Circus Theater Festival 2025: Building bridges between cultures in Dresden

Circus Theater Festival 2025: Building bridges between cultures in Dresden

The anticipation of that Circus Theater Festival in Dresden: From June 13th to 28th, the city will be transformed into a colorful spectacle full of art, acrobatics and music. Under the motto “Bridges”, the organizers have put together an exciting program that not only puts the spotlight on local artists, but also attracts international talent.

The circus tent on Alaunplatz will be the central point of contact for circus lovers. The kick-off will take place here on June 13th, and four events alone are already sold out! One of the highlights will be world-class juggler Wes Peden, who will delight everyone with his impressive “Rollercoaster” show. But that's just the beginning, because with ensembles like Overhead Project and Room 305, the audience is taken on an exciting journey through the world of circus art, complemented by the creativity of the audience favorite Zirkus FahrAwaY.

Diverse venues

The festival uses a variety of venues in Dresden, including the Society theater, the idyllic Königsufer, the picturesque Dresden Heath and the Golden Rider. The Alum Park also plays a central role with the popular hands-on circus “Zirkuspause”, which invites both small and large artists to become active themselves.

Many of the free performances that take place at places like Alaunplatz and Goldene Reiter are donation-based - the “hat money in, circus out” principle ensures that everyone has access to the circus world. The theater promises exciting 49 events over two weeks, where no two performances are the same. The last event, a finale with the Cirque on Edge company, promises a very special highlight, as a 15 meter long bridge is being built on the Goldener Reiter.

A festival for all ages

The circus theater festival is a real crowd puller: around 17,000 people visited the event in 2024. What is particularly noteworthy is that the festival revolves around the connection between people, cultures and art forms, which is impressively expressed through the cooperation with the Dresden Music Festival in the “Blind Date” program block. This is where circus art and classical music come together to create a unique experience.

More and more young and young-at-heart visitors are getting a taste for it. Many events are suitable for ages 6 and up, and some are even free or donation-based. “We have demonstrated a good knack for diversity and want to build the bridges that our motto so aptly describes far beyond the city’s borders,” explains an organizer of the festival. A total of 10,700 euros will flow from the city treasury to support the festival, which has set a goal of 5,000 euros in donations via Betterplace.

The 2025 Circus Theater Festival promises not only breathtaking shows, but also a feeling of community and togetherness. The organizers invite everyone to celebrate this creative festival together and to build bridges between art and the public.