Fuerza Fest, a Latine LGBTQ arts festival in New York City, is returning later this month for the 10th edition under the theme of “Force of Change.”
Launched in 2016 by the Hispanic Federation, the festival spotights queer Latine artists, writers, and activists through a two-week slate of events encompassing theater, film, music, dance, poetry, storytelling, and community conversations. The festival kicks off on May 17 and concludes on May 31.
The theme for 2025, “Force of Change,” is a nod to the activist themes associated with the event and coincides with an era of increased political adversity.
“At a time when our LGBTQ+ and Latine communities are once again under attack, we hold the festival’s 10th edition, ‘Force of Change,’ to reflect on the urgency of these times, fight back, and drive change for a liberated future,” Mario Colon, Hispanic Federation’s vice president for special initiatives and founder of Fuerza Fest, said in a written statement. “Through culture, we declare: we are here, we are proud, and we are unstoppable. From Stonewall to Pulse to today, the arts have been a vital tool for resistance, and social change. Since Fuerza Fest began, we have provided a platform to uplift LGBTQ+ Latine artists to ignite activism through creativity — fueling visibility, power, and community.”
This year’s festivities will partly take place at the LGBT Community Center in Manhattan, including the first three events on the calendar. The opening celebration, coinciding with International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, begins at 7 p.m. on May 17 with a special dance performance choreographed by Carlos Falú. The second day, May 18, features a Queer Film Block beginning at 3 p.m. at The Center.
From May 18-25, the festival will feature several theater and film events, with queer short film screenings on May 18 followed by several days of theatrical tournaments and a solo show by Vico Ortiz.
Another category — poetry, comedy, music, and community — will include four days of events, beginning May 19 with a poetry, literature, and open mic night. On May 28 there will be roundtable discussions with community-based organizations before pivoting to a comedy night on May 30 and concluding with the closing ceremony on May 31.
The festival will include special programming and community engagement from May 26-May 29.
To learn more about specific events on the schedule at this year’s Fuerza Fest, visit the event website at fuerzafest.org/schedule-2025.
