April 2026 is stacked. Here's what's on, where, and who's performing - from Cirque du Soleil's touring network to a world-first Pacific Island circus in New Caledonia.

April 2026 might be the busiest month for live contortion that we've tracked since Contortion Space started compiling these roundups. Across 25+ countries, more than 60 distinct shows feature confirmed or highly probable contortion acts this month. Some of the names will be familiar. Some of the venues will surprise you.

Here's where to go.

North America: The Densest Concentration on Earth

If you're in the US and want to see world-class contortion live, your best bet is straightforward: Aleksei Goloborodko in Cirque du Soleil's LUZIA, playing at Gulfstream Park Big Top in Miami through April 25. Goloborodko - Guinness World Record holder for extreme back bends, trained across ballet, modern dance, rhythmic gymnastics, and Kung Fu Wushu - performs a centrepiece solo act surrounded by glowing candles. If you've seen clips online, the live version is a different experience entirely. After Miami, LUZIA moves to Oaks, PA (near Philadelphia) from May 7.

Elsewhere in the Cirque network: ECHO plays Grand Prairie, TX (Dallas area) from April 9 through May 9, with contortionists featured alongside wall acrobatics and aerial work. ALIZÉ in Honolulu runs year-round and specifically bills a contortion act. And the five Las Vegas resident shows - O, Mystère, KÀ, Mad Apple, and Michael Jackson ONE - all run nightly with contortion elements, alongside Absinthe at Caesars Palace and Rouge at The Strat.

Beyond Cirque, the range is wide. Yves Artières tours with The 7 Fingers' Water for Elephants - The Musical through Pittsburgh (through April 5), Schenectady (April 7–12), Buffalo (April 14–19), and Cincinnati (April 21–May 3). Anna Kichtchenko performs in The 7 Fingers' Duel Reality in Philadelphia on April 5 - a single date worth planning around if you're in the area.

The Peking Acrobats bring extreme contortion and live traditional Chinese music across a multi-city run: Nashua NH (April 1), Lexington MA (April 2), Keene NH (April 3), Cranston RI (April 4), Toronto (April 10), and West Palm Beach (April 18).

One to watch from the community: Anna Layne performs her graduation contortion act at the École nationale de cirque's Épreuve Synthèse shows in Montréal, April 13–16. Tickets through TOHU. Graduation shows at ENC are where you see the next generation of circus artists right before they enter the professional world - and Anna's contortion act is one of the featured disciplines.

Also running: UniverSoul Circus in Birmingham, AL (April 16–24), Circus Vargas in Temecula, CA (through April 28, including the 5th American CircusFest on April 22–23), Royal Canadian Circus at Mall of America in Bloomington, MN (April 10–19), Paranormal Cirque touring multiple US cities, and Ringling Bros. (148th Edition) with Jordan McKnight and Trio Nova in the Acrosport segment.

In Mexico, Circo Atayde Hermanos - founded in 1888 and now in its 137th year - brings 1888 - Les Clowns to Mexico City from April 30. Cirque du Soleil JOYÀ continues year-round at VidantaWorld in the Riviera Maya.

Europe: From Mongolian Zubnik in Rome to Roncalli's 50th in Cologne

The headline act in Europe this month is Cirque du Soleil's OVO arena tour, featuring Mongolian contortionist Nyamgerel Gankhuyag performing the demanding zubnik technique as the Spider, alongside Cooper Yarosloski in a hand-balancing contortion act. The tour covers serious ground in April: Rome (April 2–5), Bergamo (April 9–12), Ljubljana (April 16–19), Cluj-Napoca (April 23–26), and Sofia (April 30–May 3). If you're anywhere in Southern or Eastern Europe, one of these stops is probably within reach. The tour continues into Belgrade, Thessaloniki, and Istanbul through May.

In Spain, KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities opens at Recinto Ferial de Ansio near Bilbao from April 8 through May 24, with an explicitly featured contortion act.

Germany is particularly rich this month. Circus Roncalli launches its 50th Anniversary Jubilee Tour in Cologne (Neumarkt) from April 10, running 67 performances through May 25. Lili Paul-Roncalli - whose name you'll recognise if you follow European circus at all - is confirmed in the lineup. In Berlin, Camille Guichard performs at the Chamäleon Theatre in Palianytsia through April 5, then transitions into BELLO! from April 7. The Friedrichstadt-Palast continues BLINDED by DELIGHT with its cast of 100+ artists. And GOP Varieté-Theater runs rotating programmes across multiple German cities.

