Queer living as Resistance, as Knowledge, and as Joy

We dream of a Queer Utopia - a possibility of a better, happier, and more liberated future for us all. Yet the world feels more fragile and uncertain than ever. SapfoFest’26 invites us to pause amid this constant motion forward, to take a breath of summer air, and, for a moment, shift our focus to the present: to our everyday material lives, our immediate environment, and those around us. Let’s together explore queer living as Resistance, as Knowledge, and as Joy.

A Queerness is more than an identity label - it is a way of living. It is resistance to cisheteropatriarchal norms through our everyday practices - the way we love and care for ourselves and each other, the way we build family and community, the way we celebrate and grieve our lives. We invite to explore:

-How does resistance to cis/heteropatriarchal norms take shape in daily life?

-What role does community play in our collective resistance?

-How can we build sustainable communities that support us emotionally and materially?

Importantly, this is an invitation not only to reflect but to take action through co-creation. We welcome everyone to share knowledge, skills, and resources - to learn, to teach, and to find like-minded collaborators. This is a space to connect and make your ideas and community a Reality.

‘Queer living’ as Knowledge

‘Queer living’ as Resistance

Queerness is also a form of knowledge, inscribed into our bodies, our land, and our love. Knowledge that is inherently lived, embodied, individual, and collective. ‘Queer Living’ creates space for sharing this knowledge and wisdom across cultures and generations, through stories, conversations, art, and research. We invite to explore:

-How are our lives, identities, and experiences shaped by the contexts we inhabit - in Lithuania, Eastern Europe, and beyond?

-What are the many ways of queer living, and how can they be celebrated?

-What lives become visible when we move beyond simple binaries - visible/invisible, resistance/assimilation, liberated/oppressed? How can we attend to lives that remain opaque, that do not fit neatly within visibility politics, that are not easily translated into identity categories?

-What kinds of knowledge and strength emerge from diverse lived experiences?

‘Queer living’ as Joy

“Queer living” is not just about survival; it is about seeking nourishment and cultivating joy within a world that often does not sustain us. We invite to explore:

-What does queer joy look like in everyday life? How can we find pleasure and nourishment in a society that often seeks to erase us?

-How can art, culture, and creativity help us connect, imagine, and build community?

-In what ways is joy itself a form of resistance?