In Vaulx-en-Velin, in the Carré de Soie district on the outskirts of Lyon, Cirque Imagine operates year-round beneath four permanent circus tents. The idea is clear: dinner and entertainment are designed as a whole, with live music on arrival and a production combining circus arts, cabaret, dance, singing and comedy between the different courses.
The concept genuinely combines dinner, performance and circus. The acts aren't a peripheral distraction: they set the rhythm of the evening.
Acte IX: the 2026–2027 season
The new production, Acte IX, runs from September 2026 to June 2027, with a renewed international cast. Cirque Imagine announces around twenty acts performed by approximately 18 international artists, with the company and show changing each season.
The style is deliberately modern: aerial performances, acrobatics, dance routines, singing and comedy. The circus uses no animals.
Dinner is served in several stages so food and performances don't compete for attention. This is an important distinction: you don't watch a full show after eating, but alternate between culinary and artistic moments throughout the evening.
How much do 2026–2027 packages cost?
For the Acte IX season, menus are created with Maison Pignol, a Lyon catering company working with Cirque Imagine. Prices published in summer 2026 provide the following guide:
- Imagine lunch show: €74.
- Acrobate dinner show: €84.
- Voltige dinner show: €104.
- Petit Clown children's menu: €56, for ages 5–12.
Adult menus include an aperitif and several courses; extra drinks are ordered separately. Alternatives for allergies or intolerances may be available if you notify the venue early enough.
These prices relate to September 2026 – June 2027 and may differ for Christmas, New Year's Eve or special events.
What happens during an evening?
For the dinner show, guests are expected at around 7 pm. Aperitifs and live music begin at about 7:20 pm, followed by dinner and the show around 8 pm. After the final act, the bar and lounge atmosphere continue, with an opportunity to meet the artists; the whole evening is scheduled to finish at around 1 am.
The lunch show follows the same concept by day, with arrival around 11:30 am and a late-afternoon finish.
This is a substantial experience: allow a full half-day or evening, rather than just a couple of hours in a restaurant.
Easy to miss: no same-day booking
For lunch and dinner shows, Cirque Imagine requires booking and payment at least seven days before the performance. Unlike the family shows, you cannot count on last-minute admission at the ticket desk.
Another special rule: it is not possible to reserve just the performance for the cabaret-circus package. Dinner is an integral part of the experience.
The maître d'hôtel allocates seating the day before based on reservations: you cannot choose your exact table in advance. Each table can seat up to ten people; larger parties are spread over nearby tables.
Visiting with children?
Children are allowed, and a dedicated menu is offered for ages 5–12. However, Cirque Imagine advises that for children under five, the two-hour family circus shows during school holidays are generally more suitable than a long dinner show.
Pushchairs are not permitted inside the Chapiteau Baroque and must be left at reception. Animals are not admitted.
Accessibility and comfort
The site has wheelchair access, adapted toilets and reserved parking spaces. Contact the team before visiting if you need suitable seating inside the big top.
The tents are heated, particularly welcome during a season largely taking place in autumn and winter. Smart clothing is required and dressing elegantly is recommended; there is a free cloakroom.
The extra touch: the experience begins before the first act
Cirque Imagine is not simply a theatre behind a restaurant. You first enter a reception tent, then the Chapiteau Baroque, with an aperitif and live musicians, before food and circus performances start to intertwine.
This gradual progression is what makes the evening work: you enter the circus world step by step rather than sitting straight down in front of a stage.
Why this is a distinctive outing near Lyon
Cirque Imagine offers a specific, active concept in 2026, rich enough to be a destination in itself. For anyone looking for a dinner show near Lyon, the evening brings together food, regularly renewed artists, permanent big tops and several hours of immersion in one venue.
