Inclusive circus setting new standards for accessible on-stage entertainment

Omnium Circus tours inclusive shows where people with and without disabilities perform and lead. Over 40% of the team have disabilities. “I’m Possible” includes ASL, captioning, audio description and sensory-friendly adjustments. Reach: 140,000+ people.

Based in New York, Omnium Circus is a women- and disability-led social enterprise producing accessible, inclusive circus shows. It seeks both to entertain and to advocate for inclusion, with more than half of its team and leadership and 25 percent of performers being persons with disabilities. Shows such as I’m Possible feature ASL/English ringmasters, audio description, captions, tactile shows, and sensory support. From 2020 to mid-2025, Omnium has served over 140,000 people in 17 US states and 5 countries through live shows, outreach, and digital media.

Problems Targeted

Circuses typically lack systemic accessibility and inclusion for both disabled artists and audiences, and cross-cultural collaboration is rare in the sector.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Omnium Circus is a touring circus in which people with and without disabilities work together on stage, backstage, and in organizational leadership. Over 40 percent of its total team are people with disabilities. In 2025, 4 out of 10 regular crew members and 2 out of 4 touring crew member had disabilities. Shows such as “I’m Possible: Where the Magic of Circus Meets the Power of Inclusion“ featured a variety of accessibility features: bi-langual (ASL and English) ringmasters, captioning, audio description, and sensory-friendly adjustments to benefit a diverse range of audience needs. Accessibility is also extended to online and live experiences through rigorous staff and performer training. Pathways to Possibilities is Omnium´s own professional development program, facilitating the staffing and talent for multiple opportunities industry wide. From 2020 to mid-2025, Omnium served over 140,000 people in 17 US states and 5 countries through live shows, outreach, and digital media. In 2024 alone, the circus reached a live audience of 25,500 people across 9 states and 10 venues, with an additional digital reach of 1.1 million on Facebook and 2.6 million on Instagram.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Omnium Circus’ annual budget averages $850,000, 75 percent of which comes from ticket sales, merchandise, and event fees, and 25 percent from grants, government support, and foundations. Physical venues range from a circus ring in a 1,500-seat tent to proscenium theatres of 275 to 2,100 seats. Having scaled up across the US in venues ranging from circus tents to theatres, Omnium is now pursuing international expansion. With partners in Ethiopia, Portugal, and Canada, Omnium is piloting replicable models. (#ZeroCall26)

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