Australia’s premier LGBTQIA+ arts and cultural experience, Midsumma Festival, is set to take place across metro Melbourne and regional locations for 22 days, launching on 23 January through to 13 February 2022 with a program sure to delight. Bigger and better than ever before, Midsumma Festival is the most glamourous time of the year in the queer calendar and will make its return with an incredible line-up of spectacular performances, exhibitions, visual arts, live music, theatre, spoken word, cabaret, film, parties, sport, social events, and public forums. The event aims to shine a spotlight on preeminent queer arts and cultural festivities with leading international, national, and local artists. “After such a challenging few years we are thrilled to once again deliver such a broad range of events that highlight the talent and diversity of our artists, and our communities, in such a vital way” Midsumma CEO, Karen Bryant commented.

Bryant said that celebrating LGBTQIA+ diverse journeys, culture makers and communities, Midsumma Festival will present an impressive 161 open-access events made for, and by queer communities who live with shared experiences around diverse gender and sexuality. Bryant went on to explain that alongside the Festival, Midsumma will host its carefully curated program, Midsumma Presents, presenting 34 events that highlight the unsung heroines and unheard voices of queer intersectional communities of this time. Offering arts events for everyone in every body, Midsumma Festival will focus its 2022 major project AND/OR on breaking a new artistic ground by shining the spotlight on the disability communities and centring own voices.
Bryant explained that AND/OR is a platform for artists who are queer (and/or LGBTQIA+, and/or rainbow people, and/or…) and disabled (and/or Deaf/hard-of-hearing, and/or Blind/low vision, and/or neurodiverse, and/or autistic, and/or living with chronic illness, and/or…). The program of works are disability-led and from multiple perspectives, ranging from unapologetic to vulnerable, celebratory to questioning, reflective to riotous. Bryant also explained that to kick off festivities, the opening weekend of the three-week Festival will launch with the renowned Midsumma Carnival, a one day, 11-hour festival taking over Alexandra Gardens, on 23 January. With the return of audience favourites, plus a stunning line-up of lip-syncing, drag dazzling, stellar acts, this will give audiences a sneak peek of the glamourous performances taking place throughout the Festival.

A SNAPSHOT OF THE EXCITING 2022 MIDSUMMA FESTIVAL PROGRAM –
Midsumma Festival will showcase a line-up of audience favourites and remarkable up and coming acts including –

• Musicians of Orchestra Victoria will unite on 29th January for Pride and Joy to celebrate queer composers across time and place at Joan Hammand Hall.
• Multi-Tony Award-winning musical, Fun House, will take centre stage at Art Centre Melbourne – Music by Jeanine Tesori. Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron. Based on the graphic novel by Alison Bechdel • Queers in Science – on Neurodiversity from AND/OR, Midsumma’s major program will spotlight the day-to-day experience of neurodivergent individuals at The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health on 27th January.
• International comedians and much-loved Melbourne performers Thomas Jaspers and Kyle Minall will return to Midsumma Festival for two nights only on 27th and 30th January at Comedy Republic for their hilarious show “An Intimate Evening With Granny Bingo”.
•  One of Australia’s sizzling hot, politically outraged comic talents, Tom Ballard will take centre stage for one night only for his show “Night of Comedy with Tom Ballard”. It is one of the hottest tickets on the program.
• Midsumma’s much-loved Bowie Ball is back for an anything-goes extravaganza. Hosted at The Night Cat, the one-night-only David Bowie celebration brings together the best in music, art, fashion, and entertainment.
• Hilarious cult indie choir sensation and winner of two Melbourne Fringe Awards, Seamen! The Sea Shanty Spectacular, will add a modern pop spin to a bounty of seafaring songs at The Curtin. • The Toff in Town will host the long-time running and beloved cabaret show, .CHURCH. from 3 rd – 6 th February. Showcasing some of Australia’s queerest and dearest cabaret, circus and burlesque treats, the spiritual experience will leave you dripping in sin.
• Perfect for gin lovers, The Seven Gins of Pride will host a 2-hour gin masterclass with a twist on 12th February at The Laird, which will guarantee you will learn a new cocktail or two.
• A party for grown-ups inspired by Mini Beast Disco’s research play, Composting Cabaret.
• Award-winning comedian, Charlie Lewin, will bring his ever-so popular show Cockatiel to the Comedy Republic for a belly full of laughs.
• An all-star cast of queer artists will have you singing the most beloved queer anthems for a night of Queer-aoke.
• Collingwood Town Hall will host the Coming Back Out Tea Dance. Perfect for the older LGBTQIA+ communities, it will feature stunning constellation of rainbow and allied performers from Naarm

Bryant said that as part of the Festival, the iconic Midsumma Pride March will parade and party down Fitzroy St, St Kilda on 6 February celebrating Pride March’s 27th anniversary, showing that marching for pride is more important than ever before.  Audiences can tune in virtually or by visiting a participating venue on Fitzroy St. With something for every Melbournian, don’t forget to add these dates to your calendar, Midsumma Festival 2022 is an event you won’t want to miss.