Cambodia Tourism Board and Phare Ponleu Selpak Team Up to Position Cambodia as a Contemporary Arts Destination

The Cambodia Tourism Board (CTB) and Phare Ponleu Selpak, a Guinness World Record holder, have announced a strategic partnership around the 13th edition of the Tini Tinou International Circus Festival, set for November 2026 in Siem Reap and Battambang. The collaboration aims to move Cambodia's tourism story beyond the temples of Angkor and present the country as a living, contemporary cultural destination.

Juggling and hoops: a demonstration by Phare artists at the signing ceremony in Battambang, 3 August 2026. — Photo: CTB x Phare Ponleu Selpak

Announced jointly on 3 August from Battambang, the partnership is backed by CTB's Matching Grant on Overseas Promotion of Events. The shared goal: position Cambodia as a leading cultural hub and use the performing arts to attract higher-value international tourism.

Beyond Angkor, an "Arts Corridor"

The "Angkor to Arts Corridor" concept looks to move past the traditional temple-centred tourism narrative and showcase a creative, living Cambodia. By raising the profile of Tini Tinou — the only biennial international circus festival in Southeast Asia — the initiative hopes to draw "conscious travellers" and cultural tourists from the kingdom's priority markets.

Tini Tinou, From Grassroots Beginnings to International Stage

Tini Tinou, meaning "here and there" in Khmer, was launched in 2004. Under Phare Ponleu Selpak's leadership, it has grown into a major event bringing professional troupes from around the world to perform in the streets and historic venues of Siem Reap and Battambang. Its 12th edition, in 2024, brought together 117 artists and troupes from 10 countries — including Vietnam, Laos, Taiwan, France, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Cambodia — drawing more than 14,000 attendees and generating over 14 million online views. The 13th edition is expected to build on that momentum, with more than 100 artists and troupes from over 10 countries.

Voices Behind the Partnership

CTB Chief Executive Kim Minea frames the B2B2C partnership as a way to give one of Cambodia's leading arts festivals the international visibility it has long deserved but not yet received, while positioning the country as a year-round destination built around three pillars: culture, nature and coast, and city life.

Phare Ponleu Selpak's Executive Director, Osman Khawaja, sees the grant as recognition of the social and cultural value the association has built over decades, and a catalyst for telling its story of art and resilience to a wider global audience. Project Director Khuon Chanreaksmey describes the 2026 edition as a gateway to Cambodia's modern creative soul, while Marketing and Communications Manager Ponlork Van points to a target of over 15 million digital views for this edition, designed to encourage travellers to extend their stay across the Siem Reap–Battambang corridor.

A Strategic Bet on National Tourism

• An "Arts Corridor" that positions Cambodia as a living, contemporary arts destination beyond the temples of Angkor Wat.

• Strategic timing: the festival follows the Francophonie Summit in Siem Reap and coincides with the Water Festival in Battambang, both of which already draw high-profile international and domestic crowds.

• Regional leadership, with the festival hosting this year's Circus Asia Network AGM, bringing cultural leaders from across the region to Cambodia.

• Community engagement through street parades and pop-up performances in both cities, blending the festival into everyday life for residents and visitors alike.

Dancers in traditional Khmer costume at the CTB x Phare partnership signing ceremony in Battambang. — Photo: CTB x Phare Ponleu Selpak

Save the Date: November in Siem Reap and Battambang

The 13th edition runs in two segments: Siem Reap from 17 to 19 November 2026, with shows at Phare, The Cambodian Circus, plus pop-up performances at landmarks such as Pub Street and the Royal Garden; then Battambang from 21 to 24 November 2026, hosted at the historic Phare Ponleu Selpak campus and across the city. The programme includes more than 100 artists from over 10 countries, the Circus Asia Network AGM, and workshops and artist talks. Schedules and tickets will be available at www.tinitinou.com.

Two Institutions, One Shared Ambition

Founded in 1994, Phare Ponleu Selpak is a Cambodian association supporting young people through artistic, educational and social programmes. Its associated social enterprise, Phare, The Cambodian Circus, provides sustainable jobs for artists and brings Cambodian performances to international audiences; in 2021 it entered the Guinness World Records for the longest circus show ever staged, at 24 hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds. CTB's Matching Grant, for its part, co-funds the international marketing of recurring Cambodian events with up to USD 20,000 per event, open to public institutions, non-profits and private organisers alike.