Cirque du Soleil delays the premiere of its upcoming production in Montreal's Old Port, rescheduling it for 2027.
Brace Yourself, Cirque du Soleil Fans! Production of 'Cirque 2026' Gets Pushed Back Until April 2027
Get ready to wait a bit longer for the much-anticipated 'Cirque 2026' show. Due to what they're calling an "unstable context," the Cirque du Soleil has pushed back the launch of this magnificent production until April 2027, according to the latest inside scoop.
The current economic climate is putting pressure on the Cirque's brass to prioritize projects that show real promise, as stated in an internal memo obtained by Le Devoir. Though teams will be affected by this delay, layoffs aren't mentioned just yet. Several aspects of the production and creative process will be put on hold for the next few weeks, but no specific details have been shared.
The 'LUZIA' show will still be gracing the Montreal Big Top this summer. However, the "unstable context" means that the Cirque du Soleil can't launch new productions under the Big Top next year. The decrease in revenue and increase in expenses have led the company to exercise caution.
"The launch of a new production under the Big Top next year could lead to a saturation of key markets and negatively impact the performance of our current tours," explains the Cirque du Soleil's PR manager. "The creation of shows remains at the heart of the Cirque du Soleil's DNA."
This announcement to employees comes after a series of similar news for the Cirque du Soleil in recent months. The development of a project called 'Arena 2025', due for launch this fall, was halted last December because of operating and transportation costs of their shows.
The rough economic climate has also led the company to let go of 110 employees at its Montreal headquarters in February. This is on top of the 25 employees they let go in November 2024. The Blue Man Group shows in New York and Chicago were also axed at the beginning of the year, with ticket sales and subsequent revenue below expectations.
In other related news, Stéphane Lefebvre stepped down as CEO of Cirque du Soleil at the beginning of April. Daniel Lamarre, a former executive, has since taken over the reins.
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- Despite the delay in 'Cirque 2026' until April 2027, the 'LUZIA' show will still be performed under the Montreal Big Top this summer.
- The Cirque du Soleil's production environment is experiencing an unstable context due to the economic climate, leading to the suspension of new launches and an increase in waitlists for projects like 'Cirque 2025' and employment layoffs.
- The entertainment industry, including Cirque du Soleil, is facing a challenging period as they prioritize projects with real promise, and push back production dates to cope with the economic climate, leading to reshuffles and cuts in their entertainment offerings.
