Montréal: a year-round circus hub
Leisure activities Culture, arts and heritage
Montréal is the circus hub of North America. The city is home to the National Circus School and many circus companies such as the Cirque du Soleil. Spectators enjoy taking in the circus arts year-round in Montréal.
National Circus School
Established in 1981, the Ecole nationale de cirque (National Circus School) enrolls more than 150 students from across Canada and around the world each year. The school trains creators, performing artists and educators, and offers preparatory training, its Circus and High School Studies program and postsecondary programs leading to a college diploma. A pioneer of the new circus in Canada and North America, the National Circus School has contributed to the emergence of many circus companies, the most renowned of which are Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Éloize and The 7 Fingers, all based in Montréal.
The city is also home to the École de cirque de Verdun.
Cité des arts du cirque
In 1999, major circus players in Montréal – Cirque du Soleil, the National Circus School and the En Piste circus arts national network – joined forces to build the Cité des arts du cirque with TOHU as its public venue. The Cité hosts the facilities of TOHU, Cirque du Soleil, the National Circus School and En Piste.
La TOHU
Since its inception in 2004, and located at the centre of the Cité des arts du cirque, TOHU is a unique hall in North America, with its 360-degree circular hall seating 1,200 spectators. TOHU is also home to a permanent exhibition chronicling the circus arts in Québec, from their inception in Montréal in 1796 to international stardom. TOHU promotes the global growth of Québec circus with its annual MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE festival.
MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE
Created in 2010, MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE is the first North American international festival dedicated to circus arts. Each July over 10 days, the festival presents circus shows and events in venues and parks, on streets and sidewalks throughout the city.
Le Monastère - Cabaret de Cirque
The non-profit Le Monastère hosts original circus cabaret evenings in their unique downtown performance space, a glorious 19th-century church adapted to present contemporary circus. Le Monastère showcases world-class circus artists performing original creations.
Montréal is the circus hub of North America.
Montréal Clown Festival
Founded in 2016, the popular Montréal Clown Festival presents local, national and international clown artists at their annual festival in April.
Montréal Circus Academy
The Montréal Circus Academy is the city’s leading recreational circus school, offering classes in flying trapeze, static trapeze, pole fitness, exotic pole dance, aerial hamac, silks, hoop, straps, handstands, flexibility, and more. Suitable for all levels and ages, the Academy welcomes beginners and professional acrobats alike. The Academy will also be a sponsor to offer circus activities to the general public on the street (location and schedule to be determined) during the MONTRÉAL COMPLÈTEMENT CiRQUE festival.
Famous Montréal circus companies
Here is a sampling of some well-known Montréal circus companies:
Founded in 1984, the Cirque du Soleil has multiple shows on tour around the globe, plus several productions in Las Vegas. The Cirque also presents a show under the Big Top in the Old Port of Montréal each spring and summer.
Since its inception in 1993, Cirque Éloize ranks among the world’s leading contemporary circuses, and its shows play in cities around the globe. Its head office and creative studio are in the historic Gare Dalhousie, the Old Montréal former railway station.
Founded in 2002, The 7 Fingers – also known by its French name “Les 7 doigts de la main”, which is sometimes shortened to “Les 7 Doigts” (The 7 Fingers) – has shows on tour around the world.
Montréal indie circus companies
Established in 1997, internationally-renowned Les Foutoukours is one of the most popular clowning companies in Québec.
People Watching is an acrobatic movement collective consisting of six multidisciplinary artists.
Created in 2007 by Yamoussa Bangoura, Kalabanté teaches African and circus arts, and presents acrobatic productions powered by African music.
The Collectif 4237 presents artists who combine circus, dance, live music and physical theatre.
At the intersection of circus arts, dance and theatre, La marche du crabe presents live performances for early childhood and young audiences.
The eco-friendly circus company Marguerite à bicyclette tour by bicycle to present free shows that blend acrobatics and poetry in public spaces.
Founded in 2020, the award-winning Acting for Climate Montréal performs contemporary circus arts in parks and other public spaces, to address the climate crisis and nurture a sustainable future.
Upcoming shows
- L’IMPRO CIRQUE by Les Improduits showcases circus artists from all disciplines and across several generations for a night of improv on October 17.
- iD ÉVOLUTION by Cirque Éloize. Trampwall, aerial hoop, trail biking, breakdance and many other disciplines intertwine in an electrifying ballet where each jump, gesture and musical note tell a story. Performed by nine artists directed by Jeannot Painchaud, assisted by choreographer Elon Hoglung. Runs October 31 to November 15.
- To end the year on a high note, families will enjoy the holiday circus musical Le Magicien d’Oz adapted by Théâtre Advienne que pourra from L. Frank Baum’s famous tale. Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion will lead young and old down the legendary Yellow Brick Road on an adventure filled with song, magic, humour and emotion. Runs December 17 to January 3, 2027.
The Cirque Éloize presents the acclaimed circus show Serge Fiori — Seul ensemble, a musical and visual journey where the soul of the late lead vocalist and guitarist for iconic Québécois folk rock band Harmonium continues to resonate. Runs August 29 to September 18 at Théâtre St-Denis in the Espace St-Denis.
The 7 Fingers (“Les 7 Doigts”) presents Heredis: Echoes of the Past, an original stage production inspired by the Assassin’s Creed universe, live at Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts. The two-hour show stars 17 performers blending acrobatics, urban parkour and choreographed combat, following a young man’s journey through time to find his father. Runs December 3 to 20.
Richard Burnett
Richard “Bugs” Burnett is a Canadian freelance writer, editor, journalist, blogger and columnist for alt-weeklies, mainstream and LGBTQ+ publications. Bugs also knows Montréal like a drag queen knows a cosmetics counter.