Looking ahead slightly: Magdalena Stoilova performs at Moselpalast Varieté in Traben-Trarbach on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout May, with free entry - worth the trip if you're in the Mosel region.

In London, Bella Diosa performs contortion and aerial acts in Come Alive! at Empress Museum, Earl's Court, running through September 2026. Zippos Circus marks its 40th Anniversary with extensive London dates from April 1. Revel Puck Circus performs in East London and surrounds (April 2–May 3), and Gandeys Circus sets up at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool (April 23–May 4).

Festival-minded? Radio Meuh Circus Festival in La Clusaz, France (April 2–5) mixes music and circus. MAD Festival in Antwerp (April 16–19) leans toward boundary-pushing contemporary work. Circusstad Festival in Rotterdam (April 29–May 3) is one of Europe's major contemporary circus gatherings. And the World Circus Day Festival in Bratislava (April 10–12) rounds out a packed calendar.

Scandinavia has its own circuit: Cirkus Cirkör tours Equilibrium through Sweden with confirmed contortion, ELYSIUM Circus Theater (originally from Kyiv) tours Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, and Duo Vilja — Swedish twins — perform with Danish circuses.

Italy's traditional circuit runs strong with Circo Orfei, Atlantis, Circo Busnelli, and Circo Cussadiè all touring through April. Cirque Éloize brings iD Evolution to Trieste April 1–3.

Asia: Permanent Venues, Daily Shows, and the World Capital of Contortion

China's permanent acrobatic venues are among the most consistent places on earth to see contortion, and they run daily. Chaoyang Theatre in Beijing features the Chinese Acrobatic Troupe's 75th anniversary production Climbing the Peak to Create Skills. Shanghai Circus World runs ERA2: Spirit of Shanghai near-daily. And Chimelong International Circus in Guangzhou — the world's only permanent non-travelling circus — performs nightly. Additional troupes operate in Dalian, Hebei (Wu Qiao), Wuhan, and Chengdu.

In Mongolia — the tradition's deepest home — ASA Arena (formerly the Mongolian National Circus) in Ulaanbaatar operates with contortion-centred programming, and the Tumen Ekh Ensemble performs daily tourist concerts that include contortion. Notable Mongolian contortionists active globally in 2026 include Lkhagva-Ochir Erdene-Ochir, Ninjin Altankhuyag (performing with Cirque du Soleil's KOOZA), Serchmaa Byamba (teaching in San Francisco), and the X-Roses group, who took the Gold Trophy at the 47th Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in January 2026.

South Korea opens a major new production on April 1: Wings of Memory at Everland theme park in Yongin, created by Cirque Éloize with 20+ artists from eight countries, performing twice daily with confirmed contortion.

Southeast Asia offers two of the best-value contortion-featuring shows anywhere. Phare, The Cambodian Circus in Siem Reap performs nightly — a performer-run social enterprise with confirmed contortion in the programme. In Ho Chi Minh City, the À Ố (A O) Show at Saigon Opera House features bamboo circus with contortion elements.

In India, Rambo Circus plays Bengaluru from April 24 through May 3 with confirmed contortionists.

Central Asia's year-round venues — Astana Capital Circus in Kazakhstan and Tashkent State Circus in Uzbekistan — both programme acrobatics and contortion regularly.

Africa, Middle East & the Pacific

McLaren Circus — South Africa's premier touring operation — performs in Brackenfell/Cape Town (April 5) and Paarl (April 8). Year-round, Fekat Circus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia operates with 30+ artists, and Sarakasi Trust at the Sarakasi Dome in Nairobi runs weekly performances. Zip Zap Circus in Cape Town is preparing a new 2026 production.

In Dubai, La Perle by Dragone runs Tuesday through Saturday year-round with 65+ performers, contortion included.

Oceania: Regional Touring and a World-First from Fiji

Ashton's Great Australian Circus tours regional New South Wales with confirmed contortion — Tamworth through April 12, Armidale from April 17–26. Circa Contemporary Circus tours Duck Pond, Humans 2.0, and Wolf across Perth, Port Macquarie, and Brisbane. Circus Oz plays Melbourne Town Hall April 8–18.

