ZirQus – Festival for contemporary Swiss circus creations
For five days, the ZirQus Festival brings together the diversity of contemporary circus right in the heart of Zurich. The wide-ranging program offers circus performances to marvel at, try-out, and discover!
A bar, culinary delights, music, and a circus-themed supporting program create a space for people to meet and relax. The entire festival program is based on hat collection. Come join us and celebrate the diversity of artistic expression, the shared experience, and the unique atmosphere—for the last time this year at the Güterbahnhof!
SAVE THE DATE:
02. – 06. September 2026
Program
Sechs ausgewählte Compagnien, über 20 Künstler:innen, bringen ihre einzigartigen Kreationen auf die Bühne. Ein besonderer Fokus liegt dieses Jahr auf der Förderung von Diversität und darauf, aktuelle, gesellschaftlich relevante Themen für ein breites Publikum zu zeigen.
The Cie Cirqu’en Choc rebels in its show Mais les homards du Titanic, eux, sont encore vivants! rebels against indifference, and the artists of House of Hermess are celebrating at La Gender Reveal Party . The women* troupe from the Théâtre de l’extrême puts on a bittersweet parade of intimidation and captivates the audience with a bittersweet parade.
Collectif TBTF & Lone Company take the audience on a journey into Euphoria on an acrobatic quest for hope and, in Triangle of Happiness by Heavy Weight Pieces, happiness becomes a performance. As part of the Artist in Focus platform for emerging artists, Zora Eichenberger presents her work-in-progress *Die Wollspur* , and Zirkus Chnopf will perform this year’s production UFE at Koch Park as part of the festival program.
There’s plenty to discover offstage, too: Get a taste of various circus disciplines, try out dance or partner acrobatics, and train alongside others during open training sessions. Experienced instructors will guide and support you as you discover new things.
In addition to the workshops and try-out sessions, a colorful supporting program with plenty of surprises awaits you. More details will follow soon!
Shows
La Gender Reveal Party
House of Hermess
Four performers host a Gender Reveal Party and explore the question: is it a cornerstone of drag culture – or a controversial tradition that reinforces binary gender stereotypes?
A hybrid drag-circus-kitsch cabaret that combines acrobatics and aerial artistry with lip-syncing, dance, and live singing.
60 min | For all ages | Outdoor area | Languages: FR/EN/DE/IT with translation
Mais les homards du Titanic, eux, sont encore vivants!
Cirqu’en Choc
A tightrope, an endless loop. Music fills the room; bodies resist. Three artists twist history, stitch their wounds back together, and conjure up an Afrofuturist utopia. Circus, memory, chaos: a performative ritual to break through the stagnation—inspired by the Drexciya myth.
75 min | Ages 12 and up | ZQ Stage | Language: French with translation
parade d’intimidation aigre-douce
Théâtre de l’extrême
A gang of women* emerges and invites the audience to follow their rhythm. Through dance and acrobatics, these powerful bodies guide and confront the gaze of the audience. Between extravagance, vulnerability, and irony, intimidation is sweated out – a bittersweet experience.
35 min | Ages 6 and up | Outdoor area | No dialogue
Euphoria
Collectif TBTF & Lone Company
Euphoria is a longing to inspire, shake things up, and tell many stories at once. The piece takes the audience on a wild journey in search of euphoria, a place of paradise, and a glimmer of hope. An adventure, without a doubt.
60 min | Ages 6 and up | ZQ Stage | Languages: Swiss German/French/English
Triangle of Happiness
Heavy Weight Pieces
Two people, a triangle, and the search for happiness: between self-presentation and partying, between the rush of applause and the silence afterwards. A large metal triangle becomes stage, companion, and metaphor – a physical essay on the human desire to perform happiness over and over again.
30 min | For all ages | Outdoor area | No dialogue
UFE
Zirkus Chnopf
Air is our source of life – a single breath is enough to bring us into being. But what happens when the air runs out? In search of freedom and connection, Circus Chnopf explores the poetic space between ground and sky through images, music, encounters, acrobatics, and dance.
75 min | For all ages | Koch Park | No dialogue
Die Wollspur
Artist in Focus: Zora Eichenberger
Zora Eichenberger takes unicycling, acro-dance, and clowning, turns them upside down, and shakes them apart until they dissolve. In invented languages, stories intertwine, and unravelled wool becomes the thread that connects them.
