Plan Your Queer Lesbian Festivals 2025
THE QUEER FESTIVAL LIST | 2025 EDITION
"I'm here because of you."
I was stunned. "What?"
It was the opening night of the Women’s Festival on Lesbos when this stranger approached me.
"Yes," she repeated with a smile. "I saw your ad on Instagram for the 'Lesbian Festivals in Europe' guide, read about this one, and now I'm here."
She was from Colombia. She had traveled all the way from Colombia because of this guide.
It hit me then: this guide works. It’s more than just a list; it’s a map to future connections, friendships, inspiration, and cultural exchange. It’s evidence of lesbian and queer existence—something we might desperately need one day, considering what just happened in Hungary.
Now, I'm proud to present this guide. It's a living document, and I hope you'll share your favorites with me. Let's make it The Absolut Lesbian List.
This curated selection includes festivals for music, film, dance, and more, all organized by date. I've also included Dyke Marches as powerful demonstrations of our visibility.
MARCH
🇦🇹TRICKY WOMEN/TRICKY REALITIES, AUSTRIA 🔗
📍 Vienna 🗓️ 5–9
The film festival has run annually in March since 2001 and is a unique international festival dedicated to animation by women and genderqueer artists. It features competitions, curated programs (historical/contemporary, global/Austrian), workshops, and networking, showcasing the diverse aesthetics of these creators.
🇬🇧BFI FLARE: LONDON LGBTQIA+ FILM FESTIVAL, UK 🔗
📍 London 🗓️ 19-30
The London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival, formerly the London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, is Europe's largest LGBTQ+ film festival. Held every spring in London, it began in 1986 showing LGBTQ+ films as "Gay's Own Pictures" before being renamed in 1988. It has a selection of lesbian features, documentaries, and shorts.
APRIL
🇵🇱16th LGBT+ FILM FESTIVAL POLAND 2025 🔗
📍 Warszawa 🗓️ 4–11
📍 Wroclaw 🗓️ 11–17
📍 Bytom 🗓️ 11–17
📍 Gdansk 🗓️ 11–18
📍 Cracow 🗓️ 11–17
📍 Konin 🗓️ 11–13
📍 Lodz 🗓️ 11–17
🇵🇹PORTO FEMME, PORTUGAL 🔗
📍Porto 🗓️ 7-13
This is the 8th edition of an international film festival that aims to give visibility to women and non-binary people. The festival often has a special focus on lesbian and queer cinema, with dedicated screenings and programs. Since 2017 they also host the PORTO FEMME SESSIONS on the last Wednesday of each month, creating a space for debate and reflection on a wide range of topics. Check their social media for location.
🇮🇹LOVERS FILM FESTIVAL, ITALY 🔗
📍Turin 🗓️ 10-17
Celebrating its 40th edition, Lovers is Europe's oldest and most important LGBTQ+ film festival, with a program of film screenings open to everyone. It's a major cultural event in Turin. During the festival, it also hosts a key two-day networking forum for professionals in the queer film industry, cementing its status as a vital hub for cinema.
🇮🇹IMMAGINARIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, ITALY 🔗
📍Rome 🗓️ 11-13
It is Italy's first International Independent Film Festival dedicated to Lesbian and Feminist themes. Founded in Bologna in 1993 by the Cultural Lesbian Association Visibilia, it showcases international films directed by women, narrating the lives, culture, and history of lesbian and feminist women.
🇮🇹EL*C CONFERENCE, ITALY 🔗
📍Rome 🗓️ 23-26
Celebrate lesbian community, solidarity, and activism. Connect with human rights defenders through feminist discourse and action. Trans-inclusive and welcoming to all who champion lesbian rights. The Eurocentralasian Lesbian* Community (ELC) advocates for lesbian rights, visibility, and well-being across Europe and Central Asia. Founded in 2016, the ELC provides spaces for lesbian voices, influences policy, and conducts research.
🇫🇷THE DRAMAGOUINE FESTIVAL, FRANCE 🔗
📍Pantin 🗓️ 19-20
📍Toulouse 🗓️ 26-27
The 3rd Dramagouine Festival, a LESBOQUEER celebration for International Lesbian Day of Visibility 2025, takes place April 19-27 in Pantin and Toulouse. The festivals features over 150 Sapphic artists and initiatives. Registration is free (donations appreciated) and open to everyone. Notes: "Dramagouines" combines "Drama" + "Gouine" (reclaimed lesbian/dyke slang); "Adelphes" is gender-neutral French for "siblings"; "Tous.tes" is inclusive French for "all/everyone."
MAY
🇪🇸VELVET IBIZA FESTIVAL, SPAIN 🔗
📍Palm Star hotel in San Antonio 🗓️ 8-12
Since 2015, Velvet Ibiza has been Europe's largest queer women's festival, offering music, dance, and community on Ibiza's beautiful beaches.
🇮🇹SICILIA QUEER FILMFEST 2025, ITALY 🔗
📍Palermo 🗓️ 25-31
The festival is held in Palermo and promotes cinematographic culture, fights discrimination, and supports diversity through innovative and non-compliant films. The festival focuses on emerging talent, independent cinema, and experimental forms of expression.
🇪🇸FULANITA FESTIVAL, SPAIN 🔗
📍Fuengirola (Málaga) 🗓️ 30 May – 1 June
Fuengirola, Spain, host a celebration of music, art, and community on the Mediterranean coast.
🇬🇷QUEER RANCH FESTIVAL, GREECE 🔗
📍 Skala Eressos, Lesbos 🗓️ 27-31
This non-profit festival blends five days of parties and culture with a vital mission. Enjoy top international electronic DJs, live music, and workshops while celebrating in a safe space centered on the queer lesbian community. All proceeds support an animal sanctuary, LGBTQ+ refugee solidarity, and other animal welfare charities on Lesbos.
JUNE
🇬🇷MAGIC NIGHTS QUEER FILM FESTIVAL, GREECE 🔗
📍Skala Eressos 🗓️ Lesbos 2-4
The Magic Nights Queer Film Festival is held under the stars in an open-air cinema on Skala Eressos, Lesbos. This year features the Brighton International Animation Festival's acclaimed "Queer as F**k" programme. Their selection explores contemporary queer culture – from lesbian plumbers and gender subversion to 1940s Paris drag queens – through international narrative, documentary, and experimental shorts (UK, USA, France, Denmark, and more).
🇧🇬SOFIA PRIDE FILMFESTIVAL, BULGARIA 🔗
📍Sofia 🗓️ 3-12
The Sofia Pride Film Fest is an annual LGBTIQ+ film festival held in Sofia, Bulgaria. It showcases international films focusing on LGBTIQ+ themes and stories. It's known for being the primary, and often only, such festival in the country, operating in a social climate that can be challenging for the LGBTIQ+ community. It's organized by the Bulgarian LGBTI rights organization "Deystvie" and is part of Sofia Pride.
🇮🇹SAFFFO FESTIVAL, ITALY 🔗
📍Rome 🗓️ 7 June
Founded in Rome in June 2022 by Marta Massarelli and Lucy Bellotti, the artistic collective Safffo (three f's) creates independent queer/dyke* spaces, offering an alternative to mainstream LGBTQIA+ nightlife. Safffo's events prioritize consent, freedom of expression, and artistic celebration, challenging stereotypes. They collaborate internationally with collectives like Magic Dyke* (Berlin).
🇳🇱FEMMAZING FESTIVAL, NETHERLANDS 🔗
📍Amsterdam 🗓️ 8 June
This large-scale women+ only festival anticipates thousands of attendees, creating a safe and inclusive space for connection and celebrating femininity. It features at least three stages with diverse music, alongside activities, workshops, lounge areas, food, and cocktails.
🇬🇧THE OUT & WILD FESTIVAL, UK 🔗
📍Devon 🗓️ 13-15
Biggest festival (3 days) for queer women and those who are non-binary in Devon, UK. Dozens of acts featuring queer female/non-binary experts in wellness, music, and comedy. Mostly free events, some bookable from April.
🇮🇹SHEROCCO FESTIVAL, ITALY 🔗
📍 Ostuni 🗓️ 26-29
This is a LGBTQIA+ festival in Ostuni, the south of Italy. It aims to promote queer culture, fight prejudice, and create a more inclusive environment. The festival uses events like shows, talks, and workshops, mainly targeting young people, to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
🇩🇰THE INTERNATIONAL WEEK OF FEMØ, DENMARK 🔗
📍Femø 🗓️ June 23 – August 17
Since 1971, Femø Women's Camp has been a global gathering for women on a scenic Danish island. Offering communal living and themed weeks with workshops (yoga, art, etc.), Femø welcomes diverse women, including mothers with children (boys under 12). Expect community, diversity, and a unique, returning atmosphere. The festival runs from week 26 to 33.
JULY
🇩🇪BERLIN LESBIAN & GAY CITY FESTIVAL; GERMANY 🔗
📍Berlin 🗓️ 19-20
Europe's largest Lesbian and Gay Festival, presented by Berlin's Regenbogenfonds e.V., returns to Nollendorfplatz. Explore 5 Festival Worlds (Film, Politics, etc.) and LGBT* organizations.
🇪🇸BONITA WOMAN FESTIVAL, BARCELONA, SPAIN 🔗
📍Barcelona 🗓️ 25-27
Launched in 2023, Barcelona's Women's Festival is an event created by and for women. It was created from the need to establish a space where women was free to be themselves and express their identities authentically. The festival features a wide variety of national and international artists representing diverse musical styles, alongside sports, gastronomic experiences, artistic displays, and social gatherings.