Looking ahead to May: Cirque du Soleil KOOZA opens in Melbourne from May 20 with a Mongolian contortion trio including Ninjin Altankhuyag.

The most geographically notable entry this month: the Fijian Flying Circus (VOU) embarks on a seven-week tour of New Caledonia from April 11 through May 31 — a world-first Pacific Island circus production.

South America & Russia

Mirage Circus — described as Latin America's largest touring circus — launched its 2026 tour across Brazil with 200 professionals. Buenos Aires maintains a year-round independent circus culture with variety shows at venues like Circo del Aire, Circo Criollo, and Club de Trapecistas, where contortion features regularly.

In Moscow, the Nikulin Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard and the Great Moscow State Circus (Bolshoi Circus) on Vernadsky Prospekt both perform daily with traditional programmes that include contortion. The Bolshoi operates a 3,400-seat arena with five interchangeable stages.

At Sea

Thiago Miranda is performing contortion acts aboard the AIDAstella cruise ship, touring Africa and the Mediterranean from March through August 2026. If your travel overlaps with the route, it's a rare chance to see contortion in an unusual setting.

Training Opportunities

If you're looking to train rather than watch this spring:

New England Center for Circus Arts hosts a Contortion Weekend Immersion with Rachel Barringer, May 1–3 in Brattleboro, VT. Circus Center San Francisco runs spring contortion classes (April 6–May 31) with master teacher Serchmaa Byamba — a Mongolian-trained contortionist who's one of the most respected coaches in the US. The Dutch AcroYoga Festival in Goirle, Netherlands (April 24–May 1) includes relevant programming, and PoleCon 2026 (May 28–31, DMV area) features hypermobility management tracks.

Named Performers & Social Media

Here are the individually named contortionists confirmed or highly probable for April 2026, along with their social media where known:

• Aleksei Goloborodko — Instagram: @galexey94 — Cirque du Soleil LUZIA, Miami FL
• Nyamgerel Gankhuyag — Cirque du Soleil OVO, European arena tour (Rome, Bergamo, Ljubljana, Cluj-Napoca, Sofia)
• Cooper Yarosloski — Instagram: @circuscoopr — Cirque du Soleil OVO, European arena tour
• Lili Paul-Roncalli — Instagram: @lillypaul — Circus Roncalli 50th Anniversary, Cologne
• Camille Guichard — Chamäleon Theatre, Berlin (Palianytsia / BELLO!)
• Bella Diosa — Come Alive!, Earl's Court, London
• Yves Artières — Water for Elephants — The Musical, US tour
• Anna Kichtchenko — Instagram: @anna_kitch — The 7 Fingers — Duel Reality, Philadelphia (April 5)
• Anna Layne — Instagram: @annalayne_ — École nationale de cirque graduation show, Montréal (April 13–16)
• Thiago Miranda — Instagram: @thiagomiranda — AIDAstella cruise ship, Africa & Mediterranean
• Ninjin Altankhuyag — Cirque du Soleil KOOZA contortion trio (Melbourne from May 20)
• Lkhagva-Ochir Erdene-Ochir — Instagram: @ochir_ub — active globally
• Serchmaa Byamba — teaching at Circus Center, San Francisco (April–May classes)
• Magdalena Stoilova — Moselpalast Varieté, Traben-Trarbach, Germany (May dates)
• Jordan McKnight — Instagram: @jordancontortion — Ringling Bros. 148th Edition, US arena tour
• Duo Vilja (Jenny & Sara) — Danish/Scandinavian circus circuit

Performers Confirmed Active but Without Fixed Public Dates

• Fernando Gonzalez — Instagram: @fernandogonzalezaerialhoopcontortion — creating new shows for 2026
• Jena's Contortion — Instagram: @jenascontortion
• Diarras Souba — Instagram: @diarrassouba5870

This roundup was compiled from three independent research sources and Contortion Space's direct performer outreach programme. Contortion is often programmed inside broader circus and variety shows — many venues announce locally or through social media only. If we've missed a show or a performer, get in touch.

Last updated: March 2026

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