Program

Thursday, February 12

Registration/lunch  
Kl. 11:30–12:45

Welcome to CirkusExpo 2026
Kl. 13:00–13:35

Seminar 1: Taking Artistic Risks – On Stage and in Programming
Kl. 13:35–14:30 (55 minutes)
In these uncertain times, how can we still dare to take artistic risks? This conversation explores risk-taking both in artistic creation and in programming — from the courage to innovate on stage to the curatorial choices that challenge audiences and expand the field.

Coffebrake
Kl. 14:30–15:00

Seminar 2: From Stage to Public: Engaging Audiences in Contemporary Circus
Kl. 15:00–15:45 (45 minutes)
How can contemporary circus reach wider audiences? Josefin Rosales shares experiences from Kulturhuset Stadsteatern on making circus visible, accessible, and relevant to diverse publics. She explores how artists and presenters can build lasting audience relationships through creative communication, authentic storytelling, and inclusive audience development. A session for anyone working with circus presentation and engagement.

Seminar 3: Nurturing a Circus Ecosystem – Access, Support, and Sustainability
Kl. 15:00–15:45 (45 minutes)
What makes a strong circus ecosystem thrive? This discussion explores how access to education, creation spaces, networks, funding, and touring opportunities shapes the growth and sustainability of the circus field — and how different regions support artists from training to professional life.

Paus
Kl. 15:45–16:15

Preview session 1 and 2:
Kl. 16:15–17:15 (60 minutes)
Presentation of short extracts from six Nordic contemporary circus performances — featuring both touring and upcoming productions. This session offers insight into current and emerging works within the Nordic circus field.

Preview: A forgotten home
Kompani: Marie Asplund
Together with the artist Marie we travel to the protective and immersive world inside of the womb, created from soft fabrics and patient handcraft, infused with love and time. In here, Maries free interpretation of her time in the womb takes place. Her imagined experiences, thoughts and feelings are shaped in a weightless, floating, dramatic and gently crazy aerial play. It is a small scale, philosophical, playful and intimate show, told throw movement with handmade costumes and scenography.

Preview: Hello!
Kompani: The Hello! Project by Sunniva & Søren
Hello! Is a playful and moving family performance about what happens when we meet each other with curiosity. An actor and a circus artist bring the story of a lonely man to life through handbalancing, acrobatics, mime, clowning, and physical theatre. Wordless but full of humor, magic, and big emotions, the show is a tribute to the child in all of us and can be enjoyed by all ages.

Preview: Nonstop Paradise
Kompani: Recover Laboratory
Nonstop Paradise is a multidisciplinary hybrid: a fusion of performance, media art, and contemporary circus. The three-part project consists of an exhibition, a performance, and publication. Circus discipline used and deconstructed is "hula" hoop and other bodily movements.

Preview: Weight and Trust
Kompani: Kaaos Kaamos
Two bodies in constant motion. Two artists in a relationship built on precision, communication and compromise. The audience sits close as the acrobatics slowly unfold – powerful, fragile and stripped-down. There is no glitter, no illusions. Everything is created between two people. Tyngd och tillit is an intimate circus performance that explores what it takes to trust someone with your whole body.

Preview: Culinary Chaos
Kompani: Company Kate & Pasi
A joyful family circus where the kitchen turns into a hilarious stage. Acrobatics, juggling, and comedy collide in a show where nothing goes as planned—but everything is delicious fun. Flour flies, objects soar, and laughter fills the air. Children love the energy and humor, while adults admire the skill and wit. Internationally awarded circus artists Katerina Repponen and Pasi Nousiainen bring to the stage breathtaking partner acrobatics, physical expression, and humor.

Preview: The Pile
Kompani: Kompani Giraff
A flexible circus performance about a difficult-to-master pile and the longing to break free. Three unreasonably flexible circus artists navigate a difficult-to-master pile. They change shape, dissolve and invent themselves in startling formations. Through circus, humor and magic, The Pile tells the story of the contradiction between wanting to belong and at the same time longing to break free.
Kompani Giraff invites the young audience to a work inspired by an absurdist and surrealist art tradition.

Meal to go (pre-ordered)
Kl. 17:15–17.30

Opening mingle (together with CirkusMania at Maxim)
Kl. 20:00–23:00

Friday, February 13

Film Screening & Artist Talk with Katja Schumann: A place in the ring 

Kl. 09:30–11:30 (120 minutes) 

A film by Anne Svejgård Lund.

Join us for a special screening of A Place in the Ring, a touching documentary that follows the extraordinary journey of Katja Schumann — legendary circus artist, horse trainer, and heir to one of Europe’s most renowned circus dynasties.
The film offers an intimate portrait of a woman standing at a turning point in her life’s work: the art of working with horses. From Broadway’s bright lights to a quiet farm in Northern Jutland, we follow Katja’s lifelong dedication to a craft passed down through generations — and her struggle to pass it on.
In an effort to preserve her legacy, Katja opens her world to young Liv, who seeks to learn her unique understanding of horses. Katja faces a profound inner conflict: can she let go of her strict traditions and entrust her art to a new generation? It is a moving journey about finding balance between old and new, between control and trust — an adventure that continues in the hands of the future.
After the screening, Katja Schumann will join us for a live Q&A. This is a unique opportunity to meet an iconic figure in the circus world, hear her reflections on tradition, legacy, and transformation, and explore the profound relationship between humans and animals.

