Since 1988, Midsumma has provided Melbourne with a cultural festival that embraces and celebrates all sexual and gender diverse identities.
Midsumma, Melbourne's annual Queer Celebration, is a federation of arts and cultural events spread over 85 different venues throughout Melbourne and Regional Victoria. The festival is presented over three weeks from mid January to February and, having been held annually since 1988, is a significant attraction on the Melbourne festival calendar. Midsumma is funded through the involvement and financial support of our sponsors, our patrons and our wonderful community. Our vision, mission, profile and strategic objectives are outlined in the Midsumma Strategic Plan: 2014-2016.Midsumma Festival brings a diverse mix of artists and performers together under a single umbrella for an impassioned celebration and innovative presentation of queer arts and culture. The festival program is made up of a wide range of events and activities including visual art, theatre, spoken word, cabaret, film, live music, parties, sport, social events and public forums.
Offering a diverse, exciting and relevant program, Midsumma continues to attract a broad and ever-evolving audience to Melbourne and Victoria. Each year over 150,000 individuals from around the globe participate in and attend festival events.
Midsumma's largest iconic events are Carnival, T Dance and Pride March, all of which are outdoor public celebrations that have evolved over the years. Carnival and T Dance are supported by the City of Melbourne, annually draw in approximately 100,000 people and have become the traditional opening day events.
MIDSUMMA festival director Tennille Moisel believes the festival has helped Melbourne’s LGBTI community create its own history.
“Unlike other minority groups, we [LGBTI] don’t have documented histories to remind us of where we’ve come from, no formal celebrations to bring us together to commune or reflect,” she told the Star Observer.
“Every time we choose to come together at something like Carnival or the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, or tune into JOY 94.9 – we are creating our own history.”
Kicking off the festival on Sunday, January 17 is Carnival day, where thousands of LGBLTI, friends and families are expected to descend on Alexandra Gardens for a day of live entertainment, music, food, and countless community organisation stalls and marquees.
Midsumma will then run until February 7, with a host of events, shows, and performances in its line-up.
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Website midsumma.org.au