Circuses That Still Use Animals in 2026. Plus, Animal-Free Circuses!
Since the 1800s, U.S. circuses have turned sensitive, intelligent animals—including elephants, tigers, and bears—into props for human “entertainment.” Many shows now rely on talented human performers instead. But some traveling circuses still use animals in 2026, and animals still pay the price.
Keep reading to see which circuses that still force animals to perform and what you can do to help these individuals.
At a Glance:
- The circuses below still use animals in 2026 (or pay seedy exhibitors to bring animals to their circus shows).
- Several of these exhibitors have Animal Welfare Act citations documented by federal authorities.
- If you want circus thrills without cruelty, jump to the animal-free circuses list and the how-to-help steps.
Circuses That Still Have Animals in 2026
1. Loomis Bros. Circus
Loomis Bros. Circus still forces elephants, tigers, zebras, camels, ponies, and other animals to perform in its shows. It hires exhibitors notorious for abusing animals, including Tarzan Zerbini, Brian Franzen, and Brunon Blaszak.
2. Tarzan Zerbini Circus
The Tarzan Zerbini Circus is a traveling show that forces elephants to perform in shows. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has cited Tarzan Zerbini multiple times under the federal Animal Welfare Act. Multiple elephants whom this circus forces to perform have tested positive for tuberculosis (TB), and TB has killed at least one elephant connected to Tarzan Zerbini.
Patricia Zerbini—Tarzan Zerbini’s daughter—runs Two Tails Ranch, a roadside zoo in Florida. The facility warehouses elephants when Tarzan’s circus isn’t dragging them around the country. Federal authorities have cited Two Tails for its shoddy enclosures and inadequate fencing.
3. Carson & Barnes Circus
Carson & Barnes Circus rents out elephants to other circuses, including Shrine circuses, which force these individuals to perform unnatural, confusing tricks in front of crowds.
Federal authorities have cited Carson & Barnes for nearly 150 violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, including failures involving veterinary care, space, shelter, and clean water. Carson & Barnes also owns the Endangered Ark Foundation, a roadside zoo in Oklahoma. When circuses aren’t hauling elephants out on tours, the facility keeps them confined on the compound. It also sells hands-on encounters, such as feeding, photo ops, and other forms of close contact, putting both elephants and humans at risk.
4. Shrine Circuses
Many Shrine clubs host circuses and stage dozens of shows across the U.S. every year. Some of these circuses still hire seedy exhibitors to supply elephants and other animals, even when local communities push back.
Elderly elephants at Shrine circuses go through a lifetime of violence-based control. Exhibitors force them to live in constant fear and deny the elephants the joy and stability a life in nature could provide, including space, freedom of movement, relationships, and opportunities to forage and bathe.
Shriners International, the governing body for Shrine clubs, still has not banned animal acts from its member temples, even knowing of the rampant abuse that many exhibitors inflict on the individuals they hold captive.
5. Franzen Bros. Circus
A tiger struck back at Franzen Bros. founder Wayne Franzen, killing him in front of a crowd in 1997, yet the circus chose to keep using animals in its shows.
Wayne’s son, Brian Franzen, still exploits animals today under the Franzen Bros. Circus name. He forces a lone elephant named Okha to perform for circuses such as Loomis Bros. Circus and various Shrine circuses.
Authorities confiscated several emaciated ponies from a filthy trailer, and a court convicted Franzen of depriving animals of care. The record makes one thing clear: Franzen shouldn’t be trusted around animals—period.
6. Culpepper & Merriweather Circus
The USDA suspended Culpepper & Merriweather Circus’ exhibitor’s license for six months after finding that the circus showed a “shockingly cavalier attitude regarding the health and safety of animals,” operated without an attending veterinarian, and failed to provide adequate nutrition. The circus still tours with lions today.
7. Carden International Circus
Carden Circus forces several animal species to perform in its acts, including bison, camels, zebras, horses, and dogs.
Federal authorities have issued numerous citations tied to Animal Welfare Act minimum standards, including problems involving veterinary care, enclosures, and space for animals.
Carden still exhibits elephants at a roadside zoo, including elderly, arthritic Betty. At least two elephants that Carden previously exhibited in circuses tested positive for tuberculosis (TB), and multiple jurisdictions have barred Carden from exhibiting elephants because TB can spread to humans.
8. Jordan World Circus
Jordan World Circus still drags camels, dogs, and ponies to circus venues where it blasts them with screaming children and flashing lights. Jordan World has frequently leased animals from exhibitors who federal authorities have repeatedly cited for mistreating them.
Animals frequently make desperate bids for freedom. In April 2024, Viola escaped her weapon-wielding handler in Butte, Montana, and ran through traffic before handlers recaptured her. Jordan World Circus has since dropped elephant acts but continues to use other animals.
These are some of the biggest offenders, but this isn’t a comprehensive list; other circuses also use animals as props. Be sure to check the lineup for animal acts before you buy a ticket to any circus, and only attend animal-free shows.
Do Any Circuses Still Have Elephants?
Yes, several circuses and exhibitors still exploit elephants, including Carson & Barnes Circus, Franzen Bros. Circus, and Loomis Bros. Circus.
All the elephants whom circus shows drag around the country today are elderly individuals who are victims of kidnapping. Animal traffickers snatched them from their natural homes and families in Asia when they were just babies, shipped them to the U.S., and forced them to perform.
Circuses That Don’t Exploit Animals
These circuses prove that refusing to treat animals as props enables them to elevate their human performances. Here are just a few animal-free circuses:
- Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus went on hiatus in 2017, ditched animal acts, and returned in 2023 with an all-human roster.
- UniverSoul Circus went animal-free in 2023 after a relentless PETA campaign.
- Circus Vargas no longer uses animals in its traveling big-top show.
- Bindlestiff Family Cirkus is a hybrid of vaudeville, burlesque, and sideshow that travels the world.
- Circus Center trains youth in the San Francisco Bay Area for circus acts.
How to Help Animals in Circuses
The elephants, tigers, and other animals whom circuses exploit don’t stand on their heads, jump through hoops, or balance on pedestals because they want to.
They do it because they know what happens when they don’t.
You can help right now:
- Learn more about how circuses hurt animals, and never go to a circus that uses them.
- Urge the Shrine clubs to stop hosting animal acts and push Shriners International to ban animal acts altogether.
Elephants like Viola don’t perform in circuses because they want to—they perform because they’re afraid of what will happen if they don’t.
While the audience screamed in horror, a circus performer was mauled by a tiger during a show in Egypt. Find out why the tiger attack was completely avoidable.
Footage of the gruesome incident proves yet again that animals do not belong in circuses.
