Under the big top

Ringling Bros. circus swings back into Dallas for summer 2026 shows

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey The Greatest Show On Earth

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's "The Greatest Show On Earth" returns to Dickies Arena on August 20-23.

Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, which returned with a reimagined circus in 2024, will come back to Dallas once again for new dates at American Airlines Center on August 27-30, 2026.

2026 dates for "The Greatest Show On Earth" will start on April 9 in Worcester, Massachusetts, with stops scheduled in every month for the rest of the year.

The month of August is reserved for Texas, as it will go to Houston (August 6-9), San Antonio (August 13-16), Fort Worth (August 20-23), and Dallas (August 27-30). There will be a final Texas stop in Edinburg on September 3-6 (sorry, Austin and El Paso!).

"The Greatest Show On Earth," which no longer features live animals, is a two-hour live talent show featuring some of the world’s best acts.

The action-packed modern circus is filled with stunts and immersive moments featuring events like the high-flying trapeze, gravity-defying acrobatics, and more. Set to a high-energy soundtrack, the show includes elements like the Double Wheel of Destiny, a high-speed bicycle troupe, acrobats from Mongolia, and a Latin dance group.

Moments of humor, surprise, and audience interaction are sprinkled throughout the show, while fan-favorite characters like Bailey the Robo Pup bring heart, personality, and fun for younger fans.

Before the show begins, families are invited to enjoy the interactive pre-show, where the Ringling Hype Crew brings the arena to life with music, movement, and crowd engagement.

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday, April 14 via Ticketmaster.com.

Fans can purchase early with unlock code W2LV26 on Thursday, April 9 at 10 am through Monday, April 13 at 11:59 pm. Fans can also sign up to become Ringling Insiders for exclusive early access to tickets, which can be purchased now at Ringling.com.

Finally, there is a special pre-sale savings for adults by using code PR26RB for up to 25 percent off tickets. That offer ends on April 13, and restrictions apply.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's "The Greatest Show On Earth" 2026 tour dates:

Apr 9 - 12, 2026: Worcester, MA - DCU Center
Apr 16 - 19, 2026: Bridgeport, CT - Total Mortgage Arena
Apr 23 - 26, 2026: Hartford, CT - PeoplesBank Arena
Apr 30 - May 3, 2026: Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center
May 7 - 10, 2026: Charleston, WV - Charleston Coliseum
May 15 - 17, 2026: Louisville, KY - KFC Yum! Center
May 21 - 24, 2026: Allentown, PA - PPL Center
May 29 - 31, 2026: Providence, RI - Amica Mutual Pavilion
Jun 4 - 7, 2026: Norfolk, VA - Scope Arena
Jul 2 - 5, 2026: Fresno, CA - Save Mart Center
Jul 10 - 19, 2026: Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
Jul 23 - 26, 2026: Phoenix, AZ - Mortgage Matchup Center
Aug 6 - 9, 2026: Houston, TX - NRG Stadium
Aug 13 - 16, 2026: San Antonio, TX - Alamodome
Aug 20 - 23, 2026: Fort Worth, TX - Dickies Arena
Aug 27 - 30, 2026: Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
Sep 3 - 6, 2026: Edinburg, TX - Bert Ogden Arena
Sep 10 - 13, 2026: San Diego, CA - Pechanga Arena San Diego
Sep 17 - 20, 2026: Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center
Sep 24 - 27, 2026: Wichita, KS - INTRUST Bank Arena
Oct 1 - 4, 2026: Des Moines, IA - Casey's Center
Oct 8 - 11, 2026: Cleveland, OH - Wolstein Center
Oct 16 - 18, 2026: Pittsburgh, PA - PPG Paints Arena
Oct 22 - 25, 2026: St. Paul, MN - Grand Casino Arena
Oct 29 - Nov 1, 2026: Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
Nov 6 - 8, 2026: Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
Nov 12 - 15, 2026: Detroit, MI - Little Caesars Arena
Nov 20 - 22, 2026: Indianapolis, IN - Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Nov 27 - 29, 2026: Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center
Dec 3 - 6, 2026: Cincinnati, OH - Heritage Bank Center

circus dickies arena families kids music performing-arts

Show business

Texas’ ban on certain drag shows ruled unconstitutional — again

Photo by Dave Soto on Unsplash

Prominent Mexican drag queen Mikaela La Brava.

Texas once again cannot enforce its restrictions on some public drag shows after a federal judge declared a 2023 law unconstitutional for the second time.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner initially declared Senate Bill 12 unconstitutional in September 2023 only a few months after it was passed by the Texas Legislature, citing First Amendment violations. More than two years later in November, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unblocked the law and returned the case to Hittner with specific instructions on how to reassess it.

Hittner reaffirmed his ruling Tuesday, August 25, stating in his order that besides removing several plaintiffs and defendants from the lawsuit, the appellate court’s decision “did not disturb” his prior decision declaring SB 12 unconstitutional. The ruling again pauses the law, which had gone into effect in March after the 5th Circuit’s decision.

The ruling described SB 12 as overly broad in its definitions of performance and nudity, stating that provocative cosplay at conventions, swimming athletes, or Dolly Parton and Elvis impersonators could potentially be penalized under the law.

“The vast majority of the law’s numerous applications violate the First Amendment because all the performances that it has an actual impact on are constitutionally protected and are targeted for prohibition based on content and viewpoint,” Hittner wrote.

The suit was originally filed against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, two counties three district attorneys, and one county attorney by two community pride groups, two entertainment groups, and Brigitte Bandit, a drag queen and longtime Texas LGBTQ+ rights activist. After the 5th Circuit’s ruling, the two pride groups were removed as plaintiffs and Paxton was left as the sole defendant, which Hittner said satisfied the higher court’s instructions.

Tiffany Epiphany and Brigitte Bandit Tiffany Epiphany with local celeb and activist Brigitte Bandit at an Austin Pride parade. Photo by Natalie Grigson

“We use our performances to assert liberation, power, and joy with our community,” Bandit said in a statement provided by the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, which represented the plaintiffs. “As a lifelong Texan, I’m sick of this state trying to censor art and stoke hatred and violence against drag artists and the LGBTQIA+ community.”

SB 12 as adopted in law contains no language explicitly referencing drag performances, however a previous version while in the Legislature specifically included references to drag. Hittner noted in Tuesday's ruling that opponents of drag performances are not obligated to attend them.

“Finally, for those who find such activities as described in this case offensive, the solution is relatively simple … just don’t go,” he wrote.

Hittner also denied a request from Paxton for a supplemental trial and new discovery in the case. Paxton, in a social media post Tuesday, said his office would seek an appeal to the ruling to protect Texas kids.

“This is a profoundly flawed decision that endangers our children and is an affront to Texas values,” he said.

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This story was originally published by The Texas Tribune and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

drag show texas politics

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Ringling Bros. circus swings back into Dallas for summer 2026 shows

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Texas’ ban on certain drag shows ruled unconstitutional — again

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