Gender Bender International Festival
The international festival of Bologna on bodies, genders, and desires
Edition 2026 not confirmed to date
This edition has not been confirmed by the organiser to date. We recommend checking before going.
About Gender Bender
An international festival in Bologna on bodies, genders, and desires
The Gender Bender International Festival is one of the most recognizable cultural events in Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna and the Metropolitan City of Bologna. Produced by the Cassero LGBTQIA+ Center, the festival has for over twenty years intercepted the imaginaries produced by international contemporary culture around new representations of the body, gender differences, and sexual orientations.
A multidisciplinary review spread throughout the city
Gender Bender is a declaredly multidisciplinary festival: the program intertwines film screenings, dance and theater performances, installations and visual art exhibitions, conferences and round tables, live concerts, DJ sets, and clubbing nights. The events are distributed in numerous venues across Bologna, from the Cassero LGBTQIA+ Center to historic cinemas like Cinema Modernissimo and Cinema Lumière, as well as theaters, exhibition spaces, and cultural venues in the city.
A look at contemporary identity
The heart of the project is the reflection on contemporary representations of bodies, genders, and desires. Each edition proposes a thematic focus that runs through the various disciplines and hosts artists from all over the world, with previews, national premieres, and international productions. The artistic direction is curated by Mauro Meneghelli, a long-time supporter of the festival alongside the Cassero.
A cultural reference point
In the Italian landscape, Gender Bender represents a significant event for those who follow LGBTQIA+ culture, contemporary dance, and auteur cinema. The festival aims to be a model of how differences can contribute to building a richer and more welcoming society, engaging a broad and diverse audience and dialoguing with the city's cultural institutions.
When it takes place
Gender Bender traditionally takes place in the autumn, between the end of October and the first days of November. The 23rd edition took place from October 30 to November 8, 2025; the complete program, venues, and access methods are published annually on the festival's official website.
Gender Bender — edition 2026
The Gender Bender International Festival is expected to return to Bologna in autumn 2026 with its 24th edition, confirming the multidisciplinary event produced by the Cassero LGBTQIA+ Center. Based on previous editions, the festival traditionally takes place between the end of October and the beginning of November.
Currently, the calendar and program for the 2026 edition have not yet been officially published: dance, cinema, performance, visual arts, talks, and clubbing nights will, as usual, comprise a review spread across multiple venues in the city. For definitive dates, guest artists, and access details, please refer to the official website genderbender.it and the festival's social media channels.
Programme Gender Bender 2026
The detailed program for the 24th edition in 2026 has not yet been published. As in previous editions, a multidisciplinary lineup is expected with international contemporary dance performances, film and documentary screenings, performances, visual art exhibitions, literary encounters, and music and clubbing nights. The full program will be announced on the official website and social media channels of the Cassero LGBTQIA+ Center.
Highlights Gender Bender 2026
- Contemporary dance performances with international companies and choreographers
- Screenings of films and documentaries, including previews and national premieres
- Talks, conferences, and round tables on body, genders, and identity
- Performances, visual arts, and clubbing nights across multiple venues in Bologna
Prices Gender Bender 2026
Practical information — Gender Bender
Where it takes place
Gender Bender events are spread across multiple venues in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna. The headquarters is the Cassero LGBTQIA+ Center, at Via Don Minzoni 18, but the program involves cinemas, theaters, and cultural spaces throughout the city.
How to get there
Bologna is easily reachable by train thanks to Bologna Centrale station, a high-speed hub, and by car via the A1 and A14 motorways. Guglielmo Marconi Airport connects the city to the main national and international airports. The festival venues are mostly reachable on foot or by public transport from the historic center.
Tickets and access
Prices vary depending on the individual event: some events are free, while others require or recommend booking. It is advisable to consult the official website genderbender.it for the updated program, costs, and booking methods.
Contacts
Phone: +39 051 0957200 — Email: [email protected] — Website: genderbender.it
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Where does it take place — Gender Bender
Cassero LGBTQIA+ Center e sedi diffuse in città
Via Don Minzoni 18, 40121 Bologna