Questa Cosa Queer – Poetry Slam
Queer performance poetry in Rome's local venues
About Questa Cosa Queer
A queer poetry slam in the heart of Rome
Questa Cosa Queer is a performance poetry project that has brought queer, transfeminist, and LGBTQIA+ themed poetry slams to venues across Rome. Rather than a single festival concentrated over a few days, it is a widespread circuit: throughout the year, the collective organizes multiple poetry competitions in various locations across the capital, from the Malo Glitter Bar in the Pigneto district to spaces in San Lorenzo, the historic heart of Rome's independent cultural scene.
The team behind the project
The project was founded in Rome in 2023 by a group of performers from the LIPS – Lega Italiana Poetry Slam circuit, gathered around the Queer Poetry Speaks Up! series, which was hosted for a year by bar.lina, a queer exhibition space in the San Lorenzo district. The collective presents itself as a fluid and expanding group, active not only in Rome but also in Florence and the Emilia-Romagna region: a bridge capable of activating hotspots in multiple cities and creating safe spaces where performers can express themselves freely. The stated goal is to build a circuit for expression and dialogue on queerness from an artistic perspective, inspired by the principles of queer theory.
How a competition works
A poetry slam is a live poetry challenge with simple, strict rules: you perform your own original pieces, using only your body and voice (no musical accompaniment, props, or costumes), and you have three minutes each. The winner is decided by a jury of five people drawn at random from the audience, who assign a score to each performance. Some Roman stages are valid for the LIPS championship, with the best performers advancing to the national finals.
Voices and themes
- Performance poetry with queer, transfeminist, and LGBTQIA+ themes
- Original texts on identity, the body, desire, and community
- A platform for emerging voices in the Roman and national poetry scene
- International guests featured during special evenings
A project rooted in the community
Active between the Municipio II and the surrounding districts, Questa Cosa Queer is part of the vibrant scene of the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, in the Lazio region. Its events often coincide with symbolic dates such as the San Lorenzo Pride and the World Poetry Week, the global poetry week promoted in Rome by WOW – Incendi Spontanei with the support of Municipio II and the Teatro di Roma Foundation. For the audience, it is an opportunity to discover a form of poetry that is direct, physical, and participatory—far from the page and close to the stage.
Questa Cosa Queer — edition 2026
2026 Edition
The 2026 season of Questa Cosa Queer unfolds throughout the year with multiple stops in Rome. The two key events are the poetry slam on March 25th at the Malo Glitter Bar, included in the World Poetry Week 2026 (March 20-25), and the performance on June 12th for the San Lorenzo Pride. Both evenings bring queer, transfeminist, and LGBTQIA+ themed performance poetry to the stage, following the classic slam format.
A project across the city's venues
As per the collective's tradition, the venues change, crossing the San Lorenzo and Pigneto districts in the Municipality of Rome. World Poetry Week is promoted by WOW – Incendi Spontanei with the support of the Municipality II of Rome Capital and the Teatro di Roma Foundation, with Questa Cosa Queer among the festival's partners.
Programme Questa Cosa Queer 2026
March 25, 2026 – Malo Glitter Bar (Pigneto)
Questa Cosa Queer Poetry Slam as part of World Poetry Week 2026. Venue opens at 7:00 PM, show from 9:00 PM to 11:30 PM. EmCee of the evening: Olympia. Special guest: international poet Elio Lislerud from Norway. Performance poetry challenge with original pieces, body and voice only, three minutes each, and a jury of five people drawn from the audience.
June 12, 2026 – Lore (San Lorenzo)
Slam Poetry Performance by Questa Cosa Queer for the San Lorenzo Pride (fourth edition of the neighborhood pride), from 8:30 PM, free admission. Featuring various voices from the Roman queer poetry scene with original texts on identity and LGBTQIA+ themes.
Throughout the year, the collective also proposes other dates and stops: it is recommended to check for updates on the project's channels.
Highlights Questa Cosa Queer 2026
- Poetry slam on March 25th at Malo Glitter Bar for World Poetry Week
- International guest Elio Lislerud (Norway) with EmCee Olympia
- Performance on June 12th for San Lorenzo Pride, free admission
- Popular jury drawn at random from the audience
Prices Questa Cosa Queer 2026
Practical information — Questa Cosa Queer
Where
The events are held in various venues across Rome, particularly in the San Lorenzo and Pigneto districts: Malo Glitter Bar (Via Fanfulla da Lodi 3, Pigneto), Lore (Via dei Sabelli, San Lorenzo), and other queer spaces in the city. It is advisable to check the venue for each event on the project's channels.
How to get there
San Lorenzo and Pigneto are easily accessible from Termini Station by tram and city bus; the San Lorenzo district is just a few minutes from the station. Parking in the area is limited: public transport is recommended.
Admission
Evenings are generally free or by voluntary contribution (a donation starting from 5 euros is recommended in the performance halls). For some dates, booking is appreciated. Updates on dates and venues can be found on the Instagram profile @questacosaqueer.
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Where does it take place — Questa Cosa Queer
Sedi multiple (Malo Glitter Bar, Lore, bar.lina e altri spazi queer)