Contemporary Circus in Graz
It combines the magic of traditional circus with the exploration of contemporary topics. It can be loud and exhilarating, but also deeply moving and filled with breathless silence. For two decades now, the festivals La Strada and Cirque Noël have shared their passion for contemporary circus with their audiences. By now, Graz has become one of Europe’s leading centres for cirque nouveau.
The development of contemporary circus plays a central role in the production activities of La Strada Graz. Together with renowned international festivals such as the Festival d’Avignon and the Grec Festival Barcelona, La Strada acts as a co-producer of new and experimental formats. Alongside its winter programme Cirque Noël, dedicated to contemporary circus, La Strada has produced works with The 7 Fingers (Canada), Gravity & Other Myths (Australia), and the Franco-Catalan collective Baro d’evel.
In workshops, both beginners and advanced participants can learn or deepen their skills in acrobatics and engage directly with international artists. These production activities are made possible above all through international cooperation within active networks. Since its founding in 2003, the IN SITU network – supported by the European Commission – has been promoting and developing artistic creations in public space, including productions of contemporary circus.
There is also continuous exchange with the Major Festivals Initiative and APAX (Australian Performing Arts Exchange), as well as with partners in Korea and Canada, where a young, vibrant and successful circus scene has emerged. In Montreal, one of the world’s most renowned circus schools and the Cité des Arts du Cirque – TOHU, a major centre for contemporary circus, are located.
In the 2025/26 festival season, we are delighted to present two world-class productions in Graz: Six° by FLIP Fabrique from Québec and Wolf by the Australian company Circa.
Werner Schrempf, Artistic Director
With Thanks to Our Partners and Sponsors:
CIRQUE NOËL
December 20th 2025
– January 10th 2026
© 2025 Cirque Noël