Cirque du Soleil erects final big top in L'Hospitalet

Final act in L'Hospitalet as Cirque du Soleil prepares farewell show

The Cirque du Soleil has raised its iconic big top in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat for the final time, marking the end of a decade-long presence in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The structure was erected on Friday morning on the Feixa Llarga street site, where 'Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities' will run from 3 September to 18 October. This performance marks the conclusion of an agreement initially signed in 2016, under which the company was to present five biennial shows in the city. However, due to financial difficulties exacerbated by the pandemic, only four productions – including previous hits 'Luzia', 'Tótem' and 'Alegría: In a new light' – were staged. Now, after ten years as the company’s stable European base, the site will be repurposed for public facilities and green spaces.

Massive logistical operation for a farewell run

The installation of the 52-metre-diameter tent, standing 19 metres high and supported by 120 metal columns, required approximately 50 workers pushing in unison. The site, a 19,000-square-metre plot adjacent to Bellvitge Hospital, will not continue to host the company due to municipal redevelopment priorities. Over 2,000 tonnes of equipment arrived in 85 trailers from Antwerp, with the full setup process taking around one week. The show features 50 artists from 20 nationalities and a technical crew of 120 professionals. Music is performed live by seven musicians, and sound engineers will deploy 74 speakers and manage 162 audio tracks for the production.

It's the most important moment because once it's up, every team can start their work.

Egoitz Gorbea, deputy sound chief for 'Kurios', described the tent raising as the most anticipated milestone in the technical operation.

Search underway for new Barcelona-area location

Although no new venue has been confirmed, the company is actively evaluating potential sites within the metropolitan area to remain close to Barcelona. The aim is to secure a long-term agreement elsewhere, continuing its regional presence beyond this farewell season. Residents and visitors can attend 'Kurios', a steampunk-inspired production set in a 19th-century laboratory, where an eccentric inventor creates a machine to bend time and access parallel dimensions. Acrobatics, aerial stunts and intricate juggling routines form the core of the performance. Tickets are available via the official Cirque du Soleil booking portal.

Reported by cope.es, Francesc Bombí-Vilaseca, HÉCTOR MARÍN L'Hospitalet, El Periódico, elDiario.es Catalunya, El Llobregat, lavanguardia.com, elnacional.cat, elperiodico.com, infobae.com, cirquedusoleil.com, L'Hdigital, taxi.amb.cat, elpuntavui.cat.