Bathed in red light, the spectators within the Spiegeltent at the Garden of Unearthly Delights eagerly anticipated the headline act for 2026, La Ronde.

With an international cast spanning Australia, Europe and Russia, it captures the danger and glamour of contemporary circus and has earned its reputation after a wildly acclaimed season in 2025.

Created by the team behind Blanc de Blanc and LIMBO, La Ronde is a lavish, 360-degree variety spectacle performed entirely in the round. The circular stage places every audience member mere centimetres from the action, and enhances the thrills that are plentiful. You can see every muscle twitch from the acrobats, and the death denfying stunts are astonishing.

The 2026 cast features seven world‑class performers, including four new artists who bring a fresh charge of energy. Among the standouts is Gigi, the Barcelona‑born singer whose magnetic presence threads the show together. Her rousing rendition of Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out” ignites the tent, and her finale (perched atop a giant spinning mirrorball) is nothing short of spectacular.

Australian hand‑balancing powerhouse Danik Abishev delivers one of the night’s most jaw‑dropping sequences, combining brute strength and theatrical flair as he ascends and balances atop a flaming ladder. Jenny Zavadskaia, an aerial rope artist formerly of Cirque du Soleil, brings fierce elegance to her performance set to a cover of “It’s A Man’s World,” her rope work slicing through the air with precision and power.

Diana Bondarenko’s pyramid trapeze act is a study in strength and poise, elevated further by a Rammstein‑esque reimagining of KISS’s “I Was Made for Loving You.” The industrial edge of the music underscores her daring transitions with lighting effects to match. From the UK, LJ Marles demonstrates extraordinary control and fluidity, spinning and suspending himself to Donna Summer with a mix of grace and pure athleticism.

And then there is David Eriksson, the Olivier Award‑winning Swedish punk clown whose mastery of physical comedy and ping‑pong‑ball mayhem left the audience in stitches. His surprisingly chaotic brilliance provides the perfect balance to the show’s high‑octane artistry.

La Ronde is awe-inspiring, dangerous and irresistibly playful. A world‑class spectacle that is perfect for those wanting a variety of talent. You don’t want to miss it.

La Ronde is playing at The Spiegeltent at The Garden of Unearthly Delights until Sunday, March 22. Get your tickets here.

***** Five stars