The Coast is Queer

The Coast is Queer is Brighton’s annual festival of LGBTQ+ literature, bringing together writers, poets, performers, publishers and readers for a celebration of queer lives and storytelling. Established in 2019, the festival creates a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ voices while exploring the social, political and cultural significance of queer writing.

Its programme combines author conversations, panel discussions, poetry, performances, film screenings and creative writing workshops. Events explore a wide range of subjects, from identity, sexuality and relationships to queer history, representation, activism and the changing landscape of contemporary publishing.

The festival champions established and emerging writers, creating opportunities for audiences to encounter new perspectives and engage with questions that shape LGBTQ+ communities. Workshops and publishing events also support aspiring writers, encouraging greater diversity within the literary world.

Presented by New Writing South in partnership with Marlborough Productions, The Coast is Queer has become an important part of Brighton’s cultural calendar. It connects local audiences with writers and ideas from across the UK and beyond, celebrating literature as a means of understanding experience, challenging assumptions and bringing communities together.