A queer exhibition exploring performance, bodies, public space, and community.
June – September 2026, Cascine Park and Isolotto – Florence
Florence, June 6, 2026 – The first event date for Pride River, a queer festival conceived by Arcigay Firenze Altresponde and under the artistic direction of Chiara Renzi, is approaching.
A series of four events, the first on June 21st, will transform the spaces of Ultravox – Prato della Tinaia and the PARC – Performing Arts Research Centre into a large, accessible, and intergenerational cultural space, where LGBTQIA+ bodies and identities become a political, poetic, and ritual space.
“"With this second edition of Pride River," says Daniele Bonaiuti, president of Arcigay Firenze Altresponde, "we want to create a space for the LGBTQIA+ community to be visible at Parco delle Cascine, one of Florence's iconic locations. We'll be present throughout the summer with meetings, shows, walks, DJ sets, and much more, reclaiming a place of fun, freedom, and resistance, alongside many artists, guests, and city associations."”
“"We believe that in this historic moment, art, culture, and presence in public spaces are a fundamental tool for awareness and encounter," said Chiara Renzi, artistic director of Pride River. "This second edition expands the dialogue between different languages, from theater to music, from stand-up comedy to ballroom culture, from wellness practices to moments of activism. Each event is designed as an opportunity to come together, build community, and imagine new ways of inhabiting public space. Pride River is not just a series of events, but an invitation to recognize the richness of differences and transform them into a shared resource for the entire city."”
Pride River 2026 is born from the collaboration between Arcigay Firenze and a broad network of local entities and organizations, including Underdogs, Collettivo FLINTA, Florence Queer Festival, Queer Sangha Firenze, IREOS, Comunità Queer Autogestita, Casa delle Donne a Firenze, CollettivO.SCENA, Agedo Firenze, CAD Altre Sponde*, as well as artistic collectives, independent publishing houses, sports associations, and transfeminist organizations.
The program combines theater, music, cinema, dance, drag, stand-up comedy, physical exercises, ecological trails, and sports, with initiatives such as Green Walk—an experiential walk in the Cascine Park dedicated to urban biodiversity—and Green Volley, a volleyball tournament designed to provide an informal gathering and activate the space.
On June 21st, we'll kick off with an urban meditation walk, curated by QueerShanga, starting at 6:00 PM from the Tinaia lawn: a public gesture of queer visibility in the city. In the afternoon, there's a volleyball tournament curated by Revolution ASD, while the collective O.SCENA will present a movement workshop, Popular Outside Performance. At 8:30 PM, music will take to the stage with JAMILA, a local singer-songwriter known for her edgy contemporary pop and unconventional lyrics. Her music combines emotion, character, and authenticity, creating a distinctive and personal style. With the release of her first album, Frammenti, in 2021, she immediately demonstrated a strong artistic identity and a natural ability to connect with audiences.
At all its stops, Pride River will pay particular attention to the creation of safer spaces and information points, run by the Altre Sponde Anti-Discrimination Center (CAD) and the Casa delle Donne in Florence. These will be flanked by stands from independent associations and projects, offering tools against discrimination and encouraging visibility, discussion, and participation.
Pride River is part of the 2026 Florentine Summer program as a cultural and artistic project, with a clear focus on contemporary LGBTQIA+ cultures and the valorization of public space as a place for encounter, healing, and creative conflict.
The detailed program with times, guests, and activities will be available on the Arcigay Firenze and partner organizations' channels.
SUNDAY, JUNE 21 – FLUIDƏ | FLINTA DAY
SATURDAY, JULY 18 – QUEERNES | BALLROOM DAY
event organized in collaboration with Collettivo FLINTA*
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 – HƏHƏ | COMEDY DAY
event organized in collaboration with Underdogs Creative and Florence Queer Festival
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 – SUBVERSIVES | DRAG DAY
appointment in collaboration with UNDERDOGS
Press Office Isabella Mancini, 3391156877
Article taken from http://feeds.feedburner.com/ArcigayFirenzeAltreSponde
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