Cirque Phénix

What Cirque Phénix does

Cirque Phénix is a privately held French live entertainment company (SARL) founded in 1999/2000 by Alain M. Pacherie, headquartered in Paris, that produces and performs original acrobatic circus shows. Its core asset is the world's largest circus tent (chapiteau), a 5,500-6,000-seat venue with no interior support poles, located at Place du Cardinal Lavigerie in Paris's 12th arrondissement, complemented by 2,600 m² of modular annex spaces for events. The company produces one new flagship production per year — currently Odyssée (premiering November 2026, featuring 40 Étoiles du Cirque de Pékin), preceded by Millésime (2025, 25th anniversary) and the CirkAfrika series — which it performs in Paris and then tours across France at Zénith venues, reaching approximately 300,000 spectators annually and over 15 million cumulatively.

The business operates a hybrid B2C/B2B revenue model. B2C revenue comes from tiered individual ticket sales (Platinum €95, Carré Or €85, Cat. 1 €70, Cat. 2 €60, with 50% child discount), merchandise (DVDs €20, programs €12), and the Club Phénix loyalty program. B2B revenue streams include CSE/corporate year-end events, group bookings (10+ at preferential rates), school performances (€10/student with free supervisor places), venue privatization for conventions and product launches, and a 3-year renewable international residency (Era II) at Shanghai Circus World in China. Distribution is multi-channel: own website and Tick&Live platform, physical box office, phone reservations, group sales team, third-party resellers, and seasonal Zénith touring.

The company has no proprietary technology platform, app, or API, and does not disclose any AI/ML capabilities. It is founder-controlled with no external investment, operates with approximately 150+ collaborators (35 touring artists per show) on a €200,000 capital base, and differentiates through exclusive access to international circus troupes (Peking, Mongolia, Ethiopia, Moscow), 25 years of original content, and its position as the first major circus worldwide to eliminate animal acts (2003).

Name

Cirque Phénix

Legal name

La Société de Spectacles et d'Évènements

Website

https://cirquephenix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cirque Phénix is a Paris-based circus company operating the world's largest big top (5,500 seats) to produce annual original acrobatic shows for families, schools, corporate clients, and touring audiences across France and China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Circus Entertainment

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Circus, Magic & Variety Shows (THAJAFAH)

Keywords

• Live circus performances
• Acrobatic entertainment
• Circus venue rental
• Corporate event hosting
• Animal-free circus

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Individual and group ticket sales for live circus performances at the Paris big top and touring venues across France. Revenue from seated categories (Platinum, Carré Or, Category 1, 2, 3), with child pricing and group discounts available.
2. Event Privatization: Corporate event hosting in the 5,500-seat venue and modular annex spaces for conventions, galas, product launches, fashion shows, and family events. Services include catering, decoration, AV equipment, photography, and artistic programming.
3. Group Bookings (CSE & Schools): Dedicated sales channel for Comité Social et Économique (CSE/employee committees), school groups, and collector groups. Provides reserved seating, preferential rates for groups of 10+, and supplementary services like Santa visits for Christmas events.
4. Merchandise & Media: Sale of show DVDs (20€) and programs (12€). Phénix Boutique referenced for souvenirs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cirque Phénix produces and presents original live acrobatic circus performances in the world's largest big-top tent (5,500 seats, no interior support poles) located at Place du Cardinal Lavigerie in Paris 12e. The company launches a new annual production featuring international circus artists (e.g., Odyssée in 2026 with 40 Stars of the Beijing Circus) and tours France at Zénith venues. Beyond performances, it offers venue privatization, corporate events (CSE/Christmas trees), group and school bookings, and merchandise.

Product overview

Cirque Phénix offers live circus productions as its core product, presenting annual original productions featuring international circus artists. The company operates the world's largest circus tent as its primary venue in Paris (5,500-6,000 seats), while simultaneously touring productions across France. Product portfolio includes flagship shows like Odyssée (current), Millésime (anniversary), and historical productions organized by country/region themes (CirkAfrika series, Nomade, CirkaCuba, Peking and Moscow Stars series). Services extend beyond performances to corporate events, CSE year-end celebrations, school performances, and group bookings. The venue offers modular annex spaces for private events and can host up to 9,000 for concerts. Each year features a completely new production with distinct artistic direction and international cast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Odyssée: Current 2026 production featuring 40 Stars of the Beijing Circus, acrobatic spectacle celebrating 5,000 years of Chinese acrobatics tradition.
• Millésime
• CirkAfrika
• Rhapsodie
• Les Jeux du Cirque
• Gaïa
• CirkaCuba
• Nomade
• Era II
• Tous en Piste!

Products and services

• Odyssée Current flagship circus production featuring 40 Stars of the Beijing Circus, an acrobatic journey celebrating 5,000 years of Chinese acrobatics tradition. Tickets sold in seated categories (Platinum, Carré Or, Cat 1-3).
• Millésime - 25 ans d'audace et d'émotions 25th anniversary spectacle reuniting iconic artists from the company's history with new international talents. Performed by Étoiles des Cirques du Monde.
• Le Chapiteau (Venue Privatization) The world's largest circus tent with 5,500-6,000 seat capacity and no interior support poles, located at Place du Cardinal Lavigerie, Paris 12e. Available for private hire for concerts, conventions, product launches, and large-scale events, configurable as seated (6,000) or standing (9,000).
• Événementiel / Private Corporate Events

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 million+ cumulative spectators since founding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Association Petits PrincescoreOthersAlain M. Pacherie serves as Vice-President of this public utility association that fulfills dreams of seriously ill children. The Cirque Phénix supports the association, and Lucas, a young man who dreamed of circus at age 5, has attended every season since. The association has fulfilled 7,000+ dreams since 1987, with documented health benefits confirmed by doctors.
• Culture du CoeurcoreOthersAlain M. Pacherie is Vice-President and Founder of this association that donates unsold tickets to cultural events for people excluded from culture. Started by offering unsold circus tickets to unemployed artists through ANPE. June 2009 marked 1,000,500+ free places offered. Now operates nationwide in France.
• Clowns Sans FrontièresminorOthersAssociation performing circus in conflict zones and areas of extreme poverty. Alain M. Pacherie supports this initiative. Under Emmanuelle Béart's presidency, a gala was held at Cirque Phénix to benefit the association. Projects span 3-5 years with 1-2 annual missions.
• EliseCareminorOthersInternational NGO providing emergency medical aid to civilians in conflict zones. EliseCare and Cirque Phénix collaborate on a project to install a circus tent in a Daech child soldier camp, using acrobatic arts to help children channel energy and build self-esteem.
• Secours PopulaireminorOthersPartnership for Les Pères Noëls Verts (Green Santas) operation collecting for underprivileged children. Cirque Phénix hosted a 2019 event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Les 7 doigts de la main: Contemporary circus creation company producing original acrobatic and theatrical productions for international touring. Comparable artistic production model and mid-to-large format show scale.
• Cirque Arlette Gruss: Major French touring circus producing original shows with a permanent big top and France-wide annual tours. Closely comparable in scale, touring rhythm, and family-entertainment positioning.
• Cirque du Soleil: Global leader in contemporary circus; produces and tours large-format acrobatic shows without animals. Most comparable business model (resident + touring productions) but operates at much larger scale and international footprint.
• Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione: Historic Paris-based circus operating a fixed venue (Cirque d'Hiver) with year-round and seasonal productions. Most direct French competitor, sharing the Paris large-format circus market.
• Cirque Éloize: Montreal-based contemporary circus company producing original acrobatic shows for touring and resident venues. Comparable artistic direction and touring-production model.
• Cavalia: Producer of large-format live entertainment shows (Secret Garden, Odysseo) staged under proprietary big tops in major cities. Comparable in production-scale, B2B venue model, and premium live-show format.

Regional players

• Big Apple Circus: New York-based one-ring big top circus staging seasonal family productions. Comparable single big top model and seasonal show cycle, but operates in US market.
• Circus Roncalli: Germany-based touring circus known for artistic, animal-free productions. Comparable modern theatrical-circus positioning and big-top tour model in a neighboring European market.
• National Circus Knie: Switzerland's national circus, traditionally presenting animal acts with annual touring. Regional European competitor with established brand and comparable large-touring big-top model.

Others

• Shanghai Circus World: Permanent resident venue in China where Cirque Phénix staged Era II under a 3-year renewable residency. Functions as both customer/partner and a fellow operator in the acrobatic-show space, enabling the international export model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cirquephenix
• Facebookfacebook.com/cirquephenix
• Instagraminstagram.com/cirquephenix
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cirquephenix

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Cirque Phénix