Montréal: a year-round circus hub

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.

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.

No horsing around

Created in 2003 by Normand Latourelle – a pioneer of Cirque du Soleil from 1985 to 1990 – Cavalia reimagines the equestrian and theatrical arts with shows that feature horses as well as riders, acrobats, dancers and musicians. Cavalia’s Odysseo show is performed in the world’s largest touring tent called the Big White Top.

Upcoming shows

The only presenter specializing in contemporary circus in North America, La TOHU in their state-of-the-art circular performance hall presents HA HA HA by the funny clownish duo OKIDOK, from December 18 to January 5 (for ages 5+); Australian company Circa reinterpret the classic Swan Lake in Duck Pond (February 5 to 9); Maputo-Mozambique fuses movement, juggling, singing and percussion (February 19 to 23); Vertical is an ice show produced by Le Patin Libre, the only contemporary skating company in the world (March 4 to 8); and Belgium’s NDE Company presents their “dance-juggling” show JUVENTUD Manifeste Jonglé (March 12 to 16).

Created by Les 7 Doigts, Pub Royal is a musical featuring the music of Les Cowboys Fringants, with seven actors-actresses / singers, seven dancers and six circus artists, at Théatre Maisonneuve until December 22.

Montréal’s Cirque du Soleil presents their show OVO at the Bell Centre from December 27 to January 3, for a total of 14 matinee and evening presentations.

Cirque du Soleil then presents the return of LUZIA under the Big Top in the Old Port from May 15 to June 29, 2025. Tickets are now on sale.