Cirque du Soleil delays the premiere of its upcoming show in Montreal's Old Port, scheduling it for 2027 instead.
Cirque du Soleil Postpones 'Cirque 2026' Debut Amid financial turmoil
The circus sensation, Cirque du Soleil, is pushing back the launch of their eagerly anticipated 'Cirque 2026' show from next year to April 2027. The delay is due to an "unstable context," as per the info we've got.
With the U.S. economy taking a nosedive, the circus's bigwigs are focusing their gaze on the more lucrative projects, as revealed in a leaked internal memo. Although the delay may affect some teams, there’s no mention of layoffs. The production and creative process will temporarily halt for the upcoming months.
The current production, 'LUZIA,' will still run at Montreal's Grand Chapiteau this summer. However, in this unstable climate, Cirque du Soleil can't launch new productions under the grand top next year. The company is grappling with a drop in revenues paired with a surge in expenses, leading to a dose of caution.
In a communiqué to employees, the circus's PR manager bluntly puts it, "Launching a new production under the big top next year could overload some of our key markets, hurting the performance of our current tours. Creating shows will always remain at the heart of the Cirque du Soleil."
According to recent developments, the company halted the launch of 'Arena 2025' project in December, due to the excessive costs involved in transporting the shows from city to another weekly. Moreover, the company laid off 110 employees from their Montreal headquarters in February, following an earlier round of 25 layoffs in November 2024.
The cancellation of their Blue Man Group shows in New York and Chicago at the beginning of the year didn't meet the management's expectations in terms of ticket sales and revenue. To make matters worse, Stéphane Lefebvre resigned from his position as CEO in April, with Daniel Lamarre, a former executive, stepping in to fill the void.
Behind the Scenes
Although the company is tight-lipped about a specific 'Cirque 2026' show, recent production schedules and ongoing cast recruitment provide some contextual insights:
The upcoming shows, "'Twas The Night Before…," are slated for November 20-30, 2025, in South Florida. Meanwhile, "OVO" continues its run until September 2025 at Smoothie King Center, and "LUZIA" continues performances in NYC as of April 2025.
With large-scale productions like 'O' or touring shows like 'LUZIA,' extended setup times and resources coordination could lead to delays in new launches. Moreover, industry-wide challenges such as talent retention and supply-chain delays might indirectly impact schedules. The company's focus appears to be on established shows like "& Juliet" and "Moulin Rouge!" partnered venues, which may compete for resources allocated to new productions.
The delay in the new production may impact revenue streams relying on existing shows like 'O' with strict non-refundable ticket policies, pressureing cash flow. Extended casting timelines also suggest challenges in aligning acrobat availability with project timelines.
This report is supported by the Initiative of Local Journalism, funded by the Government of Canada.
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- Despite the delay of Cirque du Soleil's 'Cirque 2026' show, certain upcoming productions, such as "'Twas The Night Before…," are scheduled for November 2025 in South Florida.
- The ongoing cast recruitment and production schedules suggest that Cirque du Soleil is working on new shows, though they remain tight-lipped about specifics.
- The company's focus on established shows like "& Juliet" and "Moulin Rouge!" partnered venues may indirectly impact the schedules and resources allocated to new productions.
- With large-scale productions like 'O' and touring shows like 'LUZIA,' extended setup times and coordination of resources could lead to delays in new launches, potentially impacting revenue streams and cash flow.
