OPS! – Contemporary Circus Festival
New circus at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome between Christmas and New Year
About OPS!
Contemporary circus in the heart of Rome
OPS! – Contemporary Circus Festival is the annual event that, between late December and early January, brings the language of the new circus to the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone, in the Flaminio district of Rome. Promoted by the Fondazione Musica per Roma in collaboration with the SIC – Stabile di Innovazione Circense (Circo El Grito), the festival turns the halls of the complex designed by Renzo Piano into a space where acrobatics, narrative theatre, dance, and live music intertwine into a unique experience.
A festival that celebrates wonder
Under the artistic direction of Fabiana Ruiz Díaz, OPS! focuses on the essence of artistic performance: the fragility, strength, and beauty of being on stage. Contemporary circus abandons the traditional ring and its clichés to tell stories made of body, poetry, and amazement, with national and international companies capable of speaking to both children and adults. It is a festival spread across the Sala Petrassi and the Teatro Studio Borgna, designed to accompany Roman families and visitors during the Christmas holidays.
The shows
The program alternates nouveau cirque, clowning, participatory concerts, and children's shows. Titles featured in various editions include Tombolà, Il Circo delle Pulci del Professor Bustric, OUT!, Bello!, Daniele Longo's concert-games Un pianoforte come il cielo and Jazzole, the Theseus by Collettivo Flaan, and the grand finale entrusted to the Belgian clowns Okidok with In Petto. Each show has a limited duration and times designed for families, with afternoon and evening performances.
A landmark of Roman culture
The Auditorium Parco della Musica is the largest multifunctional center in Europe dedicated to music and live performance, the beating heart of the cultural life of the Municipality of Rome and the entire Lazio region. Hosting a contemporary circus festival here means recognizing this discipline as a full-fledged art form, in dialogue with major concert seasons. For the public, it is also an opportunity to discover one of the city's most famous architectural spaces during the holidays.
Why attend
- Contemporary circus, dance, and live music shows suitable for all ages
- Italian and international new circus companies
- Ideal programming for families during the Christmas holidays
- The unique setting of the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone in Rome
OPS! — edition 2026
OPS! 2026
From December 27, 2025, to January 6, 2026, contemporary circus returned to the Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone in Rome with the 2026 edition of OPS!, promoted by the Fondazione Musica per Roma with the SIC – Stabile di Innovazione Circense and directed by Fabiana Ruiz Díaz. The program, distributed between the Sala Petrassi and the Teatro Studio Borgna, accompanied Roman families throughout the holiday period.
The program
- December 27-29 – Teatro Studio Borgna: Tombolà
- December 30 – Teatro Studio Borgna: Il Circo delle Pulci del Professor Bustric
- January 2-3 – Teatro Studio Borgna: OUT!
- January 2-3 – Sala Petrassi: Bello!
- January 4-5 – Teatro Studio Borgna: Un pianoforte come il cielo and Jazzole, participatory concerts by Daniele Longo
- January 5-6 – Sala Petrassi: grand finale with the Belgian clowns Okidok in In Petto and Theseus by Collettivo Flaan
Tickets were offered starting from 12 euros via TicketOne and the Auditorium box office.
Programme OPS! 2026
Highlights OPS! 2026
Prices OPS! 2026
Practical information — OPS!
How to get there
The Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone is located at Viale Pietro de Coubertin 30, in the Flaminio district of Rome. By car, it can be reached via the Tangenziale (Auditorium exit) with internal parking; by metro, take Line A to the Flaminio stop, then continue with tram 2 to the terminus; numerous bus lines serve the area.
Tickets
Tickets for individual shows can be purchased online via TicketOne and at the Auditorium box office, starting from 12 euros. Reduced rates are available for children and families depending on the show.
Information
For the updated program, performance times, and details on the halls (Sala Petrassi and Teatro Studio Borgna), we recommend consulting the official website of the Auditorium Parco della Musica.
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Where does it take place — OPS!
Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone
Viale Pietro de Coubertin, 30, 00196 Roma