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: Wagenvarieté 2026
On Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 5-6 the Wagenvarieté will take place again!
Would you like to perform your art in the smallest of spaces, in a circus wagon, right in the heart of Zurich? Then apply now for the Wagenvarieté 2026! From artistry to physical theater, cabaret and music, everything is welcome.
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 would like to do, how it fits into a circus wagon and for which audience your contribution is suitable (approx. 1 A4 page)
– Write something about yourself and everyone involved
– Send us pictures or video material of your previous work
Application by May 4 to: coleitung@zirkusquartier.ch
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 April 17.
Application deadline: April 1, 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
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
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.
Festival ZirQus: Artist in Focus
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 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