Kyiv’s National Circus Gives Halloween a Ukrainian Twist
An unexpected love story, a traditional Ukrainian pumpkin custom and an animal-free contemporary circus production come together in Kyiv from 24 October to 1 November.
In Ukrainian folklore, receiving a pumpkin could mean romantic rejection. At Halloween, of course, it means something rather different. The National Circus of Ukraine brings these two worlds together in Halloween at the Circus, a family production opening in Kyiv on 24 October 2026. Acrobatics, music, choreography and fantastical characters shape a story in which an everyday autumn vegetable becomes the key to a surprising change of heart.
One pumpkin, two cultural meanings
The central character is a self-assured young man who believes money can solve any problem. Then he finds himself at a mysterious witches’ gathering, where his usual assumptions count for little. Unexpected romance, elaborate tests and encounters with otherworldly figures force him to reconsider how he sees himself and the people around him.
For an international audience, the pumpkin is the production’s most revealing detail. In a traditional Ukrainian courtship custom, giving a pumpkin to an unwanted suitor signalled refusal — an expression still recognised in Ukrainian culture as “to give someone a pumpkin”. The jack-o’-lantern, meanwhile, has become one of Halloween’s defining images. Their encounter provides the material for comedy, romance and theatrical transformation.
“From the beginning, we created this production for the whole family. We wanted children to discover a vivid fairy-tale world full of adventures, surprises and magical transformations, while adults could also recognise themes close to their own lives: love, human relationships, overconfidence, choice and the ability to change.”Veronika Humarova, Chief Director of the National Circus of Ukraine and Honoured Artist of Ukraine
When circus becomes theatre
Rather than presenting a succession of self-contained acts, the production is conceived as a single theatrical narrative. Physical daring, movement, choreography and music all serve the characters and their story. In this sense, it belongs to the conversation around contemporary circus as a performing art in which spectacle and storytelling work together.
The programme includes the Lapendula rotating-wheel act, Cyr wheel, aerial hoop, trapeze and chains, alongside contortion, hula hoops, foot juggling, group juggling, live singing, a fortune-telling scene and a “Houdini Box” illusion. Performances by the National Circus of Ukraine’s ballet company are woven into the action, connecting the different disciplines within one imagined world.
The show features no performing animals. Its visual language is built around the skill and creativity of the artists, the expressive power of movement and the relationship between performers and audiences.
A stage for the next generation
Established performers share the production with young artists, including participants in the Golden Gate Cup circus arts festival and competition, as well as students from circus studios in Kyiv and Poltava. It is an opportunity for emerging talent to work in a professional production on the country’s leading circus stage — and for audiences to discover performers who may shape the future of Ukrainian circus.
Their presence also highlights the connection between circus education, festivals and professional performance. At a time when cultural continuity cannot be taken for granted, providing space for younger artists is part of the story behind the show as well as the story on stage.
“The image of the pumpkin became a particularly interesting dramatic device for us. In our tradition, a young woman could ‘give a pumpkin’ to an unwanted suitor, while in Halloween symbolism it has an entirely different meaning. Bringing these ideas together gave us room for humour, romance, unexpected turns in the story and fantastical transformations.” Veronika Humarova, Chief Director of the National Circus of Ukraine
Keeping culture alive during wartime
The production arrives as Ukrainian cultural institutions continue their work amid Russia’s full-scale war. At the National Circus of Ukraine, performances continue despite disruptions to electricity, with a generator available during power cuts and shelter procedures in place for air-raid alerts. Beyond the technical challenge, creating a family show now has a human purpose: giving children and parents an opportunity to share moments of wonder. Director General Vladyslav Korniienko, a Doctor of Cultural Studies and member of the National Academy of Arts of Ukraine, sees this as a responsibility of cultural institutions.
“We want children to come to the circus not only to see wonders, but also to feel happy — and for parents to share those emotions with them. Even in the hardest times, we want art to remain a space for joy, support and faith in beauty.”
Vladyslav Korniienko, Director General of the National Circus of Ukraine
The audience joins the celebration
The experience begins before the performance. Ahead of every show, children and adults can enter a Halloween costume competition, with the winner receiving two tickets to another National Circus production, Circus of a New Generation. Witches, fantasy characters and entirely original creations are all welcome.
The result is both a seasonal family outing and a small cultural encounter. A familiar Halloween symbol acquires a distinctly Ukrainian history, while a new generation of circus performers brings that history to life through an international language of movement, music and imagination.
Opening performance: 24 October 2026
Running dates: 24 October–1 November 2026
Performance days: 24, 25, 29, 30 and 31 October; 1 November
Start times: 12:00 and 16:00 (Kyiv local time)
Venue: National Circus of Ukraine, 2 Halytska Square, Kyiv, Ukraine
Tickets: from UAH 150
Programme and booking: https://www.circus.kyiv.ua/web/afisha/
Animal welfare note: this production does not use animals
Photography: Olena Kyrychenko-Povolotska. Based on National Circus of Ukraine press materials dated 20 October 2026.