“Memento Mori” combines a horror maze, scare actors and a large live show with circus artistry, stunts, fire and dark humor. The maze sets the mood before the main event – the heart of the evening is the full-length horror circus production. In 2026, Zirkus des Horrors is appearing in Oberhausen, among other stops.
Zirkus des Horrors 2026 at a glance
- Show: Memento Mori – Deine letzte Stunde (“Your Last Hour”)
- Location: Oberhausen, at Westfield Centro / Centroallee
- Dates: October 2 to November 1, 2026
- Duration: approx. 2.5 hours including a break of around 20 minutes
- Entry: foyer 60 minutes, main tent 30 minutes before showtime
- Age: recommended for ages 14+
- Scare actors: yes, already in the horror maze at the entrance
- Tickets: regular dates currently from €31.80, Special Days at Reservix from €19.70
- Halloween: October 31, 2026, show including an after-show party
Jump to: Program · Scare actors & maze · Scare factor · Reviews · Prices & tickets · Oberhausen · Halloween · FAQ
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What happens in “Memento Mori – Deine letzte Stunde”?
“Memento Mori” is set in the realm of death. A framing story connects the individual acts, so the circus elements are not presented as an unrelated sequence of performances. The organizer describes the production as a combination of circus artistry, stunts, comedy and a horror story.
Documented 2026 acts include hand balancing and contortion, Flying Pole, Wheel of Death, flying trapeze, roller-skating acrobatics, fire comedy and motorcycle stunts. A detailed tour report by Chapiteau also mentions Flying Henriquez on the flying trapeze, the Skating Rebels and the Master of Hellfire with fire performance and audience interaction.
Zirkus des Horrors is therefore neither just a traditional circus nor simply a themed stage show. Maze, scare actors, a dark storyline and modern circus disciplines all work together. A similar “whole evening” approach can be found at major Halloween events such as the Filmpark Babelsberg Horror Nights, where mazes and scare zones are part of a larger event experience.
According to the organizer, the show lasts around 2.5 hours including a break of roughly 20 minutes. Animals are explicitly not part of the program.
Video: Official “Memento Mori” trailer
Does Zirkus des Horrors have scare actors?
Yes – and that is one of the things that separates Zirkus des Horrors from many pure stage productions. Visitors can encounter scare actors before the actual show begins. The route into the venue leads through a horror maze or similarly themed entrance area.
According to the official FAQ, the circus also works with volunteer scare actors aged 18+ at its tour locations to put visitors in the right horror mood inside the maze. At a documented Mannheim performance in 2026, two scare actors were working in the labyrinth and were later also seen inside the main tent.
The maze is deliberately designed as a pre-show experience: it moves visitors out of everyday life and into the atmosphere of “Memento Mori” before the main horror show begins. According to the organizer, visitors who do not want to enter the maze can bypass it.
How scary is Zirkus des Horrors?
It helps to set realistic expectations for the scare factor: “Memento Mori” is not a two-and-a-half-hour haunted house. The horror comes from the maze, scare actors, characters, story, lighting, music and some intense scenes – combined with circus artistry and stunts.
For experienced visitors to large Halloween events, the pure jump-scare factor may therefore feel moderate. At the same time, “Memento Mori” deals with significantly darker material than light Halloween entertainment. The organizer explicitly warns about themes and depictions including murder and death, suicide or suicidal thoughts, domestic violence, psychological distress, dark humor and insults.
The circus recommends the show for ages 14 and up. According to the FAQ there is no strict minimum age; for younger visitors, accompanying adults are expected to decide whether the content is appropriate.
Zirkus des Horrors reviews & visitor experiences
4.0 out of 5 stars from 70 Eventim fan reports – as of September 2026.
The fan reports are positive overall, but they also show that expectations matter. Some visitors praise the unusual evening and the combination of live entertainment and horror. More critical reviews would prefer more pure horror elements or more unusual circus acts.
For example, an Eventim review from Böblingen in May 2026 criticized the acrobatics as too conventional and questioned the value for money. Other reviews describe an entertaining and successful evening. Chapiteau’s detailed tour report, meanwhile, highlights the elaborate production, lighting design, performers and several of the acrobatic and comedy acts.
If you mainly want a traditional haunted attraction packed with jump scares, your expectations may differ from someone looking for a complete horror live show with a maze, performers, circus artistry and stunts. That combination is the real distinguishing feature.
Video: Visitor impression from the 2026 tour
The following video is not from the organizer. It shows a visitor impression from Saarbrücken in 2026:
Zirkus des Horrors prices & tickets 2026
Ticket prices depend on the date, seating category and sales channel. At Reservix, regular Oberhausen dates currently start at €31.80. The Thursday Special Days are currently listed from €19.70.
