, come learn alongside us as we invite this new community into the art form.

Don’t feel you are a good fit for any of these roles?  That is okay!  Come join us as an audience member and support your fellow jugglers.

Here are the details.

When: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 10am – 12pm
Where: Allen County Public Library
Who: The local Fort Wayne community and IJA Festival attendees

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact: Benjamin Domask-Ruh, yja@juggle.org

Thank you so much, and see you at the festival!

 

 

IJA Board nominations open   Martin Frost

Nomination are open for members of the IJA Board of Directors.  Board members will be elected during the annual IJA Festival in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with all IJA members age 13 and over eligible to vote at the festival or online leading up to the festival.

The IJA Board of Directors manages this nonprofit corporation for the benefit of its members.  The board is composed of seven people, with elected directors serving two-year terms.  Approximately half of the seats are up for election each year at the IJA Festival.

The directors are asked to meet in person at the festival.  Each board member is expected to communicate regularly by email, must have web access, and will attend online meetings once or twice a month.  Directors should expect to spend some hours each week on behalf of the IJA.

In addition, all candidates should understand that the members of the Board of Directors are legally responsible as fiduciaries in setting the goals and policies of the IJA, managing its finances, overseeing its employees (if any), and administering its programs.  At all times, the members of the Board of Directors must act in good faith and in the best interest of the corporation.  The IJA maintains Directors and Officers Insurance to protect the board and officers.

This is a great opportunity for you “to render assistance to fellow jugglers.”  Nominate someone, including maybe yourself.  That’s right, it is perfectly acceptable to nominate yourself.

Information about the nomination process is available at juggle.org/business/nominations.

The nomination deadline is 11:59pm PDT on May 15, 2026.  Participate!

 

 

Creative Club Contest  Noel Yeeoutline of a juggling club

The 2026 IJA Festival Team is excited to announce the Creative Club Contest, inviting jugglers and artists from around the world to participate in bringing our festival spaces to life.  Jugglers are asked to use the provided blank juggling club template and transform it into an original work of art (no AI art, please) that inspires practice, is a silly representation, or even helps re-imagine the juggling club as an agent of change in the world.  Selected designs will be printed and displayed as workshop markers and help highlight other gathering areas during the 2026 festival, with full credit given to each artist.  The top three submissions will each receive a $50 USD prize (funds paid via PayPal only), and approximately five to eight designs will be featured overall, depending on printing access and help hanging.

Whether or not you plan to attend the festival, this is an opportunity to contribute to the visual and creative atmosphere of the 2026 event.  The contest is open through June 15, 2026.  Submission form and additional details can be found here.

Noel Yee
Flow Arts Institute Partner, IJA Board Member, Hoop Jawn Director and Vulcan Tech Gospel Creator

 

 

Joggling featured in Runner’s World

Check out a recent article in Runner’s World about Sam Dean joggling a fast mile!

It is rare to see joggling mentioned in a mainstream magazine, so make sure all your running friends see this article.

 

 

Festival hotel reservations open  Afton Benson

Fort Wayne, INFor 2026, the IJA has three hotel options for our attendees!  Our website has all the hotel information, including how to book.

The Hilton Fort Wayne at the Grand Wayne Convention Center is connected directly to the convention center.  Rooms are $149.00/night single through quad + 15% tax (King bed with a sleeper sofa or two double beds).

The Courtyard by Marriott Fort Wayne Downtownis directly across the street from the convention center.  Rooms are $152.00/night + 15% tax (King room or Double Queen room).  Parking in the hotel’s attached garage is just $5/day.

The Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Fort Wayne Downtown is directly across the street from the convention center.  For those of you coming for the whole week, this option has breakfast!  There is a six night minimum stay.  Rooms are $155.00/night + 15% tax (King room or Double Queen room).  Parking in the hotel’s attached garage is just $5/day.

Get your festival event package and secure your hotel of choice today to ensure a fantastic stay in Fort Wayne!

 

 

The 2026 IJA Film Festival  Nathan Wakefield

2026 IJA Film FestivalIt’s BACK!  For only the second time in history and the first time since 2019, the International Jugglers’ Association Festival will include a film festival event as part of our annual festival.  We want your film to be a part of it!

We are looking for juggling-themed films in the categories of comedy, action, drama, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, musical, parody, or mystery.  We’re not looking for juggling trick videos.  Instead, we want narrative films with a plot that somehow involve juggling in an important way.  The films don’t even have to include juggling but could take place in the juggling community or be about juggling.  Below are the eligibility requirements.

