Utrecht is set to be immersed in queer culture for ten days this October as the Utrecht Queer Culture Festival (UQCF) returns for its fourth edition. Running from Friday, 2 October to Sunday, 11 October 2026, this year's festival boasts its largest programme to date, with more than 80 activities scheduled at venues across the city.
The festival, which celebrates the diversity of sexuality, gender, and relationships, will kick off with an invitation-only opening reception at LE:EN on the evening of 2 October. The event will be hosted by Utrecht drag icon Tante Ger, with alderwoman Linda Voortman in attendance. The evening also features the fourth Dirkje Kuik lecture, delivered by Boris Dittrich, and music from DJ Shaniqua Devine.
The festival will conclude on Sunday, 11 October, at De Helling with the presentation of the prestigious Annie Brouwer-Korf prize, an award that recognises individuals or organisations for their contributions to LGBTQ+ emancipation in the region.
Beyond the Main Stage: Exhibitions, Workshops, and Community Events
While the agenda is packed with performances and parties, the festival also offers a wide range of exhibitions, workshops, and community-focused events. Several photo exhibitions will be on display, including 'Trouwen voor iedereen' at Bibliotheek Neude, which marks 25 years of same-sex marriage in the Netherlands, and 'We Are', a project focusing on the experiences of transgender individuals. Both can be viewed during the library's opening hours. Other exhibitions include McQueer Studio's 'The Stripe-Tease Club' at De Kargadoor and 'The Queer Quest', a fiber art display at De Nijverheid (2 to 10 October). At Bij de Vosjes, the photo report 'Meer dan gewenst' portrays four rainbow families and their path to parenthood.
For those looking to get creative or connect, the festival includes queer writing workshops ('Say it loud, say it queer') on 11 October at Bibliotheek Neude, and a dialogue series for international LGBTQIA+ parents on 10 October at De Voorkamer. You can also join an open rehearsal with the DynamiQ Voices choir on 5 October or even book a slot for a queer tattoo with Tattoos By Reen on 3 October. For younger community members, a 'Regenboog kinderfestijn' (Rainbow kids' party) for ages 4-10 will take place at Bibliotheek Neude on 7 October, featuring a reading by drag queen Cherry Poppins. Just before, at 16:00, the interactive storytelling show 'Donnie wil de hoofdrol' (4+) plays in the library's theatre hall.
Full Programme
Friday 2 October
- 19:30, Opening UQCF 2026 & Dirkje Kuik lezing (invitation only), LE:EN
- 20:00, Utrecht Queer Nightlife: Underdog or Ultra-booming?, de Sien
- 20:30, QUEER COMEDY NIGHT (ENGLISH), De Kargadoor
Saturday 3 October
- 13:30, Walk of Love 2026, city centre
- 16:00, Fotoshoot – Jij zoals jij bent (Photoshoot - You as you are), Bibliotheek Neude - Nissen begane grond
- 20:00, DIVA’S VAN DE DOM: Drags Slaying Together, Villa Concordia
- 20:30, QUEER COMEDY NIGHT (ENGLISH), De Kargadoor
Sunday 4 October
- 10:30, Being (curious bodies) Together, Studio 3
- 10:30, Familieclub de Karabijnhaak – koffieleuten, Warmoes
- 13:00, WZP Wandeling (Walk), Zwembad De Kromme Rijn
- 14:30, Lesbian Talk – Live Podcast met Ans & Nel 🎙️, De Kargadoor
- 15:00, Broken Self / A Dance Performance around Gender Norms, ACU Utrecht
- 15:00, KWIK womxn only munch/borrel, Teatro
- 15:00, Drag Me [2] RoXY, Villa Concordia
- 17:00, Bubbles & Bites, Cafe Kalff
- 18:30, KLUP KWEER Open Mic, Kantine Utrecht
Monday 5 October
- 12:30, Queer Health Conference 2026, Jaarbeurs Media Plaza
