It's TIME FOR CIRCUS in the Ruhr Area! From November 14 to 16, numerous cities across Europe will be celebrating the diverse genre of contemporary circus. Performances, premieres, workshops, audience and panel discussions, parties, and much more will bring to life the cross-cultural and cross-genre power of this fresh form of circus. In the Ruhr region, the Neuer Zirkus Ruhr project office is coordinating the festival contributions from the region and presenting “ZEIT FÜR ZIRKUS – Ruhrgebiet” to an international audience.
Every year in November, TIME FOR CIRCUS transforms the Ruhr region into a stage for contemporary circus – an art form that embeds circus artistry in choreography, incorporating elements of dance, music, and media to tell stories. What is celebrated here is not only the artistry itself, but also the power of storytelling, diversity, and creative exchange. The festival focuses on the idea of togetherness: ZEIT FÜR ZIRKUS brings together artists, cultural spaces, and audiences from across the region.
From Essen to Bochum to Dortmund and Herne, temporary places of wonder are created where boundaries between art forms, generations, and cultures dissolve. The festival sees itself as part of a Europe-wide movement that raises the profile of contemporary circus and strengthens it as a vibrant, socially relevant art form. Thanks to its accessibility and openness to different formats, contemporary circus enjoys strong audience connections, growing interest, and the inherent potential to address even difficult topics in a way that is accessible to the general public. ZEIT FÜR ZIRKUS is the German edition of the international circus festival “La Nuit du Cirque.” Since 2020, Germany has been participating in the world's largest festival for contemporary circus – this year with over 60 events in 19 German cities.
All information about the festival program in the Ruhr area is available at https://neuerzirkus.ruhr/zfz.
