Discover a weekend of can’t-miss queer literature events, workshops and conversations at The Coast Is Queer festival in Brighton, packed with new voices and celebrated names , and yes, there's a DIVA10 code for 10% off if you want to make a proper weekend of it.

Essential Takeaways

  • Big names booked: Susan Stryker, Shon Faye, Sarah Waters and Rozie Kelly headline flagship conversations.
  • Practical workshops: Agents Caro Clarke and Abi Fellows are running submission-focused sessions for novelists and non-fiction writers.
  • Thematic variety: Events span body politics, obsession in queer fiction, queer disability history and poetry sessions , emotional and thoughtful.
  • Accessible extras: Free and low-cost options include a Queering the Classics poetry workshop and signings , intimate and lively.
  • Festival vibe: Expect thoughtful debate, warm crowds and bookshop energy, with a mix of established voices and exciting debuts.

Why this Brighton festival feels essential right now

The Coast Is Queer has grown into a bright, buzzy meeting point for queer writers and readers, and the 2026 programme leans into that look-and-listen energy. The line-up mixes headline names with on-the-ground voices, and you can almost hear the room hum , it’s the sort of festival where conversations spill into the bar afterwards. According to the festival listings, organisers have curated panels that reflect urgent cultural conversations while leaving room for joy and discovery.

Friday’s programme sets the tone: body, craft and poetry

Friday begins with The Queer Body, a discussion that promises candid takes on body image, shame and self-expression from writers and influencers who write frankly about embodiment. Later, practical workshops give writers a clear route from idea to submission, led by literary agents who know the market. Finish the night with Poetry Paradise , a soft, concentrated crowd, pen-and-paper energy and the small thrill of getting a book signed.

Saturday digs into obsession, debuts and queer disability history

Saturday’s schedule pairs playful and probing panels. Obsession in queer fiction looks at love, desire and the fine line between admiration and fixation, while Big Debuts showcases writers you’ll be talking about tomorrow. There’s also a focused conversation on queer disability history that fills a vital gap in literary discussion, centring voices and archives too often ignored. It’s the kind of day where you leave with a stack of recs and new things to think about.

Sunday brings trans thought leaders, playful workshops and a closing conversation

Sunday is anchored by a major conversation between Susan Stryker and Shon Faye, tracing trans history, politics and future directions , a headline-making pairing for anyone interested in theory and lived experience. The free Queering the Classics workshop offers a hands-on, generative afternoon for people who want to write or tinker with poems. The festival closes with Sarah Waters and Julia Armfield exploring lineage and genre, a fittingly reflective endnote that points forward as much as it looks back.

How to pick the right events and make the most of your weekend

Start by choosing one or two headline conversations and one workshop , panels are great for ideas, workshops for craft. If you write, prioritise the submission-focused sessions with agents; bring a 50-word pitch and a question about your market fit. For readers, plan bookshop time: authors are signing after events, and those moments often lead to the best chats. Use the DIVA10 code for 10% off bookings to stretch your budget across more sessions.

It's a small change that can make your weekend feel like a masterclass in queer storytelling.

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