The organizer itself lists a base Special Day price of €17 for categories 2 to 4 and €22 for category 1; advance-booking fees are added. If price is your priority, the Thursday dates are therefore especially worth comparing.
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Zirkus des Horrors Oberhausen 2026: entry, parking & getting there
“Memento Mori” runs at Westfield Centro in Oberhausen from October 2 to November 1, 2026. Regular performances start at 7:30 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday and at 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.
The foyer opens 60 minutes before the show, while entry to the main tent begins 30 minutes before showtime. The circus box office in Oberhausen is open from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets can therefore generally also be purchased at the box office, provided the performance has not sold out.
According to the organizer, only a limited number of free and paid parking spaces are available at the venue. For public transport, the recommended stops are “Neue Mitte” and “Umsicht”. Bus and train can be the more convenient option, especially on busy weekends and around Halloween.
Halloween at Zirkus des Horrors 2026
The October 31, 2026 date in Oberhausen is a special one: Reservix explicitly lists it as a Halloween show including an after-show party. The performance starts at 7:30 p.m.
If you are looking for a Halloween event in Oberhausen in 2026 and want more than just a party, this date combines the maze, scare actors, the “Memento Mori” show and the after-show party in one evening.
* Affiliate link: If you book through this link, we may receive a commission. The price stays the same for you.
Looking for a more traditional stage or show experience on Halloween? Our Halloween Burlesque 2026 guide features more dark and theatrical shows in Berlin and across Germany.
Is Zirkus des Horrors worth it?
“Memento Mori” is particularly suited to visitors who enjoy horror, live entertainment and circus artistry at the same time. Its strength is that it aims to create an entire evening in a dark theatrical world rather than relying on isolated scare moments.
Scare actors and a maze in the entrance area, macabre characters, a connected storyline, the Wheel of Death and flying trapeze, fire performance and motorcycle stunts meet dark humor and deliberately uncomfortable themes. If you only want a haunted attraction with maximum jump scares, adjust your expectations accordingly; if you want an unusual horror evening mixing several performance formats, this is a rare combination.
For BESO, Zirkus des Horrors sits somewhere between a horror show, circus, maze and immersive Halloween experience. That mix is what makes “Memento Mori” interesting.
Still not the right horror experience? Use the Nightmare Navigator to browse haunted attractions, Halloween events and horror experiences on the map. If you are in North Rhine-Westphalia and would rather step directly into a live-actor horror experience than watch a stage show, also take a look at Poltergeist – Live-Actor Horror Escape Room in Düsseldorf.
Frequently asked questions about Zirkus des Horrors 2026
How long does Zirkus des Horrors last?
About 2.5 hours including a break of around 20 minutes.
What age is Zirkus des Horrors suitable for?
The organizer recommends “Memento Mori” for ages 14 and up. The show includes loud music, intense themes, language not intended for children and disturbing scenes.
Does Zirkus des Horrors have scare actors?
Yes. Scare actors already perform in the horror maze before the main show, so the experience begins before visitors enter the main tent.
Is Zirkus des Horrors a haunted house?
Not in the classic sense. There is a horror maze and there are scare actors, but the centerpiece is a full-length live show with a horror storyline, circus artistry and stunts.
Can you skip the horror maze?
Yes. According to the organizer, the entrance maze can be bypassed.
How much are Zirkus des Horrors tickets in 2026?
At Reservix, regular Oberhausen dates currently start at €31.80 and the Thursday Special Days at €19.70. Prices and availability can change.
What is the Special Day at Zirkus des Horrors?
Reduced prices are available on Thursdays. The organizer lists a €17 base price for categories 2 to 4 and €22 for category 1; advance-booking fees are added.
When does entry begin?
The foyer opens 60 minutes before the show and the main tent 30 minutes before showtime.
Is there a box office?
Yes. In Oberhausen, the circus box office opens before performances on show days. Advance booking is still the safer option for popular dates.
Where can you park for Zirkus des Horrors in Oberhausen?
According to the organizer, there is a limited number of free and paid parking spaces at the venue. The listed public transport stops are “Neue Mitte” and “Umsicht”.
What happens on Halloween 2026?
On October 31, 2026, Oberhausen hosts a special Halloween performance including an after-show party. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.
Are there animals in Zirkus des Horrors?
No. The program focuses on circus artistry, comedy, stunts and horror elements.
Sources & further information: Zirkus des Horrors – The Show · Official FAQ · Oberhausen 2026 · Eventim fan reports* · Chapiteau 2026 tour report
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