From 22 to 24 May, Milan’s Biblioteca degli Alberi will be transformed into a vast open-air stage of pure wonder to mark the 5th anniversary of BAM Circus – The Festival of Wonders in the Park: a special edition that the Riccardo Catella Foundation is celebrating by offering the city a unique three-day event of live shows and multidisciplinary performances spread across public spaces, where contemporary circus, physical and puppet theatre, dance, breathtaking acrobatics and, for the first time, thrilling fire installations intertwine.

For its fifth anniversary, 28 of the most renowned international companies from 7 countries – France, Italy, Germany, Lithuania, the United Kingdom, Argentina and Mexico – will take to the lawns of the botanical garden in Portanuova, with over 70 free events open to all. On stage, 114 artists will bring to life evocative site-specific performances, including 4 national premieres and 5 Milanese premieres, inspired by a dialogue with nature and the enhancement of urban space – a defining feature of the Festival conceived and directed by Francesca Colombo, General Cultural Director of BAM, Fondazione Riccardo Catella.

Among the new additions are BAMoff at the Volvo Studio Milano, featuring the exhibition “Moira Orfei: Icon, Revolution, Spectacle”; workshops for professionals and enthusiasts led by artists from major international companies, alongside children’s workshops; and the “Circolo del Circo”, an open-air lounge with themed books, talks on the history of the circus, and meet-and-greets with the artists. There is also space for new talent with the BAM Community Talent, a contest dedicated to the city’s creative minds: the five selected winners will stage a brand-new show at BAM, born from a shared creative journey, following a tour of the city’s parks.

Highlights of the three-day programme include:

• Friday 22 May: the spectacular acrobatic show ‘Möbius’ by Collectif XY, fresh from its success at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, followed by the immersive night-time experience ‘D’Arbre en Arbre’ by Cie Carabosse, a journey through nature and fire, making its Italian debut.
• Saturday 23 May: the performance ‘Wild’ by Motionhouse, the spectacular show ‘Il Sogno di Ymir’ by Elementz Art (in its Italian premiere) and the musical circus solo ‘Play(ces)’ by Markas Liberman, the result of BAM Circus’s first artistic residency.
• Sunday 24 May: the juggling and dance theatre show “Smashed” by Gandini Juggling and the grand finale with a travelling musical parade featuring Bubble on Circus, Stelzen Art, Gandini Juggling, Elementz Art and the Wind & Brass Brothers marching band.