1. edition | 2015Everything began in 2015 on one of the most beautiful places in the city: the children and youth circus Schatzinsel. With much enthusiasm, only little time and a firm belief in the idea, the first Berlin Circus Festival for Contemporary Circus was created in just six months.
With the first festival we created many of the formats that have since shaped the festival. On 10 days in Kreuzberg 1500 spectators could discover the first five productions. Pictures by Hugo Estrela | Design by Frank Wagner
3. edition | 2017At the beginning of 2017 we received a special and truly moving message. After many applications, the festival was granted ist first financial support by the Hauptstadtkulturfonds. This support was a milestone in the history of the circus and meant more than just a financial relief: it was also a first step towards the recognition of the circus as an artform.
After a rainy summer, the clouds opened up just in time for the beginning of the festival and a fantastic late summer took its course. After just a few days of festival, it became clear that this was going to be a very special festival. In the end, all events were sold out for 10 days. Pictures by Johanna Maria Fritz | Design by Leonard Bergmann
5. edition | 2019Always think ahead and keep going strong. In May, we we received the mind-blowing news of the decision that the Senate for Culture and Europe will include the Berlin Circus Festival in the four-year funding scheme for festivals in Berlin.
With this support, the Berlin Circus Festival has a solid base and will continue in the coming years to enrich Berlin‘s cultural calendar with great contemporary circus on the Tempelhof Field. Pictures by Hugo Estrela | Design by Leonard Bergmann
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2. edition | 2016The first successful edition and the great enthusiasm of the audience gave us energy to go on and continue on the path we started. However, it quickly became clear that the location of the first festival was too small for the many ideas and enthusiastic spectators.
And so we moved to Tempelhof field. Still without financial support from the cultural department, we dove into a huge adventure: We had to transform an empty meadow into a unique place of culture. The 2nd edition was probably the most challenging edition but showed us equally, what a power lies in the circus. Pictures by Ekopics | Design by Leonard Bergmann
4. edition | 2018It was clear early enough that there cannot be a better place than the Tempelhof Field for the Berlin Circus Festival. But one thing was missing: a tent of out own, a suitable venue for the growing festival. With much support and a little effort, we plunged into the adventure and a little bit later the white beauty found her way to us.
With now two tents and an outdoor stage, we decided to expand the program again and to create more space to discover the many facets of our favorite art form. Pictures by Slimane Brahimi | Design by Leonard Bergmann
6. edition | 2020After many different festival concepts, we also had to let go the live edition of the Berlin Circus Festival at the end of 2020. In order to still give our audience and especially the artists space for creation, we developed an online edition.
Selected artists could use our tents for 48 hours as creative spaces to experiment and create. You can find the livestream as well as other formats and documentations in the MEDIA ARCHIVE. Picture by Konrad Langer | Design by Leonard Bergmann
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2021
After a far too long time without contemporary circus and further postponements due to the pandemic, we didn't let it get us down and came back with two formats right away!
lite edition (intermission)
Pictures by Christoffer Collina | Design by Leonard Bergmann
8. edition | 2022Finally summer again! The 8th Berlin Circus Festival and the first big summer edition after two years was a very special one.
In a time when the tension in society is so palpable and no one knows what challenges the future will bring, it is all the more moving to feel how circus brings people together! As Berlin Circus Festival we are happy to contribute to this: 7000 guests, 10 productions, a beautifully designed festival area and countless unforgettable moments. Pictures by Christoffer Collina | Design by Leonard Bergmann
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Winteredition (7. Edition)
Picture by Konrad Langer | Design by Leonard Bergmann
9. edition | 2023What a celebration!
The first real post-pandemic year, without restrictions and measures, with a full focus on creating shared moments, was very moving. The sold-out festival edition with 9000 guests showed in a great way how the festival and contemporary circus have become an integral part of Berlin's cultural landscape. Pictures by Leonard Bergmann & Camila Berrio | Design by Leonard Bergmann
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artists
We're proud to have had a number of magnificent performers with us in Berlin. One of our core values is to present international high-quality productions. Gender equality and openness towards all cultures is key to our work. We want to establish contemporary circus as an art form in Germany.
Discover here all artists who have played at the Berlin Circus Festival.
2023
"kurzstücke open air"
lone luuk brantjes (NL) it happens la campistany (CAT) "fora"
alice rende (BRA) - work in progress "brace for impact + extracts of passing by"
knot on hands (NL) "la bande à tyrex"
la bande à tyrex (FR) |
"bitbybit"
collectif malunes & movedbymatter (FR/BE) "konstrukt"
dora komenda (HR) - work in progress "kurzstücke"
60% bananas monki (NL) ways of being ready hendrik van maele (NL) "sanctuaire sauvage"
collectif rafale (FR) |
"bello"
fabbrica C (IT) "lyalka"
artists of kyiv academy for circus (UKR) "materia"
andrea salustri (IT) "my body is your body"
overhead project (DE) |
2022
2021
winter edition
WIP /// Ariane Oechsner (AUT)
"dis.cover" |
lite edition
2020
Discover everything about our online edition in our MEDIA ARCHIVE.
2019
Work-in-progress
Click here for a list of all artists. |
2018
Company SOON (SWE/ESP)
"Gregarious" |
AGIT-CIRK (FIN)
"Väkevä" & "Lyddia" |
worldpremiere
It was a special pleasure for us to welcome the three artists of the Collectif Still Hungry with us for the world premiere of their production "RAVEN" - a powerful, wonderful and important piece that deals with the theme of "Rabenmütter". Supported with a residency at the Berlin Circus Festival and the Chamäleon Theater Berlin, the three are now on tour with their first own production. |
2017
Race Horse Company (FIN)
"Motosikai" |
2016
2015
Coline & Valentin (FR) "Championnat"
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Open Stage
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