When does the 3rd Queer Film Festival Kassel take place?

The festival runs from May 22 to 24, 2026, with the listed date on May 23, 2026, at 1:00 PM.

Where can the Queer Film Festival Kassel be seen?

The venue is the BALi cinemas in the Cultural Station in Kassel, specifically at Rainer-Dierichs-Platz 1, 34117 Kassel.

How much are the tickets?

Individual tickets cost €5 or €12 based on self-assessment. Additionally, there are free solidarity tickets upon request.

Is there a festival pass?

Yes, a festival pass is only available on-site at the BALi Cinema and costs €30 or €60 based on self-assessment.

What does the program include?

The program includes feature films, short film programs, a drag show, film discussions, a retrospective, a comic reading, cinema karaoke, exhibitions, community brunch, and a market of possibilities.

Is the festival planned to be barrier-free?

The festival publishes a barrier information paper and offers additional information on access, approach, and awareness.

Queer Film Festival Kassel 2026

Name: 3rd Queer Film Festival Kassel 2026
Start: 2026-05-23T15:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-25T01:59:59+02:00
Location: BALi Kinos im KulturBahnhof

3rd Queer Film Festival Kassel: A weekend full of cinematic art, community, and queer visibility

The Queer Film Festival Kassel transforms the BALi Cinema in the Cultural Station from May 22 to 24, 2026, into a vibrant meeting place for queer film culture, art, and encounters. The festival sees itself as a space for and by the queer community and for everyone who wants to experience cinema as a political, emotional, and communal experience.

A festival that creates space

The framework itself defines the character of this multi-day experience: film screenings meet discussions with filmmakers, protagonists, the curation team, and cooperation partners. Additionally, there will be a cinematic drag show for the opening, a comic reading, cinema karaoke, and the Queer Film Festival Celebration at the Caricatura Bar. This is not merely a sequence of program items but a festival atmosphere with attitude.

Queer cinema in all its breadth

At the center are seven feature films, three short film programs, and a retrospective with a discussion about the program ROSA SEIFENBLASEN, which makes queer life in Kassel during the 90s visible. The program is complemented by documentary portraits, scent cinema, and a dance performance. This mix shows how impactful curated festival organization can be when film history, present, and local memory intertwine.

More than a screen: Exhibitions, brunch, and a market of possibilities

Around the screenings, the festival opens up to the house and the city. Two exhibitions in the train station hall and in the foyer of the Open Channel, a community brunch, and the market of possibilities with Kassel associations, initiatives, and groups create space for exchange, networking, and a sense of community. Herein lies the special strength of the festival: it connects the cinematic experience, activism, and closeness to everyday life.

The venue: BALi Cinema in the Cultural Station

The BALi Cinema is located directly in Kassel's main train station, bringing urban accessibility and an intimate cinema atmosphere together. Arriving by public transport is uncomplicated, parking is available at the train station square, and the festival also places emphasis on clear information regarding barriers and awareness. This creates an open, well-connected, and consciously designed festival area in the heart of the city for visitors.

Conclusion: A must for everyone who wants to experience cinema as a community

The 3rd Queer Film Festival Kassel offers much more than a strong film program in 2026. It is a festive, intelligent, and visible place for queer culture, for encounters, and for an audience that wants to not only watch films but negotiate them together. Those seeking a festival atmosphere with substance should experience this weekend live at the BALi Cinema.