Photos of Criminal Queerness Festival 2026 by HanJie Chow and Danny Hidalgo.
Criminal Queerness Festival 2027 Application
Opens on August 3rd, 2026
National Queer Theater will be accepting submissions for the 9th annual Obie Award-winning Criminal Queerness Festival (CQF), which will take place in New York City in June 2027. CQF strives to uplift and amplify new theatrical works by LGBTQ+ artists from countries that censor or criminalize queer communities.
Up to three shows will be selected and given readings, workshops, or full productions in New York City. NQT will produce the shows, including: hiring all the artists, providing dramaturgical support, assembling the design and technical teams, and overseeing performance logistics. NQT will also provide photo/video documentation and marketing. The selected writers will be awarded a stipend of up to $2,500 USD (depending on scope of production), roundtrip airfare to NYC, and accommodations for up to 7 days in NYC if based outside the tri-state area.
The Criminal Queerness Festival welcomes:
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Shows by queer artists from countries that censor or criminalize LGBTQ+ communities.
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Because these are developmental productions and not world premieres or second productions, shows that have previously received full productions in the United States will not be considered. Prior staged readings or workshops without fully realized design elements are okay.
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Shows running 90 minutes or less.
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In-progress and in-development works from writers who are open to creative collaboration and feedback leading up to the production.
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Interdisciplinary work, and proposals for concerts, dance-theater, drag, comedy, or other storytelling formats are also welcome. Submissions of this kind should include an estimate of performers involved, anticipated design/technical needs, and a synopsis/outline of the evening.
Submissions will be evaluated by a curatorial team of international artists who were involved in prior festivals.
Please email adam@nationalqueertheater.org with any questions.
Submissions due August 31, 2026.
ABOUT THE CRIMINAL QUEERNESS FESTIVAL
National Queer Theater’s Obie Award-winning Criminal Queerness Festival (CQF) showcases groundbreaking new works written by artists from countries where queerness is criminalized or censored. At a time when authoritarianism is on the rise globally, CQF elevates refugee, asylee, and immigrant queer voices and enriches the cultural fabric of New York City by introducing audiences to bold, original works that challenge Western norms and inspire global change.
Since the inception of the festival in 2019, National Queer Theater has showcased 19 new works by visionary artists from Syria, Venezuela, Uganda, Iraq, China, Pakistan, Kenya, Ukraine, Cuba, Lebanon, and Poland. The festival is the official theater event of NYC Pride and recipient of a 2020 NYC Mayor's Grant for Cultural Impact Award and a 2025 Obie Award. It has been featured in The New York Times, The Advocate, and NBC News. NQT partners with community groups such as Artistic Freedom Initiative and venues such as HERE Arts Center, Lincoln Center, and PAC NYC to amplify the festival's impact, recruiting audiences into the fight for LGBTQ+ decriminalization.
National Queer Theater is the official theater partner of NYC Pride. The festival is supported by generous funders including New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; and the JKW Foundation. The festival is made possible through collaboration with HERE Arts Center's HERE Hosts program.
We hope you'll join National Queer Theater at HERE Arts Center in June 2027 for the ninth annual Criminal Queerness Festival. If you’d like to support our work and help ensure that LGBTQ+ artists get a censorship-free stage in New York City during Pride month, please consider making a donation.