ZEIT FÜR ZIRKUS is expanding. In addition to Munich, the festival for contemporary circus will be held for the first time in Nuremberg, Bad Kötzting, and Roding. Three productions are running at the Pepe Dome, including a German premiere from Lithuania.
From November 12 to 16, 2026, Bavaria will be all about contemporary circus. The Zeit für Zirkus festival — the German edition of the international La Nuit du Cirque festival — will bring performances in around 50 countries to the stage over the course of a single weekend. The festival is taking place in Munich for the sixth time, and for the first time, there will also be performances in Nuremberg, Bad Kötzting, and Roding. This is made possible by funding from a parliamentary group initiative by the Freie Wähler in the Bavarian State Parliament.
“‘Zeit für Zirkus’ connects Munich and the regions of Bavaria with a global network,” says Michael Heiduk, the festival’s curator. “Anyone sitting in the audience in Roding or Bad Kötzting this weekend is part of a festival that connects stages from Berlin to Cologne to Marseille.”
International Guests at the Pepe Dome
Contemporary circus is a European art form with close international ties. Ensembles from Lithuania, Germany, and other European countries are reaching an audience that, until now, has had only a few venues to see them in Bavaria. At the Pepe Dome, the Lithuanian company Taigi Cirkas will present its German premiere. The company is a prize winner of the European platform CircusNext. This makes Munich one of the places where current productions from the international scene can be seen. The state legislative initiative is making Bavaria a prominent part of the European circus landscape.
Circus Without Animals
Contemporary circus does not rely on animals. The focus is on the body, objects, and stories. Acrobatics, dance, music, drama, and visual arts come together to create full-length performances. In this way, the art form brings new energy to the theater, with a language of movement and imagery that appeals to people of all generations.
Support from the State Parliament
The parliamentary group initiative originated with the Free Voters in the Bavarian State Parliament. State Representatives Julian Preidl and Prof. Dr. Michael Piazolo have advocated for increasing the visibility of contemporary circus in Bavaria.
“I’m fascinated by how ‘Zeit für Zirkus’ combines acrobatics, dance, music, and drama to tell its own stories. This is sure to appeal to many Munich residents and open up new perspectives. I’m looking forward to the performances,” says State Parliament member Michael Piazolo.
The Program
Pepe Dome, Theatron im Ostpark, Munich
- Mäandern, premiere by the Regensburg-based collective Upside Down Orchestra (UDO): Friday, November 13 at 7:00 p.m. & Saturday, November 14 at 2:00 p.m.
- GAP of 42, the award-winning performance by Chris & Iris: Saturday, November 14 at 8:00 p.m. & Sunday, November 15 at 2:00 p.m.
- Saucission, the German premiere by Taigi Cirkas (Lithuania), winner of the 2024 CircusNext Award: Sunday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m. & Monday, November 16 at 5:00 p.m.
Pasinger Fabrik, Munich
- Fragmente, a production by emerging artists from ZirkusLAB: Thursday, November 12 + Friday, November 13 + Saturday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. each day & Sunday, November 15 at 4:00 p.m.
Throughout Bavaria
- Nuremberg: “Zirkus färbt ab!”, organized by Zirkusquartier Franken. Saturday, November 14 at 6:00 p.m. (JugendKinderKultur Quibble)
- Bad Kötzting: “Circus & Poetry,” a production by Pepe Arts. Friday, November 13 + Saturday, November 14 at 6:30 p.m. each day & Sunday, November 15 at 2:00 p.m. (Jahnhalle)
- Roding: “Life Is Short Stories” with Matthias Romir. Sunday, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. (Stadthalle)
Tickets and information are available at zeitfuerzirkus.de.
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