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 Call: Artist in Focus
Festival ZirQus September 2-6, 2026
Artist in Focus is a platform for young circus artists during the ZirQus Festival. The selected artists will have a 1-2 week residency and show a work-in-progress as part of the festival program.
The Open Call for Artist in Focus for the ZirQus 2026 festival is open. Apply now until March 15!
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
Application by e-mail by March 15 to: coleitung@zirkusquartier.ch
Guest performances
All artists with a finished piece can apply for a guest performance. Preference will be given to applications in the contemporary circus category.
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
Wagenvarieté
Would you like to perform your art in the smallest of spaces, in a circus wagon, right in the heart of Zurich?
Then apply for the Wagenvarieté!
The annual Wagenvarieté always takes place at the end of the year and invites you to an evening in a magical atmosphere. If you would like to be part of this extraordinary event, we look forward to receiving your application – everything from artistry to physical theater, cabaret and music is welcome!
The next Open Call will take place in spring 2026.
Conditions
- The entry must be 15 minutes long
- Your contribution can be implemented on an area of 2x2x2 meters
- Solos and duos are preferred (for larger groups, please contact us in advance)
Application
- Tell us what you want to do and how it fits into a circus wagon (approx. 1 A4 page)
- Write something about yourself and everyone involved
- Image or video material of your previous work
Open stage
The platform for short formats!
Not all good ideas are full-length and some simply have to be tried out in front of an audience. The spotlight is on you and a loving audience awaits your art. We offer the stage and infrastructure for almost every circus discipline.
The next Open Stage will take place on February 27.
Application deadline: February 12, 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.
Festival ZirQus
ZirQus – Festival for contemporary Swiss circus creations
The ZirQus festival is an important platform for Swiss companies, strengthens the network and acts as a meeting place for circus professionals. The festival brings together a broad audience with national and international companies to celebrate the diversity of the different forms of expression
and the shared experience in a circus-like 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.