AUGUST
🇮🇪DYKONIC: QUEER WOMEN + MUSIC FESTIVAL, IRELAND 🔗
📍 Dublin 🗓️ 9 August
Run by queer/female volunteers across Europe, Dykonic is an independent festival dedicated to celebrating queer voices and underrepresented artists through music and community.
🇫🇷LEZART FESTIVAL, FRANCE 🔗
📍Vicq-sur-Gartempe 🗓️ 22-23
Discover emerging lesbian, queer, and feminist artists in a supportive, participatory environment in Vicq-sur-Gartempe. Festive cultural weekend by ARTS et PERSPECTIVES. All are welcome!
🇪🇸ELLA INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN FESTIVAL, SPAIN 🔗
📍Majorca 🗓️ 29 augusti – 6 september
A festival that promotes the visibility and empowerment of queer women and non-binary people. Through art, music, culture, talks, and interactive workshops, ELLA creates an innovative community space where everyone can feel free, respected, and proud to be themselves.
🇩🇪DYKE* FESTIVAL BERLIN, GERMANY 🔗
📍Berlin 🗓️ 30-31
A multidisciplinary festival celebrating dyke* subculture in all its diversity—for lesbians, bi, queer, trans, and FLINTA* people. The weekend brings together dyke* artists, authors, and thinkers from across Europe. It is organized by Allesbien, a lesbian and bi-collective founded in 2022 whose goal is to create safe, empowering community spaces while celebrating dyke* culture.
SEPTEMBER
🇬🇷THE INTERNATIONAL ERESSOS WOMEN’S FESTIVAL, GREECE 🔗
📍Skala Eressos, Lesbos 🗓️ 7-20
Hosted by Sappho Women in Skala Eressos, this 25th-anniversary celebration offers friendship, connection, learning, and empowerment . With live music, dance, art, trips, workshops, and more!
🇬🇷LESBIAN FEMINIST FILMFESTIVAL, GREECE 🔗
📍Kypseli Municipal Market, Athens 🗓️ 7-8
This is the 3rd Lesbian Feminist Festival documentary screening exploring the vital role of lesbian* and LGBTQI+ spaces. We'll discuss why preserving these spaces is so important right now, as they face the threat of urban gentrification.
🇮🇹SOME PREFER CAKE, ITALY 🔗
📍Bologna 🗓️ 19-21
Lesbian filmfestival in Bologna.
🇸🇪CINEMA QUEER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, SWEDEN 🔗
📍Stockholm 🗓️ 28 September – 5 October
Since 2012, it has showcased queer films that challenge norms and broaden cinematic representation beyond the heteronormative. It serves as a platform for Swedish and international LGBTQ+ film, offering year-round events like school screenings and Pride showings.
OCTOBER
🇳🇱JANEY FESTIVAL, NETHERLANDS 🔗
📍Contactweg 68, Amsterdam 🗓️ 4 October
Janey Festival, an annual Amsterdam event specifically for women who love women (WLW), meaning lesbian, bisexual, queer women, returns to the Thuishaven venue on October 4th, 2025. The festival celebrates music, love, and freedom.
🇫🇷PARIS INTERNATIONAL LESBIAN & FEMINIST FILM FESTIVAL, FRANCE 🔗
📍Paris 🗓️ 30 October – 2 November
Focused on lesbian visibility and self-representation, this annual festival showcases films by women directors for/by lesbians. It's a vital platform for diverse lesbian/feminist perspectives often unseen elsewhere, fostering debate and community.
🇩🇰MIX COPENHAGEN LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL, DENMARK 🔗
📍 Copenhagen 🗓️ 24 October – 2 November
One of the world's oldest LGBTQIA+ film festivals, MIX CPH promotes visibility, diversity, and inclusion through cinema. The non-profit, volunteer-run festival showcases films exploring LGBTQIA+ experiences, fostering community and dialogue on social issues.
NOVEMBER
🇪🇸LESGAICINEMAD: Madrid LGBTIAQ+ INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, SPAIN 🔗
📍Madrid 🗓️ 11-23
LesGaiCineMad (est. 1996) is Madrid's premier International LGBTQIA+ Film Festival. Annually featuring 100+ films, panels, labs, and industry events, it's a key reference for Spanish-speaking LGBTQIA+ festivals.
🇦🇹QUEERTACTICS: QUEER FEMINIST FILMFESTIVAL, AUSTRIA 🔗
📍Vienna 🗓️ 12-16
Find further details on their website and Instagram.
🇬🇧OUTBURST QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL, NORTHERN IRELAND 🔗
📍Belfast 🗓️ 14-22
Outburst Queer Arts Festival in Belfast, is a curated week showcasing vital new queer art and culture. The festival focus on work that centres queer ideas and disruptive imagination, engaging with today's necessary conversations about sexuality and gender-personally, politically, and collectively.
