Q-Lit Festival: Opening Gala

💫✨ A Night of Our Queer Nostalgia ✨💫

Explore our moments of joy, reflection and desire at the opening celebration to our 2026 festival. From a first kiss and finding community, to the moments that scared us and the people who saved us. These are the beautiful, defining milestones that shape our queerness.

Hosted by Aurelia St Clair, with special guests Anna Piper Scott, Yves Rees, Orlando Silver, Dennis Altman, Alex Creece, and John Bartlett sharing their reflections on the festivals theme - Queer Nostalgia.

⏰ Event schedule

6:00pm - Come on in! ✏ Doors, drinks, and hellos

6:30pm - Let's get into it ✏ Presentations begin

7:30pm - Mingle & Mix ✏ Bar break!

8:00pm - We're back! ✏ The second act

8:40pm - The mic drops ✏ Formalities end

9:30pm - See you tomorrow! ✏ Venue closes

✨ See full festival program here

https://www.q-lit.com.au/queer-nostalgia

🍷 Food & Drink

This event will have a bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks (card only). Light snacks will be available at the bar and the surrounding area has a wonderful range of dinner options.

🎟️ Tickets

All tickets are equal and we encourage you to pay-as-you-can. Free tickets are available to anyone from the community, no questions asked - email hello@q-lit.com.au to secure a free ticket.

🌻 Access

The Auslan ticket is available to anyone who requires Auslan interpretation - selecting this ticket will alert our team to the need for an interpreter and this service will be arranged for the event.

This venue is wheelchair accessible, has gender neutral bathrooms, and a quiet space will be available throughout the event. A social story will be available within the program on our website.

There will be friendly Q-Lit volunteers throughout the event who can guide you, be someone to chat to, or introduce you to others in the community.

🚲 Travel

Nearest train station - Newmarket

Nearest tram stop - Stop 26 Newmarket Plaza/Racecourse Rd

Nearest parking - Newmarket Plaza

📷 Video & Photography

Photos and video of the event may be used on socials and in advertising, if you do not wish for your image to be used please let someone from our team know.

📣 Q-Lit

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