In the United States, the high-energy Circus Smirkus tour is currently captivating audiences in New England. The show, "Game On!", features the incredible talents of youth contortionists Caroline Roberts, Layla Cotton, and Syvie Merryman-Lotze. They are finishing their run in Newbury, Massachusetts, today before heading to Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont later in the month. Also performing today are the advanced students of Circus Juventas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, whose production of "Lumière" blends acrobatics and contortion in what promises to be a stunning display. Just last night in Brooklyn, the legendary "Rubber-Limbed Contortionist" The Amazing Amy performed her classic act at the Coney Island Vaudeville show.

Looking ahead in the US, audiences can catch Viktoria Grimmy in "The Great DuBois: Masters of Variety" in Livermore, California on August 9th, while Sno Bunta brings her "mind-bending contortion" to the Venardos Circus in Louisville, Kentucky, for shows running until August 10th. For those seeking something different, the aquatic-themed Cirque Italia will showcase its contortionists in Davenport, Iowa from August 8th, and the Kinetic Arts Center in Oakland will feature an act of "Handbalancing w/ Contortion" on August 8th and 9th.

North of the border, the Europa Super Circus is embarking on an extensive Canadian tour, with contortionists Desire Cardinali Chaves and Ess Hödlmoser performing in Moose Jaw this weekend before moving on to Regina, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg for the rest of August.

Across the Atlantic, Europe is also hosting a spectacular array of talent. In Düsseldorf, Germany, Roncalli's Apollo Varieté launched its new soul-themed production yesterday, featuring the artistry of Gildo Gomes in daily shows throughout the month. Later in August, Germany will also see performances from Alexander Mitin in Köthen on the 23rd and Maxim Voronin in a Berlin variety show. In France, the Les Scènes Déménagent festival in Fougères will feature a unique contortionist storyteller from August 22nd to 24th, while in Turkey, Çiğdem Çolakoğlu is set to appear on Turkey’s Got Talent in the early part of the month.

The global celebration of contortion extends even further. In Brazzaville, Congo, the duo Confo & Retro will perform for an Independence Day celebration on August 15th. In Brazil, Circo Spacial continues its 40th-anniversary run with performances every weekend, and in Cambodia, the remarkable social enterprise Phare Circus holds shows nightly in Siem Reap, where contortion is a common and celebrated element of their productions.

From established masters to the next generation of rising stars, August 2025 offers a remarkable opportunity to witness the beauty and physical discipline of contortion in nearly every corner of the world.

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The contortionist performances happening in August 2025

Circus Smirkus – 2025 Big Top Tour: “Game On!

”Newbury MA; Kennebunkport ME; Cumberland ME;

Hanover NH;

Milton VT; Greensboro VT (USA)August 1–17. Specific dates: Newbury (Aug 1–2); Kennebunkport (Aug 5–6); Cumberland (Aug 8–9); Hanover (Aug 11–12); Milton (Aug 14–15); Greensboro (Aug 17).

Featured Contortionists: Youth contortionists - Caroline Roberts, Layla Cotton and Syvie Merryman-Lotze

Coney Island Vaudeville – The Amazing Amy

‍Sideshows by the Seashore Theater, Coney Island USA, Brooklyn NY (USA)

August 1 at 8 pm.

Featured Contortionist: The Amazing Amy (Amy Huggins)

The Great DuBois: Masters of Variety

‍Bankhead Theater, Livermore CA (USA)

August 9 (evening performance).

Featured Contortionist: Viktoria Grimmy

Europa Super Circus (Canada tour)

‍Moose Jaw SK; Regina SK; Saskatoon SK; Winnipeg MB (Canada)

August 1–27. Specific dates: Moose Jaw (Aug 1–3); Regina (Aug 7–10); Saskatoon (Aug 14–17); Winnipeg (Aug 21–27).

Featured Contortionists: Desire Cardinali Chaves and Ess Hödlmoser (https://www.instagram.com/strangewonderfulcreature/)

Venardos Circus – “Far Beyond

”Waterfront Park, Louisville KY (USA)

August 1–10 (various times).

Featured Contortionist: Sno Bunta (https://www.instagram.com/snocircus/)

Circus Juventas – “Lumière”

‍Circus Juventas Big Top, Saint Paul MN (USA)

August 1–10 (various times).

Featured Contortionists: Cast of advanced youth performers

Kinetic Arts Center – 2025 Summer Circus Celebration

‍Kinetic Arts Center, Oakland CA (USA)August 8–9 (evening shows at 7:30 pm).

Featured Contortionists: Not specified; the show lists “Handbalancing w/ Contortion” as one of the acts.

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Cirque Italia – Water Circus “Silver”

‍Davenport IA, and Champaign IL (USA)Davenport: Aug 8–11; Champaign: Aug 29–Sep 1.

Featured Contortionists: Billed as a group of contortionists

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Les Scènes Déménagent (Scenes Are Moving festival)

‍Public Garden, Fougères (France)

August 22–24.Featured Contortionists: Contortionist storyteller (name not specified)

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Circo Spacial – SPARK

‍Circo Spacial, São Paulo (Brazil)Weekend shows throughout August, including a performance at 16:00 on August 23.

Featured Contortionists: Liriel Querubin (https://www.instagram.com/liricircus/) and Lua Gervasio (https://www.instagram.com/lua_grb/)

Phare – The Cambodian Circus

‍Phare Circus Big Top, Siem Reap (Cambodia)

Performances every night in August at 8 pm.

Featured Contortionists: Rotating cast of circus performers

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Roncalli's Apollo Varieté - "Fresh 'n' Funky – The Soul of Music"

‍Apollo-Platz 1, Düsseldorf (Germany)

Daily shows from August 1.

Featured Contortionist: Gildo Gomes (https://www.instagram.com/gildogomes_oficial/)

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Mohamed Street performances

‍Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas (USA)

Dates in August not specified.

Featured Contortionist: Mohamed (https://www.instagram.com/mob25250/)

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Independence Day performance

‍Brazzaville (Congo)

August 15.

Featured Contortionists: Confo & Retro (https://www.instagram.com/confostrauss_retrophenomenal/)

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Variety show

‍Berlin (Germany)

Late August.

Featured Contortionist: Maxim Voronin (https://www.instagram.com/magiccircusmax/)

Schlosstraum performance

‍Köchen (Germany)

August 23.

Featured Contortionist: Alexander Mitin (https://www.instagram.com/aleksandrmi/)

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Turkey’s Got Talent

‍Television/Online (Turkey)

Early August.

Featured Contortionist: Çiğdem Çolakoğlu (https://www.instagram.com/colakoglucigdemm/)

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Have we missed you out? Are these shows you love and you think should be featured? Let us know! Email hello@contortion.space and let us know about shows to add to the list!

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