Circus Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a circus business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for touring and resident circuses, big-top shows, and circus schools. Priorities reflect typical exposure; confirm against acts, animals, and route.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial General Liability | Covers audience injuries — confirm aerial, fire, animal, and specialty acts aren't excluded. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation / Occupational Accident | Covers injured performers and crew — the largest exposure for most circuses; confirm coverage in every state on the route. | Core | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits for a tent, seating, or rigging failure injuring many people at once. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers show trucks, buses, and trailers on tour. | Core | |
| Inland Marine / Equipment Floater | Covers the tent, rigging, props, and seating in transit and on the lot. | Prevalent | |
| Animal Mortality & Animal Liability | Needed if the show includes animals — GL often excludes animal-caused injuries. | Situational | |
| Abuse & Molestation | Needed for youth circuses, circus schools, and shows with minor performers. | Situational | |
| Event Cancellation | Covers lost ticket revenue when weather, venue problems, or an injured headliner cancels shows. | Prevalent |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed exposure for this class is injured performers. In 2014, eight Ringling Bros. aerialists fell when an improperly loaded carabiner failed, leaving two with spinal cord injuries — and touring performers work across many states, where workers' comp rules differ and some policies exclude or restrict aerial work. Circuses should confirm performer injuries are covered in every state on the route, have every rig engineered and inspected at each setup, and carry umbrella limits for a failure that injures many people at once.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your circus coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Circus Insurance · Circus Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a circus business need?
The core coverages for a circus business are Commercial General Liability, Workers' Compensation / Occupational Accident, Umbrella / Excess Liability, Commercial Auto. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my circus coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.