Rooted in Resistance: Brussels Hosts Its First SWANA Queer Festival

From June 5 to 7, La Balsamine in Schaerbeek transforms into a vibrant hub for queer SWANA* voices with the third edition of Festival Boutures, curated this year by Brussels-based collective B.R.A.V.E. Through performances, workshops, and conversations, the festival creates space for diasporic stories and intersectional identities. It brings together artists from across Southwest Asia and North Africa and their European diasporas. At a time of ongoing violence in the region, this gathering feels both urgent and deeply necessary for queer communities.

A theatre reimagined by B.R.A.V.E.

Festival Boutures has always been about handing over the keys—inviting collectives to reshape La Balsamine’s stage and spirit. For this third edition, B.R.A.V.E. (Bodies Rage Arts Vital Empowerment) takes that invitation seriously, turning the venue into Brussels’ first-ever SWANA queer festival.

Founded in Schaerbeek in 2019, B.R.A.V.E. works at the intersection of art and activism, creating spaces where queer SWANA identities can exist fully and visibly. Their approach is not just about programming events—it is about shifting narratives, opening dialogue, and holding space for complex, layered experiences of belonging. In a city like Brussels, where diasporic communities are central yet often underrepresented in mainstream cultural spaces, this kind of initiative feels both local and political.

Stories, stages, and shared experiences

Across three days, the festival moves fluidly between formats and emotions, mixing intimate moments with collective celebration.

Friday evening opens with a conversation and reading by Elias Jahshan, presenting This Queer Arab Family for the first time in Belgium—an important moment to reflect on queerness within Arab family structures. The night continues with spoken word by Sihame Haddiou and concerts by Sanam Maroufkhani and Dornika, blending poetic expression with live music.

Saturday expands into participatory and embodied practices. A screen-printing workshop by FSB Press and a psychocorporal session with Ahmad Bábá invite audiences to engage creatively and physically. Later, poetry readings by Athena Farrokhzad and Haleh Chinikar explore memory, rage, and the body. The evening shifts into performance with experimental pop artist Parisa Mandani and a drag cabaret by Gazelle Hafia, merging politics and pleasure on stage.

On Sunday, the pace softens but remains just as meaningful. Author Fatima Daas leads a conversation on her work, including The Last One, touching on faith, sexuality, and identity. The festival closes with a joyful tea dance hosted by Herhalde and KUDUR, inspired by Istanbul’s social dance culture—an invitation to gather, move, and celebrate together.

Why this festival matters now

Festival Boutures stands out not just for its programme, but for the space it creates. It centers queer SWANA voices that are often marginalized both within European queer scenes and within their own cultural contexts.

By bringing together artists with roots in Iran, Palestine, Morocco, Lebanon, Turkey, Algeria, and beyond, the festival highlights how identity is never singular. It is inherited, negotiated, sometimes imposed—but also reclaimed. This intersectional approach resonates strongly in Brussels, a city shaped by migration, multilingualism, and layered identities.

At its core, the festival offers something still too rare: a safer, community-driven space where queer SWANA people can see themselves reflected—not as exceptions, but as the norm. In today’s climate, that visibility is not just cultural; it is vital.

Practical info

• Dates: June 5–7, 2026
• Venue: La Balsamine, Avenue Félix Marchal 1, 1030 Brussels
• Curated by: B.R.A.V.E. (Bodies Rage Arts Vital Empowerment)
• Artistic direction: Leïla Saïd Bounoua and Alast Mojtahed Najafi
• Programme includes: talks, performances, workshops, readings, concerts, and a tea dance
• More info: https://balsamine.be
• Contact: braveasbl@gmail.com

A weekend to listen, feel, and connect—where stories grow into something collective and alive.

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