IJA eNewsletter – April 2026

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

CONTENTS

  • What does your IJA membership inspire you to do?
  • IJA Festival update
  • New!  IJA Virtual Mini-Fest, May 23, 2026
  • June 20, 2026 – World Juggling Day – WJD T-shirts now available!
  • Planting the Juggling Seed show – call for performers, teachers, and emcee!
  • IJA Board nominations open
  • Festival hotel reservations open
  • The 2026 IJA Film Festival
  • Get your ticket now for the 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 your IJA membership inspire you to do?  Benjamin Domask-Ruh

Chair article

Hello fellow IJA community members,

How is it that I never realize we’ve reached the end of the month?  I hope life has been a little less chaotic for you than it has been for me.  I’m not complaining though.  April has been full of some truly wonderful things.

My month began with rehearsals for a new outdoor physical theater show here in Minneapolis.  I’m being put to the test as I use my clown, mime, and juggling skills all at once.  I got to choreograph a theatrical juggling routine with four other actor-movers, and I also helped compose a full 12-minute musical score to perform with a live band.

During this process, I also had the opportunity to work with the one and only Jay Gilligan.  Here in Minnesota, we are working to start a Circus Center.  One of our first programs, a rural circus performance residency, aims to connect circus artists with rural Minnesota communities and build appreciation for the circus arts.  Jay was one of the artists we invited for this first round, and he brought a wealth of new ideas and concepts to explore.  I feel incredibly fortunate to be gaining more concrete insight into conceptual juggling practice.  We are lucky to be juggling at the same time as Jay Gilligan.

I also had the honor of emceeing the 46th Annual RIT Juggling Festival in Rochester, New York.  The students, under the guidance of Jeff Peden, put together an amazing weekend.  The show was packed with talent, and I had the chance to connect more deeply with the RIT community by sharing some of my solo work.

Before introducing Chris and Jonah and their award-winning IJA Teams act, I asked if there were any IJA members in the audience.  What happened next fascinated me.

At first, members clapped as if they might be the only ones.  Then, as everyone heard how many others were clapping, the applause grew.  It settled into a shared, proud moment that felt like, “Oh, right.  We are members of the IJA.”

The IJA Board and leadership team have been asking an important question lately.  What does it mean to be an IJA member?  Soon, Biz, one of our newer board members, will lead a World Juggling Day campaign focused on that very idea, while also inviting more jugglers to the IJA Festival.

I love this, because the truth is simple.  We are the IJA.  This is a volunteer-run organization made up of people who care deeply about juggling and about each other.

So I’ll return to the question I started with.  What does your IJA membership inspire you to do?

For me, it means a few things.  First, it reminds me that I am supported by jugglers all over the world in something that has become central to who I am.  Wherever I go, I am not alone.  Second, it gives me confidence to invite new jugglers into the community.  It is a place where people are welcomed on the shared desire to challenge ourselves and keep growing.  Third, it gives me a space to exist.  The IJA’s mission of supporting jugglers means that, at least once a year, I can gather with friends and feel fully myself.

My $29 a year helps create that space for all of us.  That feels like a pretty inspiring membership.

And if you are feeling inspired, I would love to hear your ideas about how we can continue creating spaces for jugglers.  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

 

 

IJA Festival update  Noel Yee, 2026 Festival Director2026 IJA Festival in Fort Wayne, IN

As the flowers begin to bloom here on the East Coast, I’m feeling excited for the spring and summer juggling festival season.  I’m planning to attend the Congress of Jugglers at the University of Maryland, where I’m especially stoked to spend time honing my yo-yo skills with the Baltimore Yo-Yo Club.

Next up is the brand-new Excelsior Juggling Festival, taking place for the first time at Borough of Manhattan Community College.  This event feels particularly meaningful, marking the return of a major juggling gathering to the New York area and my dad’s apartment even looks into the gym for the event!  Something many may remember from Juggle This.  I wish much love to both the history and future of juggling in New York.

