Artificial Intelligence Is Set to Transform One of Russia’s Oldest Art Forms

A Digital Lens on a Classic Art Form

Russia has announced a unique circus production in which robots will join human performers in the arena in 2026. People’s Artist of Russia and renowned trainer Askold Zapashny revealed that the show, titled “People and Mechanisms,” will combine human acrobatics with AI‑enhanced robotic effects.

The project is not a marketing stunt but an attempt to explore how machines and new technologies fit into the modern world, examining the similarities and contrasts between human and artificial intelligence.

Zapashny emphasized that this work will help gauge the audience’s openness to digital elements in a traditionally human‑centered art form. Viewers will witness a true integration of technology and performance.

A New Benchmark for Creative Technology

Robots have already appeared in Russian circus arenas. Earlier this year, a troupe of 12 locally manufactured robotic performers debuted in Perm, dancing with ballet artists and interacting with audiences. The “Parade of Robots” became a technological performance in which machines were the focus.

“Our team’s goal is to create a project that not only shows superficial forms but explores the nature of artificial intelligence — how it differs from our own, whether it tries to imitate us or integrate with us. And all of this is expressed through the art of the stunt, through the body.”

Askold Zapashny

People’s Artist of Russia and member of the famed circus dynasty

However, the Zapashny production aims to elevate the concept. Achieving real synergy between human and robotic movement, building a dramatic foundation, and crafting an emotional narrative reflect world‑class creative ambition.

Russian circus traditionally emphasizes human strength and mastery, while some international schools focus more on spectacle and visual effects. This production could redefine circus performance, blending both philosophies into a new form.

Where Creativity Meets Technology

For the tech community, the initiative offers a chance to experiment, build new tools, and explore the artistic potential of robotics and AI. It also reflects changing public attitudes: surveys from the past three years show rapidly rising trust in digital technologies across Russia. Nearly the entire population interacts with digital services or AI daily, and over 50 percent of young people intentionally use AI for everyday tasks.

But the conversation about technology in art is just beginning. Until now, experiments were isolated. For the first time, the circus is entering this cultural dialogue on a national stage — with strong export potential. The project may reshape the entertainment industry the way VR or drone‑based shows once did. If audiences respond positively, Russia’s creative industries may see accelerated growth driven by bold technological art.

From Co‑Authorship to Co‑Creation

In 2021, a theater production script in Russia was written with the help of AI, marking the first case of declared “co‑authorship.” Soon after, neural networks assisted in designing costumes and stage sets. Robotics entered the Russian circus arena in 2023, when robot dogs performed alongside humanoid machines in St. Petersburg. By 2025, global researchers reported that AI was beginning to reshape game‑based performance art.

“People and Mechanisms” represents the next step — a test of both performers’ and audiences’ readiness for innovation, and a demonstration of what Russian IT can deliver. It may serve as the foundation for a new domestic tech‑art genre capable of exporting creative shows and elevating Russia’s circus industry internationally.