HOT Festival is the NYC celebration of queer culture: theatre, dance, music, literature and homoeroticism for the whole family?!? HOT began at Dixon Place in 1992 as the first all-inclusive LGBTQIA+ festival. It remains the longest-running festival of its kind in the world!
Since its inception, the festival has been a pioneering platform for queer artists, known for its eclectic and avant-garde performances that embrace diversity and challenge norms. Past festivals have featured a mix of solo works, musicals, readings and special events by LGBTQ+ playwrights, directors, literary artists, dancers, comedians and performers.
Highlights from the 2025 lineup include:
Mary & The Shelleys (Unplugged)
by L.X Moon
An intimate night of music from and inspired by L.X Moon's Trans-Horror-Punk Cabaret.
The Infinite Pride
by the NY Neofuturists
30 short plays, 1 queer hour. The New York Neo-Futurists will attempt to perform 30 of their favorite, queerest plays in a race against the clock!
HOT Dance!
Curated by Sangeeta Yesley
An evening of dance featuring queer identified choreographers.
The Lesbian Lab: The (Re) Awakening of A Black, Middle Age Doctor in the United States
by Dr. Micia Mosely
A hilarious midlife spiral meets queer theory in Dr. Micia Mosely’s comedy-lab of healing and heart.
Minor History of Major Homosexuals: Now With Footnotes and Fringe
by Shelton Whimsy
Exploring everything from Hadrian’s boyfriend to the Uffizi’s spicy saints—history’s queer, loud, proud and fabulous.
Love and Other Hard Truths
by Valarie Walker
Love in all its forms can be hard to survive. Come hear love stories (of self, of others, sexy love and deep friendships).
[palatable] Gay Robot
by Stephen Brower
Step into the tech world as HumaVibe unveils their latest product: Billie Bowtie. A gay robot built to entertain straight audiences...what could go wrong?
Me-Wee’s Playhouse–Juneteenth in July!
by Nicole Hill
Part performance art, play-date & social experiment, Me-Wee’s is a child-like space for grown-ass folk up in these "United States of Traumatization”.
