diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 223cef715f..76476dcbeb 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ## v0.x.x Unreleased
 ### New features
 * Added InferenceData dataset containing circular variables (#1265)
-
+* Added `is_circular` argument to `plot_dist` and `plot_kde` allowing for a circular histogram (Matplotlib, Bokeh) or 1D KDE plot (Matplotlib). (#1266)
 ### Maintenance and fixes
 * plot_posterior: fix overlap of hdi and rope (#1263)
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
 
 ### New features
 * Stats and plotting functions that provide `var_names` arg can now filter parameters based on partial naming (`filter="like"`) or regular expressions (`filter="regex"`) (see [#1154](https://github.com/arviz-devs/arviz/pull/1154)).
-* Add `true_values` argument for `plot_pair`. It allows for a scatter plot showing the true values of the variables #1140
+* Add `true_values` argument for `plot_pair`. It allows for a scatter plot showing the true values of the variables (#1140)
 * Allow xarray.Dataarray input for plots.(#1120)
 * Revamped the `hpd` function to make it work with mutidimensional arrays, InferenceData and xarray objects (#1117)
 * Skip test for optional/extra dependencies when not installed (#1113)
diff --git a/arviz/plots/backends/bokeh/distplot.py b/arviz/plots/backends/bokeh/distplot.py
index e2826a0638..8b6dc82482 100644
--- a/arviz/plots/backends/bokeh/distplot.py
+++ b/arviz/plots/backends/bokeh/distplot.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 from . import backend_kwarg_defaults
 from .. import show_layout
 from ...kdeplot import plot_kde
+from ...plot_utils import set_bokeh_circular_ticks_labels
 from ....numeric_utils import get_bins
 
 
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ def plot_dist(
     contourf_kwargs,
     pcolormesh_kwargs,
     hist_kwargs,
+    is_circular,
     ax,
     backend_kwargs,
     show,
@@ -43,14 +45,22 @@ def plot_dist(
         **backend_kwargs,
     }
     if ax is None:
-        ax = bkp.figure(**backend_kwargs)
+        if is_circular:
+            ax = bkp.figure(x_axis_type=None, y_axis_type=None)
+        else:
+            ax = bkp.figure(**backend_kwargs)
 
     if kind == "auto":
         kind = "hist" if values.dtype.kind == "i" else "kde"
 
     if kind == "hist":
         _histplot_bokeh_op(
-            values=values, values2=values2, rotated=rotated, ax=ax, hist_kwargs=hist_kwargs
+            values=values,
+            values2=values2,
+            rotated=rotated,
+            ax=ax,
+            hist_kwargs=hist_kwargs,
+            is_circular=is_circular,
         )
     elif kind == "kde":
         if plot_kwargs is None:
@@ -91,7 +101,7 @@ def plot_dist(
     return ax
 
 
-def _histplot_bokeh_op(values, values2, rotated, ax, hist_kwargs):
+def _histplot_bokeh_op(values, values2, rotated, ax, hist_kwargs, is_circular):
     """Add a histogram for the data to the axes."""
     if values2 is not None:
         raise NotImplementedError("Insert hexbin plot here")
@@ -105,6 +115,8 @@ def _histplot_bokeh_op(values, values2, rotated, ax, hist_kwargs):
         hist_kwargs["fill_color"] = color
         hist_kwargs["line_color"] = color
 
+    hist_kwargs.setdefault("line_alpha", 0)
+
     # remove defaults for mpl
     hist_kwargs.pop("rwidth", None)
     hist_kwargs.pop("align", None)
@@ -119,8 +131,45 @@ def _histplot_bokeh_op(values, values2, rotated, ax, hist_kwargs):
     if hist_kwargs.pop("cumulative", False):
         hist = np.cumsum(hist)
         hist /= hist[-1]
-    if rotated:
-        ax.quad(top=edges[:-1], bottom=edges[1:], left=0, right=hist, **hist_kwargs)
+
+    if is_circular:
+
+        if is_circular == "degrees":
+            edges = np.deg2rad(edges)
+            labels = ["0°", "45°", "90°", "135°", "180°", "225°", "270°", "315°"]
+        else:
+
+            labels = [
+                r"0",
+                r"π/4",
+                r"π/2",
+                r"3π/4",
+                r"π",
+                r"5π/4",
+                r"3π/2",
+                r"7π/4",
+            ]
+
+        delta = np.mean(np.diff(edges) / 2)
+
+        ax.annular_wedge(
+            x=0,
+            y=0,
+            inner_radius=0,
+            outer_radius=hist,
+            start_angle=edges[1:] - delta,
+            end_angle=edges[:-1] - delta,
+            direction="clock",
+            **hist_kwargs,
+        )
+
+        ax = set_bokeh_circular_ticks_labels(ax, hist, labels)
+
     else:
-        ax.quad(top=hist, bottom=0, left=edges[:-1], right=edges[1:], **hist_kwargs)
+
+        if rotated:
+            ax.quad(top=edges[:-1], bottom=edges[1:], left=0, right=hist, **hist_kwargs)
+        else:
+            ax.quad(top=hist, bottom=0, left=edges[:-1], right=edges[1:], **hist_kwargs)
+
     return ax
diff --git a/arviz/plots/backends/bokeh/energyplot.py b/arviz/plots/backends/bokeh/energyplot.py
index c7f936194e..6cef8465ff 100644
--- a/arviz/plots/backends/bokeh/energyplot.py
+++ b/arviz/plots/backends/bokeh/energyplot.py
@@ -72,7 +72,12 @@ def plot_energy(
             hist_kwargs["line_color"] = None
             hist_kwargs["line_alpha"] = alpha
             _histplot_bokeh_op(
-                value.flatten(), values2=None, rotated=False, ax=ax, hist_kwargs=hist_kwargs
+                value.flatten(),
+                values2=None,
+                rotated=False,
+                ax=ax,
+                hist_kwargs=hist_kwargs,
+                is_circular=False,
             )
 
     else:
diff --git a/arviz/plots/backends/matplotlib/distplot.py b/arviz/plots/backends/matplotlib/distplot.py
index f71c0110ba..bf5ee25abf 100644
--- a/arviz/plots/backends/matplotlib/distplot.py
+++ b/arviz/plots/backends/matplotlib/distplot.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ def plot_dist(
     contourf_kwargs,
     pcolormesh_kwargs,
     hist_kwargs,
+    is_circular,
     ax,
     backend_kwargs,
     show,
@@ -43,11 +44,16 @@ def plot_dist(
         )
         backend_kwargs = None
     if ax is None:
-        ax = plt.gca()
+        ax = plt.gca(polar=is_circular)
 
     if kind == "hist":
         ax = _histplot_mpl_op(
-            values=values, values2=values2, rotated=rotated, ax=ax, hist_kwargs=hist_kwargs
+            values=values,
+            values2=values2,
+            rotated=rotated,
+            ax=ax,
+            hist_kwargs=hist_kwargs,
+            is_circular=is_circular,
         )
 
     elif kind == "kde":
@@ -77,6 +83,7 @@ def plot_dist(
             ax=ax,
             backend="matplotlib",
             backend_kwargs=backend_kwargs,
+            is_circular=is_circular,
             show=show,
         )
 
@@ -86,20 +93,48 @@ def plot_dist(
     return ax
 
 
-def _histplot_mpl_op(values, values2, rotated, ax, hist_kwargs):
+def _histplot_mpl_op(values, values2, rotated, ax, hist_kwargs, is_circular):
     """Add a histogram for the data to the axes."""
+    bins = hist_kwargs.pop("bins", None)
+
+    if is_circular == "degrees":
+        if bins is None:
+            bins = get_bins(values)
+        values = np.deg2rad(values)
+        bins = np.deg2rad(bins)
+
+    elif is_circular:
+        labels = [
+            r"0",
+            r"π/4",
+            r"π/2",
+            r"3π/4",
+            r"π",
+            r"5π/4",
+            r"3π/2",
+            r"7π/4",
+        ]
+
+        ax.set_xticklabels(labels)
+
     if values2 is not None:
         raise NotImplementedError("Insert hexbin plot here")
 
-    bins = hist_kwargs.pop("bins")
     if bins is None:
         bins = get_bins(values)
-    ax.hist(np.asarray(values).flatten(), bins=bins, **hist_kwargs)
+
+    n, _, _ = ax.hist(np.asarray(values).flatten(), bins=bins, **hist_kwargs)
 
     if rotated:
         ax.set_yticks(bins[:-1])
-    else:
+    elif not is_circular:
         ax.set_xticks(bins[:-1])
+
+    if is_circular:
+        ax.set_ylim(0, 1.5 * n.max())
+        ax.set_yticklabels([])
+
     if hist_kwargs.get("label") is not None:
         ax.legend()
+
     return ax
diff --git a/arviz/plots/backends/matplotlib/kdeplot.py b/arviz/plots/backends/matplotlib/kdeplot.py
index 9acd045c00..f8a9aa9a87 100644
--- a/arviz/plots/backends/matplotlib/kdeplot.py
+++ b/arviz/plots/backends/matplotlib/kdeplot.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ def plot_kde(
     contour_kwargs,
     contourf_kwargs,
     pcolormesh_kwargs,
+    is_circular,
     ax,
     legend,
     backend_kwargs,
@@ -76,7 +77,27 @@ def plot_kde(
 
         rug_space = max(density) * rug_kwargs.pop("space")
 
-        x = np.linspace(lower, upper, len(density))
+        if is_circular:
+
+            if is_circular == "radians":
+                labels = [
+                    r"0",
+                    r"π/4",
+                    r"π/2",
+                    r"3π/4",
+                    r"π",
+                    r"5π/4",
+                    r"3π/2",
+                    r"7π/4",
+                ]
+
+                ax.set_xticklabels(labels)
+
+            x = np.linspace(-np.pi, np.pi, len(density))
+            ax.set_yticklabels([])
+
+        else:
+            x = np.linspace(lower, upper, len(density))
 
         fill_func = ax.fill_between
         fill_x, fill_y = x, density
diff --git a/arviz/plots/distplot.py b/arviz/plots/distplot.py
index 024123acd1..fbe3a5e7a8 100644
--- a/arviz/plots/distplot.py
+++ b/arviz/plots/distplot.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 import xarray as xr
 from .plot_utils import get_plotting_function, matplotlib_kwarg_dealiaser
-from ..numeric_utils import get_bins
 from ..data import InferenceData
 from ..rcparams import rcParams
 
@@ -29,6 +28,7 @@ def plot_dist(
     contourf_kwargs=None,
     pcolormesh_kwargs=None,
     hist_kwargs=None,
+    is_circular=False,
     ax=None,
     backend=None,
     backend_kwargs=None,
@@ -90,6 +90,9 @@ def plot_dist(
         Keywords passed to ax.pcolormesh. Ignored for 1D KDE.
     hist_kwargs : dict
         Keywords passed to the histogram.
+    is_circular : {False, True, "radians", "degrees"}. Default False.
+        Select input type {"radians", "degrees"} for circular histogram or KDE plot. If True,
+        default input type is "radians".
     ax: axes, optional
         Matplotlib axes or bokeh figures.
     backend: str, optional
@@ -160,7 +163,6 @@ def plot_dist(
 
     if kind == "hist":
         hist_kwargs = matplotlib_kwarg_dealiaser(hist_kwargs, "hist")
-        hist_kwargs.setdefault("bins", get_bins(values))
         hist_kwargs.setdefault("cumulative", cumulative)
         hist_kwargs.setdefault("color", color)
         hist_kwargs.setdefault("label", label)
@@ -197,6 +199,7 @@ def plot_dist(
         hist_kwargs=hist_kwargs,
         ax=ax,
         backend_kwargs=backend_kwargs,
+        is_circular=is_circular,
         show=show,
         **kwargs,
     )
diff --git a/arviz/plots/kdeplot.py b/arviz/plots/kdeplot.py
index 99f0b07950..5b34fdf876 100644
--- a/arviz/plots/kdeplot.py
+++ b/arviz/plots/kdeplot.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ def plot_kde(
     contour_kwargs=None,
     contourf_kwargs=None,
     pcolormesh_kwargs=None,
+    is_circular=False,
     ax=None,
     legend=True,
     backend=None,
@@ -81,6 +82,9 @@ def plot_kde(
         Keywords passed to ax.contourf to draw filled contours. Ignored for 1D KDE.
     pcolormesh_kwargs : dict
         Keywords passed to ax.pcolormesh. Ignored for 1D KDE.
+    is_circular : {False, True, "radians", "degrees"}. Default False.
+        Select input type {"radians", "degrees"} for circular histogram or KDE plot. If True,
+        default input type is "radians".
     ax: axes, optional
         Matplotlib axes or bokeh figures.
     legend : bool
@@ -230,6 +234,7 @@ def plot_kde(
         contour_kwargs=contour_kwargs,
         contourf_kwargs=contourf_kwargs,
         pcolormesh_kwargs=pcolormesh_kwargs,
+        is_circular=is_circular,
         ax=ax,
         legend=legend,
         backend_kwargs=backend_kwargs,
@@ -246,6 +251,7 @@ def plot_kde(
         kde_plot_args.pop("textsize")
         kde_plot_args.pop("label")
         kde_plot_args.pop("legend")
+        kde_plot_args.pop("is_circular")
     else:
         kde_plot_args.pop("return_glyph")
 
