Naples, April 14, 2026 – The third edition of the “Naples Queer Festival 2026” officially begins today, promising a vibrant six-day celebration of culture, art, and community. The festival, which runs until Sunday, April 20, will immerse the city in a diverse program of spectacles, cinema, music, workshops, and visual arts, spread across key venues such as Sala Assoli and Teatro Nuovo, alongside collaborations with La Santissima, Teatro Avanposto 0, Körper, Foqus, Centro Studi sul Teatro, Libreria Tamu, Feltrinelli, Mamamu, and Rootz Café & Records Shop.
“Fuori Mondi”: Exploring New Dimensions
Giuseppe Affinito, the festival’s creator, explained the core theme for this year’s edition: “For this edition, we worked around two words, ‘Fuori mondi’ (Outside Worlds), which resonated with us from afar, like an echo, guiding our path. ‘Fuori’ (Outside), as in everything that deviates, shifts, or exceeds. An invitation to imagine new worlds and new pieces of space.” This theme underscores the festival’s commitment to exploring diverse perspectives and fostering inclusivity.
A Packed Opening Day
The festival kicks off today at 6:00 PM at Sala Assoli with an exhibition created in collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts, enhanced by the “Bytes Ardenti” sound installation by Banda Mutanda. At 7:00 PM, attendees can experience the performance “Binary Mutilation” by Desira, featuring Pelussje and Mix Gender, followed by a stand-up comedy act by Laura Pusceddu. The evening concludes at 9:00 PM at Teatro Nuovo with “Drag Ring,” a lip sync battle hosted by Priscilla, showcasing iconic performers.
Highlights of the Week-Long Program
The festival’s program is rich and varied, offering something for everyone:
- Tuesday, April 15: At 5:00 PM, Libreria Tamu hosts the presentation of Sandra Cane’s book “Trans. Una poetica del paradosso,” with Ross Croce. At 7:00 PM, Sala Assoli will feature “Blurring Identities & Short Movies,” a short film screening and discussion with Paoli de Luca and Francesca Saturnino. “Traces of Ecstasy” by Emmanuel Ndefo will be staged at 9:00 PM at Teatro Nuovo, followed by a DJ set by Kinjiki at Rootz Café at 11:00 PM.
- Wednesday, April 16: A masterclass titled “E-motion” with Emmanuel Ndefo will take place at Körper at 11:00 AM. At 5:00 PM at Teatro Nuovo, there will be a screening of “Orlando,” followed by a meeting with Paul B. Preciado and Porpora Marcasciano. Sala Assoli will host “Atlas da Boca” by Gaya de Medeiros at 9:00 PM, and Mamamu will feature the live set “Queerinale” by Anafem & Yung Paninaru at 11:00 PM.
- Thursday, April 17: Gaya de Medeiros will lead the masterclass “Me for dinner” at Körper at 10:00 AM. At 5:00 PM, Feltrinelli in Via Ponte di Tappia will host the presentation of Luca Starita’s book “Indifesi sotto la notte.” From 6:30 PM at Sala Assoli, there will be a performance-cabaret by Filomena Filosottile and the presentation of the book “Contro una politica delle briciole,” with Lud Sciannamblo. The play “Sadboi” by Panos Malactos will be performed at 9:00 PM at Teatro Nuovo, followed by a DJ set by Pink Trauma at Mamamu at 11:00 PM.
- Friday, April 18: From 5:00 PM at Sala Assoli, there will be a discussion on “Militanti per forza: accessibilità corpi esclusi e questione meridionale” with Giulia Traversi, Diana Anselmo, and Daniel Bongioanni. “Pas Moi” by Diana Anselmo will be presented at Teatro Nuovo at 9:00 PM, followed by music and performance with “Safffo takeover with Magic Dyke* & Luma” at La Santissima at 10:00 PM.
- Sunday, April 20 (Closing Day): The festival concludes at Foqus at 3:00 PM with “L’ora delle storie” with Priscilla. At 4:00 PM at Sala Assoli, there will be a workshop “Memorie da sottopelle,” followed by Raiva by Mistura Queer at 7:00 PM and a solo concert by Any Other at 9:00 PM.
The Naples Queer Festival 2026 aims to create a platform for diverse voices and artistic expressions, inviting attendees to explore new perspectives and celebrate inclusivity within the vibrant cultural landscape of Naples.
