Cirque Du Soleil’s 'Zumanity' Permanently Closing Due to COVID-19

After 17 years on the Las Vegas strip, Cirque du Soleil’s “Zumanity” announced its permanent closure.

The last performance was on March 14, before the COVID-19 shutdown and although the show intended to come back on stage later this year, it was unable to do so, due to health guidelines during the pandemic.

“Zumanity” performed more than 7,700 shows in its 17-year history at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas strip. The “adult-themed” Cirque du Soleil show was part burlesque, part cabaret spectacle, created for an 18+ audience.

Its the first Cirque du Soleil show to permanently close due to the pandemic.

“Zumanity was a groundbreaking departure for Cirque du Soleil when it opened in September of 2003,” Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, said in a statement via press release. “We are forever grateful to the extraordinarily talented cast, crew and staff who helped make Zumanity an unforgettable experience for more than 7.25 million guests.”

After shutting down in March, Las Vegas casinos reopened their doors in June, with many new COVID-19 precautions in place. But guidelines from the Nevada governor have still not allowed major spectacles, like Cirque du Soleil performances, to resume.

At the time of the start of the pandemic, Cirque du Soleil was operating six shows in Las Vegas casino hotels, including “Zumanity,” “O,” “The Beatles LOVE,” “Ka,” “Mystere” and “Michael Jackson ONE.” None of the other shows has announced a permanent end to performances. Cirque plans to continue holding performances in Las Vegas, but likely at a smaller scale.

“Of course, I will miss the show, having been part of the creation,” Alan Silva, an aerialist and original cast member, told the Las Vegas Review Journal. “We don’t know how many shows in general will survive this pandemic. Right now, I don’t know what is going to happen. Many doors will open. But it’s sad for the artists, sad for the fans of the show, and sad for my family.”

Visitors who held tickets for “Zumanity” performances can request a refund by emailing lasvegas.customerservice@cirquedusoleil.com.

Cailey Rizzo is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure, currently based in Brooklyn. You can find her on Twitter, on Instagram, or at caileyrizzo.com.