Cirque – International Festival of Contemporary Circus and Performing Arts
International contemporary circus at Zō in Catania
About Cirque
Cirque: contemporary circus at Zō in Catania
The Cirque festival is one of the most recognizable fixtures of the Catania performing arts scene. Promoted by Zō Centro Culture Contemporanee, it takes place every spring in the spaces of Piazzale Rocco Chinnici, in the municipality of Catania, Sicily, offering a calendar of contemporary circus, theatre, and performing arts shows by both Italian and international artists and companies.
A journey through circus, theatre, and performance
Cirque defines a space dedicated to artists who traverse circus, theatre, and performing arts with a personal and distinctive approach, far removed from both pure entertainment and generic showcases. Acrobatics, clowning, object manipulation, physical theatre, and visual invention intertwine in performances where movement serves the narrative rather than mere spectacle. Over the years, the festival has hosted companies from Switzerland, France, Spain, and Argentina, alongside Sicilian and Italian artists.
Zō, a home for contemporary culture
The festival is hosted by Zō Centro Culture Contemporanee, a historic multidisciplinary space carved out of the former sulphur refinery at the Ciminiere in Catania. Here, music, theatre, dance, cinema, and visual arts coexist: the square and the outdoor spaces of SpiazZō provide an ideal setting for circus performances, often designed with families and children in mind.
A popular and accessible event
With affordable ticket prices and programming suitable for all ages, Cirque has established itself as an open and inclusive cultural offering in the province of Catania. The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Sicilian Region, confirming its role in the Sicilian and national contemporary circus landscape.
- Where: Zō Centro Culture Contemporanee, Piazzale Rocco Chinnici 6, Catania
- When: Spring (May-June)
- Genre: Contemporary circus, theatre, performing arts
- Audience: Adults, families, and children
Cirque — edition 2026
Cirque 2026 at Zō in Catania
The 2026 edition of the Cirque festival was held in Catania from May 23 to June 7, 2026, at the Zō Centro Culture Contemporanee. The lineup featured three contemporary circus and performing arts shows.
Opening the festival on Saturday, May 23 at 6:00 PM was Hang Up by the Swiss company Les Diptik (Céline Rey and David Melendy), an absurd poem on the state of being through acrobatics, theatre, and visual invention. Sunday, May 24, featured Very Little Circus by the Wakouwa company, while the festival concluded on Sunday, June 7, with Unnico e Ugo by Andrea D'Amico, dedicated to the bond between the artist and his dog.
Tickets, priced at a popular 10 euros for adults and 6 euros for children, were available for online presale. The festival confirmed its status as a benchmark for contemporary circus in the province of Catania, Sicily.
Programme Cirque 2026
- Saturday, May 23, 6:00 PM – Hang Up, Les Diptik company (Switzerland)
- Sunday, May 24 – Very Little Circus, Wakouwa company
- Sunday, June 7 – Unnico e Ugo, by Andrea D'Amico
Highlights Cirque 2026
- Opening with the poetic circus of Les Diptik (Hang Up)
- International companies and Italian artists
- Shows suitable for families
- Affordable tickets (10 euros adults, 6 euros children)
Prices Cirque 2026
Practical information — Cirque
How to get there
Zō Centro Culture Contemporanee is located at Piazzale Rocco Chinnici 6, within the Ciminiere complex in Catania. By car, it is accessible from the ring road (Catania centro / San Giuseppe La Rena exit); parking is available in the Ciminiere area. Catania Centrale railway station and Catania-Fontanarossa airport are just a few minutes away.
Tickets
Tickets are affordably priced (in recent years around 10 euros for adults and 6 euros for children). Presale is generally available online via the dice.fm platform and through the Zō box office.
Contacts
For information and reservations, call +39 095 8168912 (during opening hours) or visit the official Zō Centro Culture Contemporanee website.
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Where does it take place — Cirque
Zō Centro Culture Contemporanee
Piazzale Rocco Chinnici 6, 95129 Catania