Queer Bloomsbury will return to Charleston in East Sussex next month with a programme of talks, performances and outdoor celebrations exploring queer culture, history and community.
The one-day event, presented by Marlborough Productions and Charleston, will take place on 15 August and has been fully curated by Queer Heritage South for the first time.
Organisers have described the festival as an "extravaganza of queer excellence", combining discussion, live art, performance and a large open-air party set against the backdrop of Charleston's historic gardens.
At the heart of this year's programme is The Moment, a keynote talk examining queer imagination, activism and solidarity in the face of growing challenges to LGBTQ+ rights.
According to organisers, the discussion will explore the tensions between increasing visibility and representation for queer communities and what they describe as rising political, legal and cultural pressures, particularly around trans rights and bodily autonomy. The session is intended as a call for collective action, reflection and community support.
Visitors will also be invited to explore Charleston's grounds as part of Queer Fayre, an evening programme featuring performances, live art and site-specific experiences throughout the gardens.
Artists and performers taking part include Symoné, Brian Lobel, Emma Frankland, Subira Joy, Samson Dittrich and Charlie Wood.
Organisers said the event would transform the gardens into a space for creative encounters, drawing inspiration from the artistic legacy of Charleston, which was home to members of the influential Bloomsbury Group and has long been associated with artistic experimentation and self-expression.
As evening falls, the festival will conclude with a large-scale outdoor celebration featuring DJs, dancing and special guest performances.
Billed as a Midsummer Party, the event aims to bring together visitors for a night of music and entertainment beneath the East Sussex sky, while celebrating queer history, culture and community.
Guests are being encouraged to embrace the occasion with flamboyant summer attire inspired by Shakespearean characters and floral themes, with organisers calling on attendees to "dress to impress" for the festivities.
Marlborough Productions, known for its work in queer performance and live events, said the 2026 edition of Queer Bloomsbury would offer an evening of celebration, creativity and connection, bringing together artists, activists and audiences in one of Sussex's most distinctive cultural settings.
More info and tickets HERE
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