The Tattoo Circus is a festival whose goal is to raise money for projects against prisons, in support of prisoners, and against repression through tattoos, concerts, performances, film screenings, and presentations. All of this is done with a focus on highlighting political content and strengthening the fight against prisons.

The Tattoo Circus Bern is part of a tradition that began in Rome in 2007 and has since taken place in various cities across Europe. The initiative to organize a Tattoo Circus in Bern came from the solidarity group for the prisoners in the Ampelokipi case in Athens, where four comrades are in prison following the tragic death of Kyriakos Xymitris. Among them is our comrade Dimitra, who was active in anarchist and queer-feminist struggles in Bern.

The entire organization of the Tattoo Circus is horizontally structured, every decision is made collectively, and no one works for their own profit, neither the tattoo artists nor the piercers, the performers, speakers, or organizers, and all proceeds go to prisoners and people affected by repression. Among others, we are supporting our comrade Dimitra and the other prisoners involved in the case, anti-fascists in Hungary who are experiencing increasing repression due to the rise of fascism, and people who are persecuted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and need financial support to flee.

In addition to tattoos and body art, there will be lectures on the topic of prison and repression, information stands, concerts and parties, delicious vegan food, as well as opportunities for exchange and networking to strengthen our struggles for a society without prisons and repression.

Until it breaks – free all prisoners

Here you will find all the necessary information about the Reitschule. In addition to the Tattoo Circus, the United Queer Feminist Festival will also take place in the grosse Halle.

We from Tattoo Circus do not have any parking spaces at the Reitschule, so it is best to find other ways to get there. The address is Neubrückstrasse 8, 3012 Bern. (openstreetmap)

Theater Tojo
Various tattoo artists will be waiting for us at the Tojo Theater and will be tattooing for a fixed solidarity price. You can find all the artists here and book a tattoo appointment on site. The times for getting a tattoo are as follows:

Friday 2pm to 11pm
Saturday 12pm to 11pm
Sunday 12pm to 5pm

Queerfeminist room
During the day, you will find a drinks bar, information and book tables, an awareness stand, and plenty of comfortable seating at QFR. In the evening, various live acts and DJs will perform on stage. You can find the program here.

Anarchist Infoladen Borke
The anarchist Infoladen will be open during the Tattoo Circus and, in addition to many books, brochures, and other informational material, various events will take place here. You can find the entire program of events here.

Cinema
We will be showing a film every Thursday, Friday, and Sunday at the Reitschule cinema. If lots of people attend the information events, we will also use the cinema as an event venue.

Körper Dojo
At Körper Dojo, there will be a FLINTA* only Thai boxing workshop on Friday from 3pm to 6pm and a demo training session on Saturday from 1pm to 4pm. You can find more information here.

Cafete
During the day, there will be a nail studio and ToothGems in the Cafete. Every Friday from 2pm to 8 pm and Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Appointments can be booked directly on site.

We want the TattooCircus Bern to be a space where as many people as possible can take part.
We see accessibility as an ongoing process. We’re working to identify, make visible, and dismantle barriers – and we welcome feedback, ideas, and collective solutions.

There are two parking spaces available for people with disability permits at Schützenmatte.

We’ve put together a document with detailed information about the venue layout and potential obstacles – you can find it here (insert link).

Spaces & movement
Almost all areas are wheelchair accessible, except for one.
There are two partially accessible toilets, but they’re quite narrow.
Some paths around the site are uneven or narrow, which can be challenging.

Sensory stimuli & quiet spaces
Festivals often mean crowds, lights, and loud sounds – and we know that can be overwhelming. Earplugs are available at the infodesk, and we’ve set up a low-sensory quiet space if you need a break.

Together
Accessibility is everyone’s concern. If you need support, have questions, or notice barriers we’ve missed, get in touch: 📧 tattoocircusbern@immerda.ch

The TattooCircus thrives on solidarity and care – let’s make space for each other.

Room plan

What does it mean exactly?
Awareness means consciousness – being mindful and responsible in how we treat each other. It’s about understanding that we are all responsible for our own actions, words, and attitudes, and how they affect others. Awareness means being aware of your own privileges, questioning power structures, and actively contributing to making everyone feel safer and more respected.

Awareness means taking responsibility – for yourself and for how we interact with each other. It requires sensitivity, listening, and the willingness to learn from each other and critically reflect on your own awareness.

How can I use my position to act in solidarity?
Awareness also means learning new things. We all come with different backgrounds and more or fewer privileges. We need to understand that structures of oppression exist everywhere – and that we are also part of them.
At Tattoo Circus, there is an awareness team, but such a team alone cannot create a space free of systematic oppression and violence; we all contribute to it. It is our shared responsibility to make power structures visible, reflect on them, challenge them, and learn new ways to act in solidarity.

Non-violent behavior and the ability to handle criticism must be practiced.
This takes work – but also hope: the hope that together we can create alternatives. We must take it into our own hands and feel responsible for the spaces we are part of. It’s about not waiting for someone else to step in or take care of things. If we are able to help, awareness means recognizing this possibility, stepping forward, and offering support.

We need to be there for each other, care for each other, and feel responsible together to make sure we are all doing well.

During the Tattoo Circus, there will be a kitchen for everyone where vegan meals will be available in exchange for a donation. If you have any allergies, please let us know in advance by emailing tattoocircusbern@immerda.ch by November 9. There is also the Soul le Pont restaurant at the Reitschule and various other dining options around the Reitschule.

Cash only! So bring enough cash to support prisoners and victims of repression. You can find ATMs at Bern train station, which is 5 minutes away from the Reitschule.

The Tattoo Circus is a horizontally organized event, and we rely on the support of everyone who participates. There will be open shifts where you can sign up at the Tattoo Circus info desk, and if you would like to contribute in any other way, you can also send us an email.

We try to make the events and workshops accessible to everyone, but this requires people who can translate. If you would like to translate during Tattoo Circus events, please contact us. We definitely need German <-> English, French <-> German, and English <-> French translators.

Cops and the press clearly have no place at Tattoo Circus. No photos and no animals inside Tattoo Circus.