On stage at Zirkusquartier
On stage at the Zirkusquartier
The Zirkusquartier offers the opportunity to be on stage in various contexts: whether as a guest performance, as an open-air spectacle, at the regular Open Stage, at the annual Fesival ZirQus or the Wagenvarieté – in a circus wagon.
We look forward to receiving your application!
Open stage
The platform for short formats!
Not all good ideas are enough to fill an entire evening, and some simply need to be tried out in front of an audience first. We’ll turn the spotlight on you, and a warm and supportive audience is waiting to see your art. We provide the stage and the infrastructure for nearly every circus discipline.
The next Open Stage event will take place on September 25.
Registration deadline: September 13, 2026
All categories are welcome! The only requirement: a contribution should last a maximum of 10 minutes. If there are many registrations, we reserve the right to give preference to circus-related contributions. Registration via link on the event page.
Guest performances
Any artist with a completed production may apply for a guest performance. Preference will be given to applications in the field of contemporary circus.
We can invite 4 guest performances per year at the Zirkusquartier and are therefore very selective.
Application
You can apply for guest performances on an ongoing basis. For the application we need
- a complete dossier
- a technical rider
- if possible a complete video of the show
- and/or an invitation to a performance in Switzerland or a neighboring country
Here you can find information about the infrastructure.
Decisions
March – May we decide on the guest performances for the next fall/winter program
September – November we decide on the guest performances for the next spring/summer program
Festival ZirQus
ZirQus – Festival for contemporary Swiss circus creations
The ZirQus Festival is an important platform for Swiss companies, strengthens the network, and serves as a meeting place for circus professionals. At the festival, a broad audience comes together with national and international companies to celebrate the diversity of various forms of expression
and to share the experience in a festive atmosphere.
Application
All artists with a connection to Switzerland (place of residence, place of work, origin) can apply for the festival. The festival features open-air shows, street shows and stage plays.
For an application we need:
- a complete dossier
- a technical rider
- if possible a complete video of the show
- and/or an invitation to a performance in Switzerland or a neighboring country
The application deadline is November 1 for the following year’s festival.
Festival ZirQus: Artist in Focus
Artist in Focus is a platform for supporting emerging circus artists during the ZirQus Festival. The selected artists participate in a 1- to 2-week residency and present a work-in-progress as part of the festival program.
The next open call for the ZirQus 2027 festival will take place in March 2027.
We offer you:
- 1-2 weeks residency before the festival
- 2-3 entlohnte Shows von 15 bis 40 Minuten während dem Festival (Ergebnisse aus der Residenz)
Prerequisites:
- You would like to participate as a solo or duo (larger groups are unfortunately not possible)
- You have completed a training in circus, physical theater or similar within the last 2 years
- You have a connection to Switzerland through place of residence, work or origin
Application:
- A short description (max.1/2 A4) of what you want to work on and what motivates you to participate in Artist in Focus this year
- A short statement about your connection to Switzerland
- A link to a video that reflects you and your artistic work (this can be a rehearsal, training or performance video).
- Your availability for the residency and during the festival
Open Call: Wagenvarieté 2026
Every year at the end of the year, the Wagenvarieté takes place in the Zirkusquartier. Would you like to perform your art in a tiny space—inside a circus wagon—right in the heart of Zurich? Then apply now for the Wagenvarieté. From acrobatics to physical theater, cabaret, and music—everything is welcome.
The next open call for Wagenvarieté 2027 will take place in spring 2027.
Conditions
– The contribution must be 15 minutes long
– Your contribution can be realized on an area of 2x2x2 meters
– Your contribution is without or with little language
– Solos and duos are preferred (for larger groups, please contact us in advance)
Application
– Tell us what you’d like to do, how it fits into a circus wagon, and what audience your performance is suited for (approx. 1 A4 page)
– Tell us a little about yourself and everyone involved
– Send us photos or video clips of your previous work