GB Upcoming

Outburst Queer Arts Festival 2026

Name: Outburst Queer Arts Festival 2026
Start: 2026-11-12
End: 2026-11-21
Location: Belfast

Belfast hosts the 20th anniversary of the Outburst Queer Arts Festival from November 12 to 21, 2026. This landmark edition features a significant program dedicated to acclaimed French filmmaker Céline Sciamma, including specialized screenings, academic lectures, and public conversations exploring her influential career in queer and feminist cinema.

Date: Nov 12-21, 2026
Location: Belfast
Status: Upcoming

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Event summary

Highlights

20th anniversary celebration of the Outburst Queer Arts Festival
Special guest appearance and curated program by filmmaker Céline Sciamma
Screenings of Tomboy and Portrait of a Lady on Fire featuring unseen footage
Salon des Refusées live performance lecture at Ulster University

The 2026 festival marks two decades of queer arts programming in Belfast. To celebrate the milestone, the event will feature filmmaker Céline Sciamma, whose debut film was released the same year the festival was founded. Sciamma is scheduled to participate in several key events between November 13 and 15, collaborating with local institutions such as Ulster University and the Queen’s Film Theatre.

Highlights of the curated program include the "Salon des Refusées" performance lecture, which reflects on intersectional histories of women in film. Screening events will showcase a new cut of Tomboy and a version of Portrait of a Lady on Fire containing previously unseen footage. The filmmaker will also present recent essay films and engage in a live dialogue with writer and curator So Mayer.

While the Sciamma residency is a major focal point, the full festival spans ten days and includes a wide variety of queer creative works. Tickets for the initial announced events are scheduled for release in late September 2026, alongside the launch of the full festival program.

Practical details

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.