Your Queer Neighbours Festival 2026 - Our Neighbourhood of Care - Hot Pot

The Your Queer Neighbours Festival 2026 invites us to slow down and imagine Our Neighbourhoods of Care - Hot Pot, spaces where connection feels gentle, genuine, and close to home.

In a world that’s often fast and loud, this festival offers moments of reflection and belonging for queer international students, alumni, and allies to explore what a supportive, queer-friendly neighbourhood might look like. Is it a garden we tend together, a shared meal, a quiet chat, or simply knowing someone nearby cares? Through art, storytelling, and shared experiences, we’ll create a neighbourhood of warmth, care, and curiosity. Together, we create our little cozy neighbourhood place where we can all belong.

What to expect:

• Art, zines, and storytelling by queer international creators

• Cultural exchange through food, music, and performance

• Intercultural dialogue and community connection

• A celebration of resilience, identity, and belonging

• Grab a bite, meet new people, and mingle

• Or just chill and relax in a quiet corner

Festival Schedule

We encourage everyone to arrive from 4:00 pm so you can experience our opening mindfulness session, meet other community members, and settle into the space before the activities begin.

🕓 4:00 – 5:00 pm

🌿 Unison Stones Meditation

Begin the festival with a gentle grounding meditation using stones, breath, and mindful connection to yourself, others, and the space around you.

🕔 5:00 – 5:15 pm

🎤 Official Welcome & Opening Speeches

Join us for the official festival opening, featuring welcome remarks from:

• Joe Ball – Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities

• Judy Tang – Victorian Multicultural Commissioner

• Major Brendon Nottle - Commanding Officer of the Salvation Army

🕔 5:15 – 7:15 pm

🎨 Interactive Festival Activities (drop in anytime)

Explore a neighbourhood of care through creative workshops, games, storytelling and community activities, including:

💜 Better Together Bubble Tea

✍️ Mengelmoes Poetry Club: Doorways

💌 Lost & Found Corner

🎟️ Hot Pot Connection Ticket

🎮 Bobarista Game

🌿 Sensory Place-Making Space

🏠 What Are Homes? Clay Workshop

🎨 My Neighbourhood: Belonging & Care

🩺 Community Resources & HIV Self-Testing Hub

🕢 7:15 – 7:55 pm

🥟 Free Community Dinner & Cultural Exchange

Enjoy a shared meal, connect with others, and celebrate the warmth of our Hot Pot neighbourhood.

🕗 7:55 – 8:35 pm

🎭 Cultural Performances

Celebrate the richness and diversity of our communities through performances by Nupurasa, Melindo Dance Group, MahsurI and other community artists.

🕣 8:35 – 9:00 pm

✨ Closing Circle & Community Reflection

Come together to reflect on the evening, celebrate our shared experiences, and honour the neighbourhood of care we've created together.

🌟 We recommend arriving at 4:00 pm!

The opening meditation and mindfulness experience sets the tone for the festival and offers a beautiful opportunity to slow down, connect with others, and ease into the evening together. We'd love for you to join us from the very beginning.

Hosted by Our Point 3.

Supported by

• Victorian State Government.

• Feifei Curiosity

• Better Acts

• City of Melbourne

• The Salvation Army

• The Couch International Student Centre

• Auspicious Arts Projects

• Mengelmoes Poetry Club

• Switchboard Victoria

• Thorne Harbour Health

• Trans Sisters United

• Australia Association of CALD Mental Health Practitioners (ACMHP)

• City of Melbourne

In collaboration with community artists, grassroots organisers, multicultural LGBTQIA+ leaders, and community members.