Upcoming Cirque du Soleil dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
What Cirque du Soleil is, and which show you are buying
Cirque du Soleil is a Canadian entertainment company and the world's largest producer of contemporary circus (theatrical, character-driven circus with live music and no performing animals). It is not a single show. As of October 2026, it runs permanent resident shows, most of them on the Las Vegas Strip, alongside touring productions that travel under a big top or play arenas and theaters.
The first decision is which show you want, because each has its own theme, cast, music, length and age policy. A resident show in Las Vegas is a 90-minute production built into a custom theater. A touring show is usually longer, with an intermission, and comes to a city for a limited stay. The live event list on this page shows which productions are currently on sale near you.
From stilt walkers in Quebec to more than 100 million spectators
The company grew out of Les Échassiers ("The Stilt Walkers"), a street troupe in Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec. Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix founded Cirque du Soleil on June 16, 1984, and its first production toured Quebec that summer for the 450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier's voyage. The 1990 show Nouvelle Expérience, directed by Franco Dragone, made the company profitable and led to a Las Vegas contract.
Key moments since then:
- 1993: Mystère opens at Treasure Island, the company's first permanent show
- 1998: O opens at the Bellagio
- 2006 to 2007: the first significant arena tour, followed by big top shows restaged for arenas
- 2020: a pandemic shutdown and bankruptcy filing, followed by a sale to a creditor group led by Catalyst Capital Group
More than 100 million people have seen a Cirque du Soleil production. Its honors include three Drama Desk Awards and seven Primetime Emmy Awards.
The Las Vegas resident shows
As of October 2026, the official Las Vegas page and Wikipedia's show list identify these resident productions on the Strip:
- Mystère at Treasure Island: the longest-running Cirque show in Las Vegas, open since December 1993, listed as suitable for all ages
- O at the Bellagio: an aquatic show performed in and above a pool, with a minimum age of 5
- KÀ at MGM Grand: an epic tale of love and conflict staged on a dynamic vertical stage, with no children under 3
- Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay: a tribute built on his catalog
- Mad Apple at New York-New York: the newest of the group, opened in 2022 in the former Zumanity theater
Each runs about 90 minutes with no intermission, according to the official show pages. Outside Las Vegas, resident shows include Drawn to Life at Disney Springs in Florida and ʻAuana in Honolulu. The official site posts current age rules and any schedule changes for each production.
Big top and arena tours
Touring shows come in two formats, and they feel quite different.
Big top (Grand Chapiteau)
The traditional format is a touring tent, the grand chapiteau, hauled from city to city with its own entrance tent, kitchen and artist facilities. Big top shows set up on a rented lot and tend to stay longer in each city than arena tours. As of October 2026, Wikipedia lists Koozå, Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities, Luzia, Alegría: In a New Light and Echo among the current big top productions, and a new big top show is planned for 2027.
Arena and theater
Arena tours restage the show in a sports arena, usually for a shorter stay, with seating on the floor and in the arena bowl. Ovo is listed as a current arena production, and 'Twas the Night Before... is a seasonal holiday show that plays theaters. Arena shows reach more cities but put more distance between most seats and the performers.
The company says touring shows typically run between 2 and 2.5 hours, including an intermission.
Where to sit for aerial and acrobatic acts
Cirque seating works differently from a play, because a great deal of the action happens overhead. Sitting as close as possible is not always the best choice.
Center sections, mid-distance: the best all-round view
Seats a little back from the stage and near the center show the full height of the aerial acts and the stage picture together. For most first-time visitors, this is the target in every format.
Front rows: close but neck-craning
The first rows give you a close view of the acrobats' strength and the costume detail, but you may spend aerial numbers looking straight up and miss the overall design. They suit repeat visitors more than first-timers.
Format-specific advice
- Big top: the tent is intimate, so even mid-tent seats feel close. Prioritize a central angle over a few rows of distance.
- Arena: lower-bowl seats near center often beat the back of the floor, where flat seating can make the stage hard to see over heads.
- Las Vegas theaters: each is purpose-built, so check the specific show's seating chart. At KÀ, the action climbs a moving vertical stage, and a central seat a few rows up shows more of it.
Run times, ages and when demand peaks
Resident shows run about 70 to 90 minutes without an intermission, while touring shows usually run 2 to 2.5 hours with one. Age rules vary by show: Mystère is listed for all ages, KÀ does not admit children under 3, and O sets a minimum age of 5. Several shows warn of loud sound, darkness and strobe effects that can startle young children.
Demand follows predictable patterns:
- Las Vegas rises with holiday weekends, major conventions and spring break, and resident shows usually play two dark (no-show) days a week.
- Touring stops sell fastest on opening weekend and closing weekend, with weekend matinees popular with families.
- Weeknight performances in the middle of a run usually offer the most choice.
Show pages and schedules are on the official Cirque du Soleil site. Every order on GoodSeats is backed by a 100% guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
How many Cirque du Soleil shows are in Las Vegas?
As of October 2026, the resident Las Vegas shows include Mystère at Treasure Island, O at the Bellagio, KÀ at MGM Grand, Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay and Mad Apple at New York-New York.
How long is a Cirque du Soleil show?
Resident shows usually run about 70 to 90 minutes with no intermission. Touring shows typically run 2 to 2.5 hours, including an intermission.
What is the difference between a big top and an arena Cirque show?
Big top shows play in a touring tent, tend to stay longer in each city and feel intimate. Arena shows play sports arenas for shorter stays, reach more cities and put more distance between most seats and the stage.
What is the minimum age for Cirque du Soleil?
It depends on the show. Mystère is listed for all ages, KÀ does not admit children under 3, and O requires guests to be at least 5. Check the show page before you buy.
Where are the best seats for Cirque du Soleil?
Center sections a little back from the stage usually give the best view of both the aerial acts and the full stage picture. The front rows are close but can mean looking straight up during aerial numbers.