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Insurance broker / Business types / Sport, culture and leisure

Insurance for circus companies, acrobats and circus schools in Germany

A circus is a theatre, a haulage firm and often an animal keeper at the same time. The big top moves to a new site every week, tractors and caravans travel country roads, acrobats work at height, and families with children sit around the ring. Whether you run a travelling circus company, a variety show, a circus school or work as a freelance acrobat in Germany, this page explains which insurance is compulsory, which makes sense and what it costs.

Insurance for circus and acrobatics

The question almost everyone asks first

Is the circus liable if an animal injures a visitor?

As a rule, yes. Under section 833 of the German Civil Code the keeper is liable for damage caused by his animals. Only for domestic animals used for work or earning a living does liability fall away if the keeper proves he took the necessary care. Animal keeper's liability must therefore be included explicitly, for every species, in your liability policy.

What goes wrong in this trade

  1. 01

    Storm over the big top

    A thunderstorm tears the canvas or bends the king poles.

  2. 02

    Accident in the ring

    An acrobat falls from the trapeze, a spectator is hit by a prop.

  3. 03

    Animals

    A horse breaks out of its paddock, a dog bites a child at the animal tent.

  4. 04

    On the road

    Long convoys of tractors, caravans and trailers cause accidents when moving site.

  5. 05

    Seating and set up

    A row of seats gives way or a spectator falls on the stand steps.

  6. 06

    Cancellation

    The municipality withdraws the site at short notice or a storm forces cancellation; the costs continue.

Risk radar
Liability 5Fire and water 5Theft 3Cyber 1Downtime 4Health 5

Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.

The insurance you need

Essential

Business liability

For spectators, site owners and third parties, including animal keeper's liability for all animals, tent erection and seating.

Car insurance

Motor liability insurance is compulsory for every registered vehicle.

Strongly advised

Fleet insurance

Bundles tractors, trucks, caravans and wagons in one contract, useful from three vehicles.

Business contents

For big top, seating, props and costumes against fire, storm and theft; tents often need a separate agreement.

Depends on the business

What it costs: example prices

Premiums depend on tent size, audience numbers, number of sites, animals, vehicles and the acts shown. Circuses are almost always priced individually.

InsuranceExampleTypical range
Business liabilitySmall family circus with 300 seats, domestic animals only, €5 million coverabout €600 to €1,500 a year
Business liabilityTravelling circus with 800 seats and horse actsabout €1,800 to €4,500 a year
Car insuranceTractor unit in showman use, liability onlyabout €400 to €900 a year
Business contentsBig top, seating and equipment worth €250,000, including stormabout €2,500 to €6,000 a year
Group accident insurance15 acrobats and staff, €100,000 base sumabout €1,500 to €4,000 a year

For comparison: Liability cover for a small family circus costs about as much a year as one well attended afternoon show.

All figures are guide values from our quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax,

as of October 2026.

We found no published tariffs for circuses; the sources document the legal position.

We obtain the exact quote for you.

Sources of the price examples

Our suggestions: three packages

01

Acrobat

For: freelance acrobats and circus schools without their own tent

  • Business liability
  • Group accident insurance
  • Occupational disability

Together about €500 to €1,500 a year excluding income protection

Request this package

02

Family circus

For: small travelling circus with tent and domestic animals

  • Business liability
  • Car insurance
  • Business contents
  • Group accident insurance

Together about €5,000 to €12,000 a year

Request this package

03

Big top

For: circus with a large tent, many vehicles and animal acts

  • Business liability
  • Fleet insurance
  • Business contents
  • Group accident insurance
  • Electronic equipment
  • Business interruption

Together individual, usually from about €15,000 a year

Request this package

The worst day at the circus

Six things that really happen to circus companies, all on a moving day with a premiere. Tap through and see who pays.

Damage so far€68,500
  1. Moving site, a caravan clips a parked car in a narrow village street.

    €4,500 · Paid by: Car insurance

  2. A pony breaks loose and kicks a child who came to stroke the animals.

    €6,000 · Paid by: Business liability

  3. A gust tears a canvas panel and bends two poles.

    €18,000 · Paid by: Business contents

  4. The afternoon show has to be cancelled because of the storm.

    €7,000 · Paid by: Business interruption

  5. An aerialist falls from the silks during rehearsal and breaks her pelvis.

    €25,000 · Paid by: Group accident insurance

  6. A spectator slips on the wet stand steps and breaks a foot.

    €8,000 · Paid by: Business liability

Which package would you have had?

Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €68,500

Illustrative amounts before any excess.

What is paid depends on the policy terms.

Practical tips from your broker

  1. Have animal keeper's liability confirmed for every species, including animals of guest performers.
  2. Clarify whether damage caused by flying tent parts is covered by liability or by property insurance.
  3. Keep your section 11 permit and the documents for each site at hand; municipalities ask for them.
  4. Combine tractors and caravans into a fleet policy from three vehicles.
  5. Cover acrobats through group accident insurance with an adequate disability sum.
  6. Write down your storm plan and guying; insurers ask for it.

Why NAMMERT for your business

We know travelling businesses

Circuses, like boat owners, are always on the move. As an insurance broker we compare several insurers and make sure your cover applies everywhere.

Animals, tent and vehicles together

Liability, motor, tent and accident cover are reviewed together so no gap remains between policies.

Family and business

Norman Nammert, your insurance broker, looks after the business and the family's own cover together.

Family business, placing cover since 1989

Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission. We advise in English or German.

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Which insurance is compulsory for a circus in Germany?

Motor liability insurance for all vehicles.

Business liability is not required by law, but municipalities and site owners regularly ask for it.

Do I need a permit for circus animals?

Yes.

Anyone who commercially exhibits animals needs a permit from the competent authority under section

11 of the Animal Welfare Act.

Is the circus liable for its animals even without fault?

In principle yes, under section 833 of the German Civil Code.

Only for domestic animals used for earning a living can the keeper escape liability by proving

proper supervision.

What does liability insurance for a small circus cost?

For a family circus with 300 seats and domestic animals, about €600 to €1,500 a year,

a guide figure from our quoting work.

Is the big top insured against storm?

Only if storm is explicitly agreed for the tent.

Many property policies otherwise exclude tents and temporary structures.

Does a circus have to pay the artists' social levy?

Yes, variety and circus businesses are among the businesses liable under section 24 of the

Artists' Social Insurance Act.

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request quotes for Circus

The recommended covers are ticked.

Change what does not fit; we compare quotes, in English.

1Who is it for?
2Which insurance?

Choose as many as you like. For each one, the details an insurer needs for a quote appear below.

Personal

Business

3Details

Car insurance in Germany (liability, partial and fully comprehensive)

Most precise with the HSN and TSN codes from the registration document

Business liability insurance in Germany (Betriebshaftpflicht)

For example electrical installation in homes, café with outdoor seating, online shop for furniture

For example work at clients' sites, own products, exports to the US, parent company abroad

Business contents insurance in Germany (Inhaltsversicherung)

For example café with bakery, accounting firm, car repair shop

At purchase price, 0 if no stock

For example flood cover, customer property, tools in vehicles, loss of income

Fleet insurance in Germany (Kfz-Flottenversicherung)

For example leasing, insurer's claims report, foreign trips, renewal date

Group accident insurance for employees in Germany

For example office, field sales, installation, warehouse, drivers

4Your current policy
5How can we reach you?

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Boat or yacht? NAMMERT has its own cover concepts for boats, arranged by the same broker.

Boat insurance

Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT.

Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act.

Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company.

It does not arrange your contract.

Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated