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8th Zirkus ON Open Call 2026/27

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Open Call: 3 circus arts projects in creation:

Apply now for the Zirkus ON creation programme, edition 8 (2026-27)!

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Application period: from now on until 29/01/2026 | Application deadline 29/01/26, 10pm CETZ

Individual artists and companies can apply with the plan to implement a pioneering contemporary circus art creation in Germany in 2026-2027.

The creation alliance for circus arts - Zirkus ON is looking for new, open-format circus creations that strengthen and inspire the existing and future repertoire of contemporary circus art productions in and from Germany. 

The application documents are checked for formal correctness by the Zirkus ON team. Complete applications are made available to the jury.
In a first jury conference, all applications are discussed and a shortlist is selected. In the second jury conference, shortlisted applications are discussed by the jury and the final 3 projects for the 8th Zirkus ON edition 2026-27 are selected.  The list of criteria is public, part of the open call and the basis for the jury selection.

The creation alliance’s alliance partners will be allowed to read submitted applications if permission was given in the application form.

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Important note:

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Dear applicants,

Before you start working on your application, you need to know the following:

The 8th edition offers support for your project through the Zirkus ON creative alliance. However, due to a lack of resources, the creative programme for the 8th edition will be reduced to a minimum.

The Zirkus ON creation programme will be implemented for now in 2026 without funding. The support of professional circus groups will be made possible by voluntary work, commitment and unpaid resources from the Zirkus ON creation alliance.

From 2022 to 2025, the Zirkus ON creative programme was funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media through the ‘Promoting Connections’ programme of the Federal Association of Independent Performing Arts (Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste e.V.). Among other things, this funding has enabled Zirkus ON to establish a professional organisation with a coordination team, to offer good working conditions, and remunerate the (artistic) work of both the accompanied circus groups and the implementors/contributors (mentors, jury, coordination team, professional workers around the circus scene, etc.). Without funding, this is no longer possible. You can read more about what the funding has made possible here: netzwert publication (in German only).

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This is a major step backwards in terms of professionalism. Voluntary work can only partially and temporarily compensate for the real decline in funding. Unfortunately, many alliance partners have already reached the limits of their capabilities in this regard.

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This means: we do not want to abandon circus artists in Germany who are currently working on new creations. We want the resources that the creation alliance has to offer, such as residency spaces, to come to you. We are convinced that Zirkus ON can and will continue to contribute to the visibility, networking and quality increase of circus projects. However, the creation programme will be distributed among several contact persons/responsible partners. A little more chaos and unexpected events are to be expected. In the circus, we know how to deal with that. So: apply – if you can – it will still be a great edition and valuable support!