Visit Cirkus Cirkör (at Cirkus Cirkör)
Kl. 09:30–11:00 (90 minutes) 

Welcome to Cirkus Cirkör! Experience a guided tour through Cirkus Cirkör’s unique facilities, home to Northern Europe’s largest circus hall. Throughout the tour, you will make stops in different areas of Cirkör’s operations and enjoy inspiring seated presentations where they will share insights into their creative processes across artistic production, educational programs, marketing and communications.

Registration/lunch  
Kl. 11:30–12:45

Pitchsession 1 (The selecret pitches are listed below)
Kl. 13:00–14:05 (65 minuter)
Presentation of projects from Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.

Coffebrake
Kl. 14:05–14:25

Pitchsession 2 (The selecret pitches are listed below)
Kl. 14:25–15:30 (65 minuter)
Presentation of projects from Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.

Coffebrake
Kl. 15:30–15:50

Preview session 1 and 2:
Kl. 15:50–16:50 (60 minutes)

Preview: A forgotten home
Kompani: Marie Asplund
Together with the artist Marie we travel to the protective and immersive world inside of the womb, created from soft fabrics and patient handcraft, infused with love and time. In here, Maries free interpretation of her time in the womb takes place. Her imagined experiences, thoughts and feelings are shaped in a weightless, floating, dramatic and gently crazy aerial play. It is a small scale, philosophical, playful and intimate show, told throw movement with handmade costumes and scenography.

Preview: Hello!
Kompani: The Hello! Project by Sunniva & Søren
Hello! Is a playful and moving family performance about what happens when we meet each other with curiosity. An actor and a circus artist bring the story of a lonely man to life through handbalancing, acrobatics, mime, clowning, and physical theatre. Wordless but full of humor, magic, and big emotions, the show is a tribute to the child in all of us and can be enjoyed by all ages.

Preview: Nonstop Paradise
Kompani: Recover Laboratory
Nonstop Paradise is a multidisciplinary hybrid: a fusion of performance, media art, and contemporary circus. The three-part project consists of an exhibition, a performance, and publication. Circus discipline used and deconstructed is "hula" hoop and other bodily movements.

Preview: Weight and Trust
Kompani: Kaaos Kaamos
Two bodies in constant motion. Two artists in a relationship built on precision, communication and compromise. The audience sits close as the acrobatics slowly unfold – powerful, fragile and stripped-down. There is no glitter, no illusions. Everything is created between two people. Tyngd och tillit is an intimate circus performance that explores what it takes to trust someone with your whole body.

Preview: Culinary Chaos
Kompani: Company Kate & Pasi
A joyful family circus where the kitchen turns into a hilarious stage. Acrobatics, juggling, and comedy collide in a show where nothing goes as planned—but everything is delicious fun. Flour flies, objects soar, and laughter fills the air. Children love the energy and humor, while adults admire the skill and wit. Internationally awarded circus artists Katerina Repponen and Pasi Nousiainen bring to the stage breathtaking partner acrobatics, physical expression, and humor.

Preview: The Pile
Kompani: Kompani Giraff
A flexible circus performance about a difficult-to-master pile and the longing to break free. Three unreasonably flexible circus artists navigate a difficult-to-master pile. They change shape, dissolve and invent themselves in startling formations. Through circus, humor and magic, The Pile tells the story of the contradiction between wanting to belong and at the same time longing to break free.
Kompani Giraff invites the young audience to a work inspired by an absurdist and surrealist art tradition.

Meal to go (pre-ordered)
Kl. 16:50–17.00

Cirkus Cirkör mingle evening (at Södra teatern)
Kl. 21:15–23:00

Saturday, February 14

VIP Riksteatern, breakfast (only for riksteaterföreningar) (at hotel Scandic Malmen)
Kl. 09:00–10:00

Visit Cirkuscentrum (at Telefonfabriken)
Kl. 10:00–12:00 (120 minutes)
Cirkuscentrum invites you to an inspiring morning – over breakfast and bubbles – where we gather around artistic vision, inspiration and exchange. Ten Sweden-based circus artists will each share a short film about their artistic practice – what drives them, what questions they explore and where their ideas come from. These glimpses into their creative worlds set the tone for a fun mingle and conversation where artists and presenters can meet, reflect and connect.

Closing mingle and party (together with CirkusMania at Subtopia Hangaren)
Kl. 21:00–01:00

The selected projects presented in the form of pitch sessions are:  

• Below Zero (SWE): Living Layers   
• Blind Gut Company (FIN): Beat from the Bone
• Cikaros (DEN): The Fall
• Circus By Me (SWE): CONNECTION
• Circus I love you (SWE): Fun n°1
• Cirkus Cirkör (SWE): Bedtime Sonata
• Collective Rage (SWE): RAGE – and how to generate hope from it
• Fonomonik (SWE): Alveol
• HKL (SWE): MORE
• Karavan (SWE): Clowns in dystopia
• Opus Company (FIN): The Curse of Empathy
• Paolo Nani Teater (DEN): WAKE UP!
• Simon Granit Ossoinak (SWE): Concrete Jungle
• Teater Gry (DEN ): Bare Vent / Just Wait
• The Nordic Council (FIN): Häppy Hour
• The Vessel Productions (SWE): Grapes & Glory
• Wes Peden (SWE): Astromorph  

To CirkusMania's program