Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus

What Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus does

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, operated by privately held Feld Entertainment, Inc. (Virginia, USA), is a touring live-entertainment company that produces The Greatest Show On Earth, currently in its 148th Edition following a 2023 relaunch after a 2017 shutdown. The company runs a 60-city North American arena tour featuring 65 performers drawn from 17 countries, delivering an animal-free, music-driven spectacle built around trapeze, acrobatic troupes, human cannonball, and extreme-sports acts. Proprietary production technology includes Sonic Spatial directional audio, an automated Spotlight Tracking System, large-format LED screens with live camera capture, and a 360-degree modular performance area.

The business model is anchored in live-event ticket sales distributed through the company's own website, Ticketmaster, AXS, and venue partners, with kids' tickets priced at $15-20 and standard adult tickets priced by market and seat location. Supplementary revenue comes from merchandise (apparel, plush toys, limited-edition collaborations), brand partnerships and licensing (Maddox Batson music integration, Monster Jam Bailey Circuit truck, Blippi co-production, Ringling x Highlights Magazine), and the Ringling Insider fan program. Sub-brands such as Ringling Kids, WOW'd (YouTube prank series), CircusFit, and Bailey's Doghouse extend engagement beyond tour windows across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and email/SMS channels.

The primary customer is multi-generational U.S. families with children, supplemented by heritage circus enthusiasts and arena event-goers; the company owns no external institutional investors and reports no public financials.

Name

Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus

Legal name

Feld Entertainment, Inc.

Website

https://ringling.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1884

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, operated by Feld Entertainment, runs a 60-city North American arena tour of The Greatest Show On Earth featuring 65 international performers, selling tickets, merchandise, and branded partnerships to multi-generational family audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Circus Entertainment

NAICS

Other Performing Arts Companies (71119), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

Keywords

• Live circus entertainment
• Traveling circus shows
• Family live events
• Arena performances
• Acrobatic entertainment

Headquarters

HQ city

Palmetto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Live Event Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from touring circus performances. Tickets sold through official website, Ticketmaster, AXS, and venue-specific ticketing partners. Pricing varies by market with kids' tickets at $15-20 and adult tickets at standard pricing.
2. Merchandise: Sale of Ringling-branded merchandise including apparel, collectibles, plush toys (Bailey Circuit plush), and limited-edition collaborations. Includes online store and venue-based merchandise sales.
3. Brand Partnerships and Collaborations: Revenue from music artist integrations (Maddox Batson collaboration), branded merchandise partnerships, and promotional collaborations with sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey produces and tours "The Greatest Show On Earth," a music-driven, animal-free live circus show featuring world-class acrobats, aerialists, trapeze artists, comedians, and musicians performing across 60+ arena venues in North America. Revenue is generated primarily through ticket sales, with supplementary income from branded merchandise, brand collaborations, and family-focused content.

Product overview

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey operates as a live entertainment company producing The Greatest Show On Earth, a touring circus show now in its 148th Edition. The company has evolved from a traditional circus to a music-driven, animal-free entertainment experience featuring 65 performers from 17 countries. The product portfolio includes the core circus show, kids-focused content (Ringling Kids, Ringling & Friends featuring Blippi, Bailey's Doghouse), merchandise, the Ringling Insider fan program, educational activities (Ringling Activity Sheets, Ringling Highlights Magazine), and entertainment content (WOW'd prank series, CircusFit workouts). The company is owned and operated by Feld Entertainment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bailey Circuit: A robotic dog character from The Greatest Show On Earth, created with a titanium metal body and heart of gold, who performs tricks and dances at shows. Has been expanded into a Monster Jam collaboration with a dedicated monster truck.

Products and services

• The Greatest Show On Earth Core touring live circus show featuring world-class acrobats, aerialists, trapeze artists, comedians, and musicians performing across 60+ arena venues in North America. Targeted at families and multi-generational audiences; tickets sold per performance via ringling.com, Ticketmaster, AXS, and venue systems.
• Ringling Merchandise Official Ringling-branded merchandise including apparel, collectibles, plush toys (e.g., Bailey Circuit plush), and limited-edition collaborations, sold online and at tour venues to fans and families.
• Ringling Highlights Magazine Special edition collaboration magazine between Ringling and Highlights featuring circus-themed fun, interactive activities, stories, and puzzles for children.
• The Greatest Show On Earth Album Digital music album featuring fan-favorite songs from The Greatest Show On Earth, distributed on streaming platforms alongside the live tour.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65 performers from 17 countries deliver world-class circus entertainment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Maddox BatsonflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 December 2025Country music teen sensation collaboration featuring custom remixes of Batson's songs integrated into The Greatest Show On Earth tour. First-ever music artist integration in Ringling's 150-year history. Custom mashup blends modern country sound with live circus performance, featuring exclusive song debut 'If I See Her Again' on January 2 in Tampa. Limited-edition Ringling x Maddox Batson merch available at tour stops.
• Monster Jam (Feld Entertainment)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2025First-of-its-kind collaboration between The Greatest Show On Earth and Monster Jam producing the Bailey Circuit Monster Jam truck. Bailey Circuit, the robotic pup from Ringling, inspired a Monster Jam truck that debuted in Raleigh, NC on July 26, 2025 with 2019 Monster Jam All-Star Challenge Best Trick Champion Brianna Mahon behind the wheel.
• The Ringling MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 April 2024The Greatest Show On Earth Gallery opened at The Ringling Museum in Sarasota, sharing the story of how Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey grew to become one of the most recognized brands under the Feld Family era.
• BlippicoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAll-new series featuring Blippi joining Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey for exciting hijinks at The Greatest Show On Earth. Content designed to appeal to young children and introduce circus arts through familiar entertainment personalities.
• Highlights MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Highlights magazine to create a special Ringling Highlights Magazine edition, combining two iconic American brands to inspire wonder, imagination, and family memories.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cirque du Soleil: Cirque du Soleil is the most direct comparable — a major touring circus-style production company with resident and touring shows featuring elite acrobatic talent, arena-scale productions, and family-oriented audiences. Both compete for the same live family entertainment dollars globally.
• Big Apple Circus: Big Apple Circus is a traditional American one-ring circus that operates as a New York-based resident and touring production. It directly competes with Ringling in the family circus category, with similar talent-driven acts and a heritage brand positioning.
• Cavalia (Luzia): Cavalia (now branded as Luzia in some markets) is a touring large-scale theatrical production featuring acrobats and aerialists under a big-top. It competes for the same family live entertainment audience with a similar touring arena/tent model.
• UniverSoul Circus: UniverSoul Circus is a touring US circus with a multicultural, family-oriented format and tent-based performances. It targets similar family audiences with affordable ticket pricing in markets that overlap with Ringling's tour.
• Circus Vargas: Circus Vargas is a traditional US-based touring big-top circus featuring acrobats, clowns, and family acts. It serves the same family live entertainment category as Ringling, though at a smaller scale and price point.
• Sesame Street Live (Round Room Live): Sesame Street Live is a touring family stage show featuring the Sesame Street IP, produced by Round Room Live. It competes for the same family live entertainment audience as Ringling, particularly for younger children.
• Harlem Globetrotters: The Harlem Globetrotters are a touring arena entertainment show featuring basketball, comedy, and family-friendly performance. They share Ringling's touring arena business model, ticketing partners, and family audience demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Disney On Ice (Feld Entertainment): Disney On Ice is a sister Feld Entertainment touring production featuring Disney characters in arena ice shows. It is operated by the same parent company as Ringling and competes for the same family live entertainment arena bookings.
• Monster Jam (Feld Entertainment): Monster Jam is Feld Entertainment's touring monster truck arena show. It shares the same touring arena infrastructure, ticketing partners, and family audience as Ringling, and is the partner for the Bailey Circuit Monster Jam truck collaboration.

Emerging players

• Blue Man Group: Blue Man Group is a live theatrical production featuring performance art, music, and technology. It competes for family and adult live entertainment dollars with technology-integrated stage shows, though it operates with resident productions rather than a national tour.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RinglingBros
• YouTubeyoutube.com/ringling
• Facebookfacebook.com/RinglingBros
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ringling-brothers
• Instagraminstagram.com/ringling
• TikToktiktok.com/@ringling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus