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Cirque du Soleil uses AI to enhance financial operations and audience experience. By integrating AI into its accounts payable processes, Cirque du Soleil is not just upgrading technology, but transforming its operational efficiency and vendor interactions, a crucial step for a global leader in live entertainment. Key facts. * Cirque du Soleil serves 365M spectators, showcasing its global market dominance in live entertainment. * AI reduced AP backlog by 25%, highlighting efficiency gains and operational cost savings potential. * Genato's 97.92% improvement in priority request handling reveals significant competitive advantage in responsiveness. * Enhanced vendor satisfaction indicates improved financial relationships, potentially lowering operational risks. * Future AI applications may redefine audience experiences, signaling strategic shifts in entertainment delivery. Summary. Cirque du Soleil, a leader in live entertainment, faced challenges in its accounts payable (AP) department, where over 70,000 invoices were processed annually. To enhance efficiency and responsiveness, they implemented Genato, a multilingual AI agent that automated AP processes, resulting in a 97.92% improvement in handling priority requests and a 25% reduction in AP backlog. Background. Cirque du Soleil operates in the live entertainment industry and has performed for over 365 million spectators in 90 countries. With 38 shows running globally and a workforce of over 4,000 touring artists and staff from more than 80 countries, the organization manages a highly complex business operation. Before deploying AI, the AP department struggled with high volumes of repetitive inquiries and manual processes. Challenge. The AP department needed to address the inefficiencies caused by the high volume of vendor inquiries, particularly the 40% of requests related to invoice status. AP specialists faced a time-consuming and emotionally draining process of searching across systems to respond to these inquiries. Solution. Cirque du Soleil collaborated with SAP to develop Genato, an AI-powered solution that automates AP processes. Genato scans the AP inbox, analyzes sentiment, identifies urgency, extracts invoice numbers, retrieves invoice status from SAP data, and drafts responses for human review. The integration with the SAP Business AI Platform allowed for a seamless connection with existing systems. Results. The deployment of Genato led to significant improvements in the AP department: * 97.92% improvement in handling priority requests * 25% reduction in AP backlog * 25% faster response times for non-urgent inquiries * Enhanced vendor satisfaction and improved employee morale Key insights. Cirque du Soleil's experience highlights the importance of starting small with AI initiatives, involving users early in the process, and being open to experimentation. The successful integration of AI can lead to substantial improvements in operational efficiency and employee satisfaction. Customer testimonial. "From a morale point of view, receiving e-mails from suppliers, some of them a bit impolite because they're asking, 'When are we going to get paid?' - it's not a fun job." - Philippe Lalumière, Vice President of Information Technology at Cirque du Soleil. Entities mentioned. Cirque du Soleil SAP Business AI Platform Technologies generative AI Philippe Lalumière Tamara McCleary Timo Elliott Key concepts. AI in business processes automation of accounts payable digital transformation vendor relations employee morale user trust in AI collaborative workshops innovation in circus arts Definitions. * Generative AI - A type of artificial intelligence that can generate new content or responses based on input data. * Accounts Payable (AP) - A financial process that involves managing and processing invoices and payments to suppliers. * SAP Business AI Platform - A platform that integrates AI capabilities with business processes to enhance operational efficiency. * Virtual team member - An AI tool or agent that assists human teams in performing tasks and improving productivity. * Digital transformation - The integration of digital technology into all areas of a business, fundamentally changing how it operates and delivers value. Use cases. * | Automating accounts payable processes * | Improving vendor inquiry response times * | Enhancing employee morale through reduced workload * | Prioritizing urgent supplier requests * | Translating communications automatically * | Creating a blueprint for broader enterprise innovation Frequently asked questions. How has Cirque du Soleil implemented AI in its operations? Cirque du Soleil has implemented AI through the development of Genato, a multilingual AI agent that automates accounts payable processes, improving efficiency and responsiveness. What are the benefits of using AI in accounts payable? The benefits include significant improvements in handling priority requests, faster response times, reduced backlog, and enhanced vendor satisfaction, leading to better employee morale. What advice does Philippe Lalumière give for starting AI projects? Lalumière advises starting small, involving users early in the process, and being willing to experiment with proof of concepts that may need to be discarded. What is the role of human judgment in AI implementation? Human judgment is crucial for prioritizing use cases and ensuring that AI applications align with business needs and objectives. How does Cirque du Soleil view the future of AI in their operations? Cirque du Soleil sees AI as a powerful tool that will evolve across various layers, potentially enhancing not just back-office operations but also the audience experience in the future.

Cirque du Soleil brings emotional power to elite sports events. With a track record of 85 Olympians among its performers, Cirque du Soleil is uniquely placed to celebrate athletic achievements Cirque du Soleil's productions for prestigious sports events include the opening ceremony for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. Cirque du Soleil, a world-leading live entertainment and experiences company, is currently featuring seven Olympians in its Las Vegas production, O, with a total of 13 Olympians performing across its global portfolio during 2026. While this extraordinary number of top-tier athletes is rarely seen outside an Olympic training centre, it is standard for a Cirque du Soleil production to feature world-class sportspeople. In fact, the company is home to one of the largest concentrations of elite athletic talent on the planet. The opening ceremony for the 2015 Pan American Games was one of the largest live productions in Canadian history. Over the past 40 years, 85 Olympians have performed with Cirque du Soleil. These athletes, including gymnasts, divers, synchronised swimmers, acrobats, and aerial specialists, once represented their countries on the world's biggest sporting stages and now perform in front of millions of people in Cirque du Soleil productions each year. Partnering with prestigious sporting events. The company says that sport and live performance are built on shared principles of discipline, sacrifice, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Both Olympic sportspeople and Cirque du Soleil artists dedicate years to perfecting movements that unfold in seconds. Both perform under immense pressure, and both understand that excellence requires thousands of hours of preparation. "The Olympic level in gymnastics is the best because your technique has to be perfect, your execution has to be perfect, your mental strategy has to be perfect, your physicality must be perfect," says Olympic bronze medalist and former Cirque performer Elise Ray. "And Cirque is the best of the best in the performing world." Cirque du Soleil's opening and closing ceremonies for the 2018 World Cup in Dubai explored the theme 'Make the Desert Bloom'. This unrivalled pedigree explains why major international events have repeatedly collaborated with Cirque du Soleil. For example, the company conceived the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies for the 2018 Dubai World Cup, which were attended by 60,000 spectators. These large-scale performances were presented on an 86-metre moving stage, with a 110-metre LED screen, Heliosphere balloons at 40 metres, and pyrotechnic drones soaring at 100 metres. At the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Toronto, Cirque du Soleil once again worked with the NBA to produce a pre-game show introducing the first All-Star Game ever held in Canada. The performance demanded 1,300 rehearsal hours and 37 artists. The organisations had previously collaborated on the 2007 NBA All-Star Game in Las Vegas, which also featured Christina Aguilera and Toni Braxton. Meanwhile, at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, the company was tasked with creating the opening ceremony of the largest sporting event in Canadian history. The performance, which was viewed by 45,000 spectators in the stadium and 2 million viewers on broadcast, sought to unite 41 nations under a single narrative. This project required 625 performers from 25 nations, 530 bespoke costumes, 10,000 square feet of stage, 125 minutes of original music, and 22 weeks of rehearsals. The Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show in 2012 served as a direct aesthetic influence on Madonna's MDNA World Tour. And in 2012, 68,658 on-site spectators and 114 million TV viewers worldwide watched Madonna's Super Bowl halftime show in Indianapolis. With creative leadership from writer and director Michel Laprise, and in partnership with Moment Factory, Cirque du Soleil transformed the entire football field into a video surface using projection mapping, with support from 1,500 team members. This groundbreaking performance surpassed the audience of the game itself, with 8,000 tweets per second for five minutes, and directly influenced Madonna's MDNA World Tour. Honouring athletes' stories. Across the breadth of these elite sports events, organisers regularly ask the same question: how can they create a ceremony to honour the athletes who have devoted their lives to reaching that moment? According to Cirque du Soleil, the answer lies in authenticity. When a ceremony is designed and performed by fellow elite athletes, the result resonates differently for both the sportspeople and their audiences. Rather than moments of entertainment, it views ceremonies as an extension of the athlete's story that marks a celebration of human potential; a tribute to the commitment, courage and steadfastness that define high-performance sport. Cirque du Soleil's pre-game show for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game in Toronto was a five-minute tribute to basketball, combining acrobatics, dance, and technology. As sports evolve, this perspective becomes increasingly relevant. Fans now look beyond competition to seek emotion, meaning and memorable moments. In this, ceremonies have become a key part of the experience and can leave a lasting impression. The future of sports ceremonies, says Cirque du Soleil, will be dominated by organisations that can bridge these two worlds to deliver the precision and excellence of elite sport with the emotional power of live storytelling. And the company has been thriving within this space for more than four decades. Because at their core, Cirque du Soleil's productions are not simply performers celebrating athletes; they are often athletes celebrating athletes. Last month, Cirque du Soleil participated in the Experiential Marketing Summit 2026 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where it presented a session exploring how emotional resonance drives deeper engagement and how brands can design for it. Rebecca Hardy Senior Web Journalist Rebecca Hardy has over 10 years' experience in the culture and heritage sector. She studied Fine Art at university and has written for a broad range of creative organisations including artists, galleries, and retailers. When she's not writing, she spends her time getting lost in the woods and making mud pies with her young son.

Cirque du Soleil seasonal shows in Andorra & Trois-Rivières celebrate destinations & deliver value. In July and August, Jean Leloup PARADIS PERDUS will run in Trois-Rivières, while Andorra will see the debut of RÀDIO ANDORRA Amphithéâtre Cogeco Image credit Jean-Sébastien Désilet Cirque du Soleil, a world-leading live entertainment and experiences company, has announced the renewal of its partnership with Amphithéâtre Cogeco in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, for a further ten years. Together, they present the 10th show in the Tribute Series, Jean Leloup PARADIS PERDUS, conceived and produced specifically for Trois-Rivières. This will run from 15 July to 15 August, exclusively at Amphithéâtre Cogeco. Cirque du Soleil also returns to Andorra for a unique event in Europe from 3 July to 2 August, for the thirteenth consecutive year. Following Scalada, Diva, Rebel, Mūv, Festa, Sublim, and ILLU, a new chapter opens with the brand-new show, RÀDIO ANDORRA. Celebrating destinations. Cirque du Soleil's seasonal shows in Andorra and Trois-Rivières celebrate destinations and deliver real value. The Tribute Series features unique productions that honour artists influential in Quebec's popular culture. These shows emphasise each location's unique charm and character. Territorial connection is a core aspect of the artistic fabric, with the place inspiring, supporting, and legitimising the show, thereby strengthening local partners' trust and confidence. The format created each year in Andorra is specifically crafted to meet the expectations of both the local and tourist markets, through a show entirely designed from the ground up, custom-built for its audience and setting. LES INCOUCHABLES, Trois-Rivières "What makes our seasonal shows unique is that they are born from the destination itself: from its culture, its history, from what makes it one of a kind," says Florent Bayle-Labouré, vice president of strategic development for Cirque du Soleil. "We bring the full creative power of Cirque du Soleil to bear, artists, directors, world-class production, entirely in service of a cultural identity that we celebrate together. "The show does not simply settle into the destination; it is an expression of it. For locals, it is a source of pride; for visitors, it is a gateway to a culture they might never have discovered otherwise. "Over time, these shows establish themselves as true unmissable events: people plan their trips around them, and it is that power of attraction that generates an economic and emotional impact that the numbers confirm season after season." Creating value. Cirque du Soleil shows generate several million dollars (USD) in local economic impact per season (hotels, restaurants, shops, etc.), increase tourist traffic by more than 65% on average, and build a loyal audience that returns year after year. More than 50% of visitors attend each new edition. By putting the destination in the spotlight, Cirque du Soleil strengthens its appeal, positions it as a must-see cultural landmark, and generates lasting creative, emotional, and economic impact for the entire community. Andorra is a case in point: Enric Torres, director of products and events at Andorra Turisme, revealed at a press conference that 83% of attendees were foreign visitors. Among them, 90% spent the night in Andorra. The overall satisfaction rating for their stay was 8.7 out of 10. Furthermore, seven out of ten spectators stated that the primary reason for their visit to Andorra was to attend a Cirque du Soleil show. ILLU, Andorra "It is important to highlight the ripple effect of the event," he noted. Additionally, 17% of attendees were from Andorra itself, which, according to Torres, reflects the "loyalty of the local audience", a figure that has remained stable in recent years. Betim Budzaku, director general of Andorra Turisme, adds: "Since Cirque du Soleil's arrival in Andorra in 2013, more than 900,000 people have attended its shows. This has been a significant initiative in helping to energize a period traditionally marked by lower tourist activity in our country. "Initiatives like the Cirque, combined with the progressive diversification of the country's tourism offering over the past decade, have contributed to a 119% increase in the number of visitors staying in the country in July (2013 vs. 2025). "It is worth highlighting the quality of the audience attracted by this event, with a return visit rate of over 59% and an average length of stay of 2.5 nights, thus contributing significantly to tourist spending at the destination." Regional pride and economic impact. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the Tribute Series draws thousands of locals and visitors from across the province to one destination: Trois-Rivières. It has established itself as a significant driver of tourism and the economy. Beyond the exceptional artistic experience, the Tribute Series contributes several million dollars to the local economy, supports the creation of around 100 seasonal jobs and numerous permanent positions, and actively nurtures the local business ecosystem. LES INCOUCHABLES, Trois-Rivières Thomas Grégoire, general and artistic director of Amphithéâtre Cogeco, explains: "Through its power of attraction, the Cirque du Soleil Tribute Series presented exclusively at Amphithéâtre Cogeco has established itself as a significant tourism and economic driver, actively contributing to the vitality of hotels, restaurants and businesses in Trois-Rivières and the Mauricie region. "With 76% of attendees coming from outside the region, the Tribute Series not only fosters regional pride but also helps generate several million dollars in economic and tourism impact. "Furthermore, Amphithéâtre Cogeco develops new partnerships each year with cultural and tourism businesses in order to offer exclusive discounts to ticket holders, available from June to September, thereby actively extending the tourist season." Charlotte Coates Charlotte Coates is blooloop's editor. She is from Brighton, UK and previously worked as a librarian. She has a strong interest in arts, culture and information and graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in English Literature. Charlotte can usually be found either with her head in a book or planning her next travel adventure.