30 min | Work in progress | For all ages | ZQ Stage
Homemade Iscream
Concert
With open hearts, Homemade Iscream sings about everyday struggles through catchy, socially critical songs. Using hands and feet, they play homemade instruments – an entire band reduced to just two performers.
The DIY duo rattles, stumbles, and bursts into sound with contagious joy: a spectacle for the ears, the eyes, and the soul.
75 min | Ages 6 and up | Outdoor area
Workshops and Supporting Program
Try Out the Circus
Explore different circus disciplines!
Discover different circus disciplines, keep the juggling balls flying, try your hand at a handstand, or watch the children having fun in the circus parcours.
The open hands-on an try-out activities invite everyone – young and old – to discover new things.
Try it out: Circus Obstacle Course
Wed, Sept. 2 | Ages 4 and up | Training Hall | Drop in and out at any time
Try it out: Circus Mix
Sat, Sept. 5 | For all ages | Outdoor area | Drop in and out at any time
Try-Out: Balance
Sat, Sept. 5 | For all ages | Outdoor area | Drop in and out at any time
Try it out: Acro-Line
Sun, Sept. 6 | For all ages | Training hall | Drop in and out at any time
Workshops
For beginners to professionals
Want to dive deeper into the world of circus? Explore partner acrobatics and dance acrobatics with the guidance of experienced coaches.
On the Sunday of the festival, a Circ Exchange for professional circus artists will take place, focusing on the topic of gender in contemporary circus.
Partner Acrobatics Workshop
Thu, Sept. 3 | Ages 16 and up | Training Hall
Tanzakro Workshop
Fri, Sept. 4 | Ages 16 and up | Training Hall
Circ-Exchange: Gender in Contemporary Circus
With House of Hermess
Sun, Sept. 6 | Professionals | Training Hall
Open training
Group Training for All Levels
On Festival Thursday, we open the training hall for collective training, inspiring exchange, and new encounters. Whether you’re a professional or a beginner, a hobby artist or simply curious to move – everyone is welcome!
Open training
Thu, Sept. 3 | Ages 18 and up | Training Hall
Festival Dinner
Shared Circus-Dinner
A long table under the open sky, delicious food, and inspiring conversations with familiar faces and new encounters – this is the Festival Dinner!
Take a seat, enjoy a three-course meal, meet new people, and ease into the festival evening in a relaxed atmosphere.
The three-course meal is vegetarian or vegan and costs CHF 35, including water and juice, or CHF 45, including wine.
Festival Dinner
Fri, Sept. 5 | Outdoor area | Registration required
The Zirkusquartier Is Moving
Information Session
With the move to the Koch-Quartier, a new chapter begins for the Zirkusquartier!
At the information event, the ZQ27 project manager and the co-directors of Zirkusquartier will share updates on the current state of the project, the development of the new spaces, and its financing. You will also learn more about the new location and the future program – and have the opportunity to ask your questions about the future of Zirkusquartier!
Information Event: The Zirkusquartier Is Moving
Sat, Sept. 5 | Foyer | Language: German
Timetable
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Festival site opens at 12:30
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Try-out of the circus obstacle course
Training Hall | Ages 4 and up | Drop in and out at any time
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Triangle of Happiness
Heavy Weight Pieces
Outdoor area | For all ages | No dialogue
5:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. UFE
Zirkus Chnopf
Koch Park | For all ages | No dialogue
7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Die Wollspur
Artist in Focus: Zora Eichenberger
ZQ Stage | For all ages | Work in progress
8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. The Gender Reveal Party
House of Hermess
Outdoor area | For all ages | Languages: FR/EN/DE/IT with translation
Thursday, Sept. 3
Festival site opens at 17:30
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Partner Acrobatics Workshop
Training Hall | Ages 16 and up
8:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. Mais les homards du Titanic, eux, sont encore vivants!
Cirqu’en Choc
ZQ Stage | Ages 12 and up | Language: French with translation
9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Open Practice
Training Hall | Ages 18 and up | Drop in and out at any time
Friday, Sept. 4
Festival site opens at 17:30
6:00 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. Mais les homards du Titanic, eux, sont encore vivants!
Cirqu’en Choc
ZQ Stage | Ages 12 and up | Language: French with translation
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Festival Dinner
Group dinner | Outdoor area | Registration required
8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Tanzakro Workshop
Training Hall | Ages 16 and up
10:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. The Gender Reveal Party
House of Hermess
Outdoor area | For all ages | Languages: FR/EN/DE/IT with translation
Saturday, Sept. 5
Festival site opens at 1:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Try-Out: Circus Mix
Outdoor area | For all ages | Drop in and out at any time
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Triangle of Happiness
Heavy Weight Pieces
Outdoor area | For all ages | No dialogue
4:15 – 5:45 PM Try-Out: Balancing
Outdoor area | For all ages | Drop in and out at any time
5:00 – 5:30 p.m. The Zirkusquartier is moving!
Information session with the ZQ27 project management team and the co-directors of the Zirkusquartier
Foyer | Language: German
6:00 p.m. – 6:35 p.m. Bittersweet Intimidation Parade
Théâtre de l’extrême
Outdoor Area | Ages 6 and up | No dialogue
7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Euphoria
Collectif TBTF & Lone Company
ZQ Stage | Ages 6 and up | Languages: Swiss German/French/English
9:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Homemade Iscream
Concert | Outdoor Area
Sunday, Sept. 6
Festival site opens at 1:00 p.m.
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Circ-Exchange: Gender in Contemporary Circus
With House of Hermess
Training Hall | Professionals | Free
1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. UFE
Zirkus Chnopf
Koch Park | For all ages | No dialogue
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Try-Out: Acro-Line
Training Hall | For all ages | Drop in and out at any time
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. The Wool Trail
Artist in Focus: Zora Eichenberger
ZQ Stage | For all ages | Work in progress
4:15 – 4:45 p.m. Bittersweet Intimidation Parade
Theater of the Extreme
Outdoor Area | Ages 6 and up | No dialogue
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Euphoria
Collectif TBTF & Lone Company
ZQ Stage | Ages 6 and up | Languages: Swiss German/French/English
Helpers wanted
Five days of shows, workshops, and plenty to discover!
Help us to make the festival happen.
We are looking for helpers for set-up and dismantling the bar, for food sales and for helping in the kitchen.
As a thank-you, we’ll give you drink vouchers, a crew T-shirt as a souvenir, a colorful and charming circus world to immerse yourself in, and a special place in our festival’s heart!
Sign up as a volunteer, and we’ll get in touch with you to schedule your shifts!
Review: ZirQus 2025
Festival-Info
Festival area
The festival area opens 30 minutes before the first program item.
Hat collection
The shows and workshops are based on hat collection. This means that you set your own price. Payment in cash or twint.
Suggested prices
Shows: 25.- for adults / 10.- for children
Workshops: CHF 20.- for adults / 5.- for children
Reservations / Registration:
No reservations are required for the shows and workshops—it’s first come, first served! Please arrive 10 minutes early.
Workshops & Side Events
Participants are responsible for their own insurance.
Food & Drink
The bar opens with the festival grounds. You can enjoy fries, ice cream, and a festival menu in the evening. There is no obligation to purchase anything – feel free to bring your own picnic.
Festival Dinner
You can register for the Festival Dinner on 4 September online or directly at the bar on site.
Inclusion
All people are welcome at the ZirQus festival. The festival site is wheelchair accessible. Contemporary circus usually works without language. All shows are based on hat collection, which means you decide your ticket price.
Awareness
Festival ZirQus brings together people with different backgrounds, different relations to the Zirkusquartier and experiences with contemporary circus: from visitors to (international) artists to the Zirkusquartier crew.
We want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable at Festival ZirQus. To achieve this, we wish everyone to be considerate of others and to respect your own feelings and boundaries as well as those of others. We strive for respectful interaction on an equal footing and stand clearly against any form of discrimination.
The goal of our awareness initiative is to raise people’s awareness and, in this way, work together toward a new social norm in which respecting one’s own boundaries and those of others is a given.We are aware that even if we all do our best to be considerate and mindful, boundaries may still be crossed. That is why an awareness representative will be available throughout the entire festival.
Do you need help, are you feeling uncomfortable, or have you experienced or witnessed something? Do you want to talk to someone or just take a moment to step away to a quieter place? If so, feel free to reach out to us at the bar. You can ask specifically for an Awareness Person or simply ask for “Luisa.”
Please send any feedback or suggestions regarding Awareness by email to awareness@zirkusquartier.ch
The ZirQus 2026 Festival is supported by:
