Roncalli Event GmbH

What Roncalli Event GmbH does

Roncalli Event GmbH is a Cologne-based, founder-led German full-service event agency that has operated since 1976 under the creative direction of founder Bernhard Paul. The company designs and produces live circus and variety entertainment — including the annual Tournee touring show (2026 dates in Ludwigsburg, Vienna, Innsbruck, and Linz), the Weihnachtscircus Berlin, the Circus meets Schlager format, and the Apollo Varieté sub-brand — alongside a portfolio of corporate event services (galas, roadshows, product presentations, team events), catering concepts, traditional market/fair production, exhibition design, and recurring entertainment programming for premium cruise lines (Sea Cloud, TUI Cruises/Mein Schiff, Hapag-Lloyd/MS Europa 2). The company operates a TIERFREI (no-animal) circus format and supplements live performance revenue with hospitality (Café des Artistes, Roncalli Grand Café Hamburg), an online merchandise shop, gift vouchers, and proprietary ticketing through tickets.roncalli.de alongside Eventim distribution.

The business model combines B2C ticket revenue (one-time purchases for touring and seasonal shows), B2B professional services revenue (corporate event contracts and cruise ship entertainment retainers), and ancillary retail/hospitality income. The company is a privately held GmbH with no external institutional investment, supported in part by German federal cultural funding channels (Neustart Kultur, Bundesregierung, BundesArbeitsgemeinschaft). The core technology footprint is traditional — theatrical show design and stage production — with selective investment in visual-effects formats such as holographic shows for cruise deployments. The company employs 16 direct staff, relying on a broad freelance artist network for performance delivery, and reaches consumers and corporate clients across Germany, Austria, and select international markets.

Name

Roncalli Event GmbH

Legal name

Roncalli Event GmbH

Website

https://roncalli-event.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Roncalli Event GmbH is a Cologne-based, founder-led full-service event agency founded in 1976, producing touring circus shows, Christmas circuses, corporate events, and recurring entertainment for premium cruise lines across Germany, Austria, and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Entertainment & Circus Productions

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (7113)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Circus & Physical Theatre (MPAGABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Parades, Carnivals & Street Fairs (MPAGAEAE)

Keywords

• Circus productions
• Live entertainment shows
• Corporate event services
• Circus tournee productions
• Variety show performances

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln (Cologne)

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Live Event Tickets: Revenue from ticket sales for touring circus shows, arena performances, Christmas circus events, and variety shows across multiple venues in Germany and Austria.
2. Corporate Event Services: B2B revenue from designing and executing corporate events, galas, roadshows, product presentations, and team events for business clients.
3. Catering Services: Catering concepts and concepts for events, including gala dinners and luxury event catering.
4. Merchandise and Souvenirs: Revenue from souvenir shop sales including branded merchandise, gifts, and vouchers.
5. Cruise Ship Entertainment: Entertainment services for luxury cruise lines includingSea Cloud, Mein Schiff, and MS Europa 2.
6. Exhibition and Market Events: Design and execution of exhibitions and traditional markets/fairs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Roncalli Event GmbH, founded in 1976 and based in Köln, Germany, produces and operates original circus shows, touring productions, and themed variety performances (including Christmas circus and circus-meets-schlager formats), alongside corporate event production, cruise ship entertainment, exhibitions, and venue-based hospitality (café and souvenir shop) at the company's own theaters and tents.

Product overview

Roncalli Event GmbH operates as a full-service event agency with a portfolio centered on circus and variety entertainment. The core offering consists of live circus shows including the annual touring circus (Tournee 2026 visiting Ludwigsburg, Wien, Innsbruck, and Linz), the Weihnachtscircus Berlin seasonal show, and the specialized Circus meets Schlager format. The company also operates Roncalli's Apollo Varieté as a dedicated variety theater sub-brand. Beyond live performances, Roncalli Event provides comprehensive event agency services encompassing firm events, arena shows, catering concepts, markets, exhibitions, special events, and cruise ship entertainment. The company supports its shows with retail operations including an online souvenir shop, gift vouchers, and hospitality services through Café des Artistes and Roncalli Grand Café. The product portfolio spans from traditional circus artistry to sophisticated corporate event production, united by Roncalli's 50-year heritage in immersive experiential entertainment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Roncalli's Apollo Varieté: Varieté entertainment venue operated by Roncalli
• Weihnachtscircus Berlin
• Circus meets Schlager
• Roncalli Grand Café
• Café des Artistes
• Tournee 2026

Products and services

• Tournee 2026 "Bolero" Original touring circus production under the Roncalli brand, presented in the company's signature big-top tents and venues across multiple cities.
• Weihnachtscircus Berlin Annual Christmas-themed circus production staged in Berlin as a seasonal family entertainment offering.
• Circus meets Schlager Themed show format combining circus artistry with German schlager (popular music) performance.
• Roncalli's Apollo Varieté Resident variety theater program operated by Roncalli in Düsseldorf, featuring rotating cabaret and variety productions.
• Firmen-Events (Corporate Events) Customized live circus and entertainment programming produced for corporate clients, including full event design and on-site execution.
• Catering-Konzepte Event catering offerings designed to accompany Roncalli circus and corporate event productions.
• Jahrmarkt Fairground-themed entertainment experience produced as part of the company's event portfolio.
• Special Events Bespoke private and public event productions beyond standard touring and corporate formats.
• Kreuzfahrtschiffe Entertainment (Cruise Ship Entertainment) Entertainment programming licensed and produced for cruise ship operators.
• Ausstellungen (Exhibitions) Produced exhibitions relating to the company's circus heritage and visual identity.
• Souvenirshop Retail offering of branded circus merchandise and memorabilia sold to show audiences.
• Gutscheine (Vouchers) Gift vouchers redeemable against Roncalli shows, hospitality, and merchandise.
• Café des Artistes / Roncalli Grand Café On-site café hospitality concept associated with Roncalli's venues and event programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 years of successful operations with millions of visitors

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EventimcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEventim is a major third-party ticketing platform that distributes tickets for Roncalli's shows, particularly the Christmas Circus Berlin. This partnership extends Roncalli's reach to a broader audience through Eventim's established ticketing network.
• Bundesregierung (Federal Government of Germany)minorOthersRoncalli receives government cultural funding as a sponsored partner of the Bundesregierung, supporting cultural events and entertainment programs.
• Neustart KulturminorOthersRoncalli is funded by the Neustart Kultur initiative, a German cultural recovery program supporting arts and entertainment during challenging times.
• BundesArbeitsgemeinschaftminorOthersRoncalli receives support from BundesArbeitsgemeinschaft as part of cultural sponsorship programs.
• Sea CloudcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoncalli provides ongoing entertainment for Sea Cloud luxury sailing cruises, including aerial artistry and comedy performances that enhance the cruise experience.
• TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoncalli creates and delivers holographic show performances (including the Zippo holographic show) for Mein Schiff cruise ships, demonstrating innovative entertainment technology.
• Hapag-Lloyd (MS Europa 2)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoncalli provides sophisticated cruise ship entertainment for MS Europa 2, including classic magic, aerial acrobatics, modern circus acts, and kontortion performances.
• Swarovski KristallweltencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoncalli has created special circus performances for Swarovski's Crystal Worlds attraction in Wattens, Austria, including SIR Circus events featuring world-class artists.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• DeLaMar Theater: Amsterdam-based variety and entertainment venue producing shows combining circus, cabaret, and live performance. Comparable to Roncalli's Apollo Varieté in format and target audience, though operating primarily in the Netherlands rather than DACH markets.
• CIRCUS (Roncalli's competitor in DACH): Dutch touring circus with international touring shows featuring traditional circus acts and physical performance. Comparable to Roncalli as a European touring circus competitor, though primarily operating in Dutch and Benelux markets rather than DACH.

Others

• Eventim: Europe's largest ticketing platform and live entertainment group, distributor of Roncalli's Christmas Circus Berlin tickets. Adjacent as a channel partner and ecosystem enabler — both operate in the same live entertainment value chain, though Eventim is infrastructure rather than a direct content competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Stage Entertainment: Largest musical theater producer in Germany, operating multiple major venues (e.g., Stage Theater an der Elbe, Operettenhaus). Comparable as a German live entertainment venue operator, though its focus on licensed musicals rather than circus/variety places it as a broader incumbent in the same consumer live-entertainment category.

Direct peers

• Cirque du Soleil: Canadian-headquartered circus and live entertainment producer with a global touring model. Directly comparable to Roncalli as both are premium touring circus/entertainment producers delivering physical-performance shows to consumer audiences and B2B clients, with comparable artist-driven content.
• Wintergarten Varieté Berlin: Historic Berlin variety theater offering circus, acrobatics, and live entertainment with cabaret-style programming. Comparable to Roncalli as a Berlin-anchored variety entertainment venue targeting similar consumer demographics and corporate event use cases.
• Holiday on Ice: Internationally touring ice-based entertainment show with strong presence in Germany and Austria. Comparable to Roncalli as a long-running, DACH-touring live entertainment production with a similar annual tour model and consumer B2C ticketing model.
• Circus Krone: Germany's largest traditional circus, also based in Munich, with touring shows and Christmas circus programming. Direct peer to Roncalli as a competing German circus brand with overlapping touring geography, holiday show formats, and similar consumer B2C positioning.
• GOP Varieté-Theater: German variety theater chain operating multiple venues with cabaret, acrobatics, and circus-style variety programming. Comparable to Roncalli's Apollo Varieté sub-brand in format, audience, and venue-based variety entertainment model.
• Friedrichsbau Varieté: Stuttgart-based variety theater combining circus arts, cabaret, and live entertainment for consumer and corporate audiences. Comparable as a German venue-based variety entertainment operator competing for similar B2C ticket-buyers and B2B corporate event clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/siM9r0zd-P8?si=NVg5jp4cZuKmRj4L
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roncalli-event-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Roncalli Event GmbH