Queer East has announced its 2026 performing arts programme, bringing a dynamic mix of international queer artists to leading London venues throughout May and June.
The festival’s seventh edition expands its multidisciplinary scope with a programme that spans Battersea Arts Centre, The Place, the ICA and Chats Palace.
Two major international productions lead the programme. No. 60, from the acclaimed Pichet Klunchun Dance Company of Thailand, reimagines traditional Thai Khon dance by stripping away its classical form to interrogate the 59 canonical movements and propose a new ‘60th’ principle.
No. 60 debuts at The Place on 19 May as part of Queer East’s partnership with the venue.
Meanwhile, Bunny, created by performance artists Daniel Kok and Luke George, comes to Battersea Arts Centre from 4 to 6 June. The interactive work uses the physical properties of rope and knots to explore trust, desire, consent and collective connection with audiences.
Since premiering in 2016, Bunny has toured across more than 15 cities worldwide, and its London dates mark its UK debut.
A Queer East takeover at the ICA on 16 May will feature international and London-based artists including Joseph Lee, Paula Wong, hua hua and Bart Seng Wen Long, alongside a DJ night and film programme.
In addition, an Industry Day at Chats Palace on 23 May will gather queer theatre makers, curators and community organisers for talks, panels and workshops aimed at sharing knowledge and tackling sector-wide challenges.
Yi Wang, Festival and Programme Director of Queer East, says: “Starting as a film-focused showcase in 2020, I am thrilled to see that Queer East has emerged to be one of the most exciting multi-disciplinary arts festivals in the UK, centred on East and Southeast Asian queer communities and beyond. Working closely with our partners across the city, this year’s Queer East presents an artistically ambitious programme that invites audiences to experience some of the most forward-thinking queer performance making in expansive shapes and forms. The richness of Asian and queer communities is a vital part of the UK’s identity, and I hope that Queer East can continue to foster a space for bold, alternative, and multifaceted expressions of Asianness and queerness.”
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
