PINKBUS festival 2026

PINKBUS festival is an international queer performing arts event in Prague organized by the PINKBUS Platform collective. Since 2021, it has become a unique artistic and community initiative presenting queer and drag art as full-fledged forms. The festival creates an inclusive space where dance, theatre, performance, and visual art intersect, bringing together diverse artists and audiences in openness and respect.The upcoming 6th edition will take place in September 2026 in the residence at Venuše ve Švehlovce, a key independent theatre in Prague. Over three days, the festival will present international and local performances, discussions, and workshops focusing on progressive artistic practices and queer representation in contemporary performance. The program consists of three core components:- PINKBUS 1ST RIDE, an open call for emerging queer artists in the Czech Republic, providing them with professional mentoring, production support, and performance opportunities;- a performance by an established international queer creator (e.g., W. Grudziński, N. Poggi, Fat Butcher, Iacopo Loliva, and others). The 2026 edition will feature the Czech premiere of SUDOR by renowned Mexican choreographer Nicolas Poggi (Poyo Rojo);- PINKBUS Gala, a curated showcase combining drag, dance, burlesque, music, and cabaret, featuring the ensemble PINKBUS Essentials alongside guest artists from the Open Call Springboard. The festival also includes public discussions - PINKPANEL, moderated by journalist and queer activist Filip Titlbach, and a workshop led by Nicolas Poggi for students and professionals in the performing arts (in collaboration with art schools based in Prague). The 2026 edition continues the PINKBUS Queer Art Award, honouring excellence in queer art and activism.Since its debut in 2021, PINKBUS Festival has become a leading platform for queer art in Central Europe, featuring over 60 artists from the Czech Republic and abroad and attracting more than 1,000 visitors. It bridges alternative and mainstream art, fostering an open, celebratory space that strengthens LGBTQ+ identity and visibility.Rooted in diversity, accessibility, and inclusion, the festival ensures balanced gender and identity representation, amplifying BIPOC, trans, and non-binary voices. Selected events include sign language interpretation and affordable entry to promote access for all. Through its curatorial vision, international collaborations (CZ, SK, V4, MX, IT), and educational programs, PINKBUS enriches Prague’s cultural landscape and promotes queer art as a vital part of contemporary culture — a platform for dialogue, creativity, and solidarity.