diff --git a/arviz/plots/plot_utils.py b/arviz/plots/plot_utils.py
index 98268df100..d2429f001a 100644
--- a/arviz/plots/plot_utils.py
+++ b/arviz/plots/plot_utils.py
@@ -717,3 +717,51 @@ def sample_reference_distribution(dist, shape):
         x_ss.append(x_s)
         densities.append(density)
     return np.array(x_ss).T, np.array(densities).T
+
+
+def set_bokeh_circular_ticks_labels(ax, hist, labels):
+    """Place ticks and ticklabels on Bokeh's circular histogram."""
+    ticks = np.linspace(-np.pi, np.pi, len(labels), endpoint=False)
+    ax.annular_wedge(
+        x=0,
+        y=0,
+        inner_radius=0,
+        outer_radius=np.max(hist) * 1.1,
+        start_angle=ticks,
+        end_angle=ticks,
+        line_color="grey",
+    )
+
+    radii_circles = np.linspace(0, np.max(hist) * 1.1, 4)
+    ax.circle(0, 0, radius=radii_circles, fill_color=None, line_color="grey")
+
+    offset = np.max(hist * 1.05) * 0.15
+    ticks_labels_pos_1 = np.max(hist * 1.05)
+    ticks_labels_pos_2 = ticks_labels_pos_1 * np.sqrt(2) / 2
+
+    ax.text(
+        [
+            ticks_labels_pos_1 + offset,
+            ticks_labels_pos_2 + offset,
+            0,
+            -ticks_labels_pos_2 - offset,
+            -ticks_labels_pos_1 - offset,
+            -ticks_labels_pos_2 - offset,
+            0,
+            ticks_labels_pos_2 + offset,
+        ],
+        [
+            0,
+            ticks_labels_pos_2 + offset / 2,
+            ticks_labels_pos_1 + offset,
+            ticks_labels_pos_2 + offset / 2,
+            0,
+            -ticks_labels_pos_2 - offset,
+            -ticks_labels_pos_1 - offset,
+            -ticks_labels_pos_2 - offset,
+        ],
+        text=labels,
+        text_align="center",
+    )
+
+    return ax
diff --git a/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plot_utils.py b/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plot_utils.py
index 3c3777001a..162b53de28 100644
--- a/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plot_utils.py
+++ b/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plot_utils.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
     xarray_var_iter,
     vectorized_to_hex,
     _dealiase_sel_kwargs,
+    set_bokeh_circular_ticks_labels,
 )
 from ...rcparams import rc_context
 from ...numeric_utils import get_bins
@@ -264,3 +265,24 @@ def test_dealiase_sel_kwargs():
     assert res["alpha"] == 0.4
     assert "line_color" in res
     assert res["line_color"] == "red"
+
+
+# Check if Bokeh is installed
+bokeh_installed = importlib.util.find_spec("bokeh") is not None  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    not (bokeh_installed | running_on_ci()), reason="test requires bokeh which is not installed",
+)
+def test_set_bokeh_circular_ticks_labels():
+    """Assert the axes returned after placing ticks and tick labels for circular plots."""
+    import bokeh.plotting as bkp
+
+    ax = bkp.figure(x_axis_type=None, y_axis_type=None)
+    hist = np.linspace(0, 1, 10)
+    labels = ["0°", "45°", "90°", "135°", "180°", "225°", "270°", "315°"]
+    ax = set_bokeh_circular_ticks_labels(ax, hist, labels)
+    renderers = ax.renderers
+    assert len(renderers) == 3
+    assert renderers[2].data_source.data["text"] == labels
+    assert len(renderers[0].data_source.data["start_angle"]) == len(labels)
diff --git a/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plots_bokeh.py b/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plots_bokeh.py
index d2a2ab0732..b90838f4ec 100644
--- a/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plots_bokeh.py
+++ b/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plots_bokeh.py
@@ -191,7 +191,21 @@ def test_plot_kde_cumulative(continuous_model, kwargs):
     assert axes
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("kwargs", [{"kind": "hist"}, {"kind": "kde"}])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "kwargs",
+    [
+        {"kind": "hist"},
+        {"kind": "kde"},
+        {"is_circular": False},
+        {"is_circular": False, "kind": "hist"},
+        {"is_circular": True},
+        {"is_circular": True, "kind": "hist"},
+        {"is_circular": "radians"},
+        {"is_circular": "radians", "kind": "hist"},
+        {"is_circular": "degrees"},
+        {"is_circular": "degrees", "kind": "hist"},
+    ],
+)
 def test_plot_dist(continuous_model, kwargs):
     axes = plot_dist(continuous_model["x"], backend="bokeh", show=False, **kwargs)
     assert axes
diff --git a/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plots_matplotlib.py b/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plots_matplotlib.py
index 62d7d58aac..9d7df33e97 100644
--- a/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plots_matplotlib.py
+++ b/arviz/tests/base_tests/test_plots_matplotlib.py
@@ -339,6 +339,10 @@ def test_plot_joint_bad(models):
         },
         {"contour": False},
         {"contour": False, "pcolormesh_kwargs": {"cmap": "plasma"}},
+        {"is_circular": False},
+        {"is_circular": True},
+        {"is_circular": "radians"},
+        {"is_circular": "degrees"},
     ],
 )
 def test_plot_kde(continuous_model, kwargs):
@@ -370,7 +374,21 @@ def test_plot_kde_cumulative(continuous_model, kwargs):
     assert axes
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("kwargs", [{"kind": "hist"}, {"kind": "kde"}])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "kwargs",
+    [
+        {"kind": "hist"},
+        {"kind": "kde"},
+        {"is_circular": False},
+        {"is_circular": False, "kind": "hist"},
+        {"is_circular": True},
+        {"is_circular": True, "kind": "hist"},
+        {"is_circular": "radians"},
+        {"is_circular": "radians", "kind": "hist"},
+        {"is_circular": "degrees"},
+        {"is_circular": "degrees", "kind": "hist"},
+    ],
+)
 def test_plot_dist(continuous_model, kwargs):
     axes = plot_dist(continuous_model["x"], **kwargs)
     assert axes