Soon after that, I’ll be heading to the Philly Fest, organized by the newly formed Philadelphia Area Jugglers’ Association.  All of these events will be the perfect lead-up to the 79th Annual International Jugglers’ Festival this summer in Fort Wayne.  All of these events are just here in the northeast and I hope to see you at one or more of them this year or in the future!

Here are a few important festival updates.  Click on a heading below for more info.

FESTIVAL REGISTRATION  Pre-registration will close in just over a month.  It only takes a minute to secure your registration, which directly supports the many programs and initiatives of the IJA.

HOTEL ROOMS  Hotel rooms are filling quickly.  Once the room blocks are full, they’re gone – so be sure to book soon.

WORKSHOP SUBMISSIONS  We’re currently seeking workshop leaders for this year’s festival.  Workshops are a great way to share your skills, connect with others, and contribute to the community.

outline of a juggling clubCREATIVE CLUB CONTEST  Finally, a reminder that the Creative Club Contest is still open!  Jugglers are invited to transform a blank juggling club template into an original work of art (no AI-generated art, please).  Designs can inspire practice, bring humor, or even re-imagine the juggling club as a symbol of change.  Selected designs will be printed and displayed throughout the 2026 festival as workshop markers and visual highlights, with full credit given to each artist.  The top three submissions will each receive a $50 USD prize, and approximately five to eight designs will be featured overall, depending on printing capacity.  Whether or not you plan to attend, this is a great opportunity to contribute to the creative spirit of the festival.  Submissions are open through June 15, 2026.  See additional details and the submission form.

OPEN STAGE  The Open Stage is back!  Applications are now open – apply now!  Those who want to watch, get ready for a show featuring amazing new talent.

 

 

New!  IJA Virtual Mini-Fest, May 23, 2026  Benjamin Domask-Ruh2026 IJA Virtual Mini Fest

Are you a new juggler?  Are you stuck juggling alone at home?  Feel like you’ve watched every juggling tutorial on the internet?  Just in a rut and want to try something new?

Fear not!  The first ever IJA Virtual Mini-Fest is on its way!

Save the date for May 23rd when some amazing members of the juggling community will be sharing introductory and beginner-friendly workshops in balls, clubs, and hoops, all 100% totally free!

SCHEDULE:

  • Learn to Juggle Three Balls – Benjamin Domash-Ruh – 10:00am ET
  • Creativity with Balls Beyond the Cascade – Luther Bangert – 12:30 ET
  • Three Hoop Manipulation and Juggling Essentials – Kenzey Simper – 1:45 ET
  • Intro to Club Sequencing and Manipulation – Sara Noelle – 3:00 ET

Sign up to reserve your spot today.  Each session is limited to 95 attendees.

 

 

June 20, 2026 – World Juggling Day – WJD T-shirts now available!
Biz Olbrisch2026 IJA World Juggling Day T-shirt

We are excited to share our World Juggling Day 2026 T-shirt design!  Crafted with care by our IJA Graphic Designer Thayer Slichter, our new design is a map to the treasure that is Juggling!  WJD T-shirts and other swag are available at our print-on-demand storefront at ija-store.creator-spring.com.

Proceeds from the sale of these shirts, stickers, and more all benefit the IJA.  Don’t be a scurvy dog – order yours today and wear it proudly on June 20th for your World Juggling Day celebration!

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.  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 will be regularly updating the list of events at juggle.org/programs/wjd/.

 

 

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!

 

 

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!

 

 

Get your ticket now for the Fort Wayne Walking Tour & Pub Crawl
Mike Sullivan, Advisory Future Festival Site Coordinator

Join in our casual walking tour of all our festival venues and downtown Fort Wayne at 2pm, Monday, 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.

Tickets are on sale now, so get yours today and be ready to start the week with new friends and fun while learning your way around Fort Wayne!

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.  Plus, a local Fort Wayne juggler will accompany us for more fun insights on all things Fort Wayne!

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.

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!

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

 

 

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.

 

 

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