Vancouver & Lower Mainland Circuses
While they might not perform in a typical “theatre”, circuses put on great performing arts shows and Metro Vancouver plays host to some high-quality ones. Below are details about a couple of the most prominent circuses that perform in the Lower Mainland, and a circus school (where you can learn circus arts and tricks yourself).
The two circuses we describe are very different. One is Circo Osorio, which originated in Mexico many years ago, and now tours North America every year. It’s very affordable and fun for younger children and their families. The other is Cirque du Soleil which is a world-class performing arts extravaganza from Montreal.
Circo Osorio Circus
Circo Osorio is a great travelling circus that tours various cities in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island each year. The family that runs the circus is originally from Mexico and is now based in Las Vegas. Their “Run Away to the Circus” tour stops in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley at different times between the summer and fall each year.
One of the best parts about Circo Osorio is how great it is for families, especially those with younger children. When buying tickets online, each adult ticket includes the option to add free admission for one child under the age of 11. Each additional child ticket costs $10 while adult tickets are $30 (or about $5 more when bought at the gate). The shows are about an hour and a half long including an intermission in the middle.
All of the action takes place inside the Big Top tent which seats up to 700 people. Performers include acrobats and aerialists, motorcycle stunt riders, jugglers, clowns, and more.
There are no exotic animals at Circo Osorio shows. The focus is entirely on the human performers and their impressive feats.
Below are the show dates and locations for Circo Osorio’s 2026 tour in the Lower Mainland.
- August 13 to 16 – at Tsawwassen Mills in Delta
- October 1 to 5 – at Sevenoaks Shopping Centre in Abbotsford
- October 8 to 12 – at Lansdowne Centre in Richmond
- October 15 to 25 – at Coquitlam Centre in Coquitlam
To learn more about these shows, see our article about the Circo Osorio Circus. For tickets, visit circusosorio.com.
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
One of the most famous circuses in the world, Cirque du Soleil is a Canadian company that puts on spectacular performances in Vancouver every year or two. When the company brings one of its major productions to town, the “Grand Chapiteau” sets up at Concord Pacific Place near False Creek, with standard adult admission prices ranging anywhere from around $60 to up to $250.
In recent years, the Vancouver shows have tended to happen sometime between October and January, although they sometimes have dates at other times of the year, but usually for smaller productions. LUZIA is the Cirque du Soleil show that hits Vancouver from late 2026 until early 2027, with performances happening between November 4 and January 10. LUZIA previously showed in Vancouver in 2019 (and at that time it was apparently Cirque du Soleil’s most successful production anywhere, ever)!
Cirque du Soleil shows blend live music, dance, storytelling, multimedia elements and, of course, plenty of high-flying and death-defying acrobatics. Audience members can expect to be wowed by incredible stunts of all kinds. There are balancing acts, trapeze and aerial silk artists, and many more varieties of entertainment, often all happening at the same time. LUZIA even incorporates water into its show by having it rain on stage.
To learn more about these shows, see our article about Circque du Soleil. Or for tickets and full details, visit cirquedusoleil.com.
CircusWest Performing Arts Society
CircusWest is a bit different from the companies listed above. While it does put on some shows each year, its main role is as a circus school. Children, teenagers and even adults can join classes to learn circus skills for themselves.
The main youth program at CircusWest is CirKids, which runs throughout the school year and is open to children and youth ages 3 to 17. CirKids places its young performers in specific classes based on their age and skill level, with older teenagers able to earn opportunities to perform in front of audiences at CircusWest shows and other local productions. That includes the company’s big year-end show which typically happens in late May or early June and features its best young circus performers showing their talents.
There are also more casual classes available for teenagers and adults which run for four-to-eight weeks at a time. People of all skills levels are welcome to sign up for classes and workshops in disciplines of their choice.
To learn more about this organization, visit circuswest.com.
Other Information
Circus shows are a fun and unique style of performing arts and Vancouver is a great place to enjoy them! For more information about each of the companies listed above, check out the following articles on the Vancouver’s Best Places website:
Another website you might also like is VancouverForKids.ca.