The 'Greatest Show on Earth' will again dazzle children of all ages as The Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus plans to relaunch in 2023 - four years after the company shut down over fights with animal rights activists. 

However, the iconic circus that barnstormed the country after setting up its first big tent in 1871, said its famed three rings will not feature any animal acts.

Feld Entertainment, which bought the Ringling Brothers Circus in 1967, announced recently at a panel that the show is expected to return in 2023 and an official announcement is expected next year. 

'In 2023, we will be relaunching Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus,' a choked-up Grossman, Fled's chief operating officer and prior performer, said at a Venues Now conference last week. 

'You can see it's emotional and exciting for us as a family. We really feel that Ringling Bros. has incredible relevance to today's audience.'

The circus shut down in 2017 following decades of protests by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), claiming the company was exploiting animals in their show. 

Although Feld cited declining ticket sales and high operating costs for closing the tent four years ago, PETA claimed the big top was shut down due to the organization working 'relentlessly for decades' to let customers know what their 'ticket purchase would be supporting.'

PETA protesters would pester those going to watch lion tamers and trained elephants - with some activists dressed in animal costumes and others sitting in cages painted as lions with signs that read 'send animals to sanctuaries' and 'Ringling beat animals.'