  • Submissions must be PG-13 or lower in terms of content.
  • Applicants must be IJA members.
  • One submission per IJA member.
  • Films must be between 3 to 20 minutes in length.
  • Films must follow a narrative structure with juggling being a focal point.
  • Applicants are highly recommended to attend the festival, but do not have to be present at the event to participate.
  • Submissions must be shot specifically for this event and may not be screened publicly prior to the IJA Film Festival.
  • Film makers retain 100% ownership of their films and may do whatever they wish with their films (enter into other film festivals, post online, etc.) after the IJA Film Festival concludes.
  • Films must be made organically with real human elements.  Submissions that are AI generated are not allowed.  Traditional animation and stop-motion are permitted.
  • There is room for a maximum of ten entries total.  In the event that the number of qualified entries exceeds that number, the organizer will select the top films that best match the above criteria to screen at the event.

To submit your film, upload the digital file (MP4, landscape, and 1080 or 4k preferred) to a file sharing site (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), then email and share the video with the organizer, Nathan Wakefield at: nrwakefield@gmail.com

Films need to be submitted by May 29, 2026.  The films selected will be screened at the IJA Festival in Fort Wayne, IN, during the week of July 27‑August 2, 2026.  The winner will be chosen by audience vote at the event, and will receive a film festival trophy and a special juggling goodie bag as a prize.  It is recommended to email the organizer in advance if you have intent to participate or if you have any questions.  If you have an interesting idea for a juggling short film, don’t be shy – this is a fun event and we look forward to seeing your films!

 

 

Save the date: Fort Wayne Walking Tour & Pub Crawl
Mike Sullivan, Advisory Future Festival Site Coordinator

Downtown Fort Wayne Walking Tour & Pub Crawl – Monday, July 27, 2pm ET

Join in our casual walking tour of all our festival venues and downtown Fort Wayne on Monday afternoon, July 27, 2026.  You’ll get a look at all our festival venues, including the gorgeous Embassy Theater and the Grand Wayne Convention Center, visit all the new eating and drinking spots close to our festival venues and hotels, plus learn your way around downtown.

We’ll step off about 2pm from the lobby of the Hilton Hotel and cruise through our juggling spaces and the spectacular Embassy.  Then we’ll have a leisurely stroll through downtown, pointing out and stopping into several great (but sometimes hidden!) restaurants and bars.

There’s no shortage of fun, casual and delicious places to eat in downtown, but not all of them are easy to find!  Your guide for the afternoon knows every nook and cranny and has already found the best of the best, so come along for a tour of where you can wet your whistle and satisfy your appetite all week.

Our tour is just $25 per person, and includes three draft pints at stops along the way and check-ins in over a dozen other spots close to our IJA venues.  We’ll wind up at a downtown dinner favorite for an OPTIONAL group dinner with your old and new IJA friends.

So make plans to be in Fort Wayne on the 27th in time to join us.

NOTE: All participants must be 21 years of age or older to enter the pubs along our route.

Tickets are limited, so make plans NOW to be in town and ready to join our tour early in the afternoon on Monday!  Click here to get your ticket!

 

 

YJA Badge Book

Did you know that the IJA’s Youth Juggling Academy has a book?  It does!

The Juggler's Badge Book

The Juggler’s Badge Book is the ultimate companion for aspiring jugglers of any age!  Track your progress, unlock achievements, and earn badges as you learn the art of juggling.  With its engaging format and rewarding sticker system, The Juggler’s Badge Book makes learning to juggle an exciting and fulfilling adventure.  Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned juggler, let The Juggler’s Badge Book be your guide to skillful juggling and a collection of well-earned accomplishments.  Start achieving your juggling journey today!

The Juggler’s Badge Book is $25 and makes a great gift!  Purchase yours today!  Proceeds go to supporting further YJA initiatives and advancing the IJA’s mission to render assistance to fellow jugglers.

Published by the International Jugglers’ Association in collaboration with Modern Vaudeville Press.

 

 

IJA Board meetingsIJA Board meetings

IJA Board meetings are open to all IJA members and are hosted on Zoom.  To find out the times of this month’s vision and business meetings, or to attend, please email ija.chair@juggle.org and say which meeting you’re interested in.

 

 

Upcoming juggling festivals (and juggling clubs)

For a list of upcoming juggling festivals, please visit our friends over at The Juggling Edge.

While you’re there, visit their list of juggling clubs.

 

 

eJuggle logo

Latest from eJuggle

Podcasts

Articles

 

 

Leave a Reply