- 17:30, Queerness & Dis/ability: A Multivoiced Human Library, Universiteit voor Humanistiek
- 17:50, Proefles bij Pink Condition (Trial class), Basisschool Stepping Stones
- 19:30, Queer Talk – relatiediversiteit (relationship diversity), Bibliotheek Neude - zaal Podium
- 19:30, Man-man speeddate 30-45, The 5th
- 20:00, Queer City Tour, Domplein
- 20:00, The Importance of Being Barrie - Barrie Stevens (also 6 Oct), Villa Concordia
Tuesday 6 October
- 10:00, Bij de Vosjes / Koekjes bakken (Baking cookies), Bij de Vosjes
- 12:00, Queer City Tour, Domplein
- 16:00, GGD Utrecht walk-in STI testing, Bibliotheek Neude
- 18:00, Utrecht Ballroom Scene Voguing classes, Studio Eenvijfvijf
- 19:15, Ik Ben Die Ik Ben, Bibliotheek Neude - Filmzaal
- 19:30, Man-man speeddate 25-40, The 5th
- 20:00, Film ‘Downtown’ (UQCF-special), Kinepolis Jaarbeurs Utrecht
Wednesday 7 October
- 17:00, Queering Utrecht’s History – Zichtbaar in de stad, De Kargadoor
- 19:00, Vrouw-vrouw speeddate, The 5th
- 19:15, Whacking Experience, Danszaal Overlvloed
- 19:30, Wrivinge, Bibliotheek Neude - Theaterzaal
- 20:00, Anteros Drag Bingo, Body Talk
- 20:00, Belle & The Bass, Villa Concordia
- 20:30, Voor ik 30 ben... (Before I'm 30...) (Emily Salvia), Werftheater
Thursday 8 October
- 17:00, Queer City Tour – Utrecht Oost, Joods Monument bij het Spoorwegmuseum
- 19:00, Queer (&Ally) Maakruimte (Creative Space), RAUM Utrecht
- 19:00, 030mm film presenteert: Verbinding (Connection), Bibliotheek Neude - Filmzaal
- 19:30, Fighting FLINTA’s, Roots Premium Gym
- 19:30, Newbi+ Workshop, Colour Kitchen Zuilen
- 20:00, Drag & Draw, De Nijverheid
- 20:00, Vier de liefde in de Domkerk! Concert van Galakoor Queer Klassiek, Domkerk
- 20:00, Tammie zoekt een Vriendje (Tammie seeks a boyfriend), Villa Concordia
- 20:00, Wrijving - seksverhalen - extra queer (Friction - sex stories), Moira
- 20:30, Queer Improcomedy door De Interventie, Comedyhuis
Friday 9 October
- 14:00, Workshop: Queer Erotisch Schrijven (Queer Erotic Writing), De Nijverheid
- 17:00, ‘Utrecht uit de kast’: hoe we de zichtbaarheid van de queergemeenschappen en queergeschiedenis vergroten, De Kargadoor
- 17:00, Queer City Tour, Domplein
- 19:00, Danshuis de Bieb – Bachata, Bibliotheek Neude - Hal begane grond
- 19:30, Film: Rebel Dykes (2021), de Sien
- 20:00, Mama Beer (Victorine Plante), Villa Concordia
- 20:30, QUEER COMEDY NIGHT (NEDERLANDS), Comedyhuis Club
- 22:30, Club Kalff – met DJ Buuf Helen, Cafe Kalff
Saturday 10 October
- 13:00, WZP Queer Date Event, Biercafe Oproer
- 13:30, Queer Craft Circle, De Kargadoor
- 16:00, Children of Zeus – Mythical whispers of the inner wounded, De Nijverheid
- 18:30, Trans Zwemmen Utrecht XL Swimming Party, Recreatiebad Utrecht
- 18:30, Smoke & Mirrors - De Roze Bubbel (18:30 and 20:30), Villa Concordia
- 19:30, Sneak With Us, LE:EN
- 20:00, WZP Feest #4 (Party), De KweekVijver
- 20:30, MIC DROP COMEDY (NEDERLANDS), Comedyhuis Club
- 21:30, Neon Quatsch, Acu
Sunday 11 October
- 10:00, 15e Coming Out Sunday, Geertekerk
- 12:00, SOUP FOR THE SOUL XOX, DRUK Utrecht
- 15:00, 50plus zondagmiddagcafé COC Midden Nederland, Doopsgezinde Kerk
- 15:00, Angels - Theater Oester, Villa Concordia
- 15:30, Uitreiking Annie Brouwer-Korf prijs 2026 (closing), De Helling
- 18:30, Paige's Muziek Bingo, Marktzicht
- 20:00, Double Dutch 2 - Derek Mitchell, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht
For full details, tickets, and registration requirements for all events, check the official festival agenda at uqcf.nl/agenda. All events are also listed in the qMeet agenda to help you plan your festival experience.
