Queer culture is taking over the autumn calendar, from All Things Go NYC in Queens to film festivals, book clubs and community weekends further afield. Whether you're chasing live music, meaningful connections or a brilliant excuse to travel, these LGBTQ+ events offer plenty to look forward to.

Essential Takeaways

  • All Things Go NYC: The Queens festival returns with a women-led and non-binary line-up, including Carly Rae Jepsen, Brandi Carlile and MUNA.
  • More than music: New York's autumn schedule also includes queer cinema, professional networking, fundraising rides and sapphic social events.
  • Travel beyond the city: Festivals in Greece, Maryland, Provincetown, Philadelphia, Seattle and Salt Lake City offer distinct ways to connect.
  • Book early: Popular events have limited tickets, invitation requirements or accommodation considerations, so planning matters.
  • Choose your pace: There are relaxed monthly meet-ups and family-friendly afternoons alongside demanding cycling challenges and multi-day festivals.

All Things Go NYC is the season's big musical draw

The autumn queer-events calendar gets an immediate jolt from All Things Go NYC, a three-day concert at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens. The bill brings together major pop names, emerging artists and familiar LGBTQ+ favourites, creating the sort of weekend where glitter, loud choruses and very little spare phone battery are practically guaranteed.

According to the festival listings, Zara Larsson and Lola Young open the weekend, while later performances include Brandi Carlile, CMAT, Meg Stalter, The Beaches and MUNA. Carly Rae Jepsen is scheduled to close the New York edition with a full-length sunset set, which feels like a suitably joyous finale. Related event listings also place the festival at Forest Hills Stadium from 25 to 27 September.

The festival runs alongside a Washington, DC edition, but New York has its own appeal: an iconic stadium setting, easy access to the city and a line-up designed around female and non-binary performers. Single-day and multi-day tickets are available, although anyone hoping to attend should check current availability rather than assume seats will linger.

New York offers more than one way to find your people

For those who prefer conversation to crowds, the Lesbians Who Tech Summit brings queer women in technology together in Manhattan. Its programme focuses on professional development, emerging technology and networking, with virtual access available for people who can't make the trip.

That same community-minded energy appears in smaller formats. Lezreadit offers a monthly sapphic book club at Wilka's, a women-focused sports bar, while Outclose arranges platonic dinners for LGBTQ+ diners through personality-based matching. One is built around books, the other around food, but both recognise a simple truth: meeting people is often easier when there's an activity to carry the conversation.

NewFest adds a cinematic option, with features, documentaries, shorts, discussions and in-person screenings across Manhattan. For film lovers, it's a chance to discover work before it becomes widely discussed, and perhaps to leave with a new favourite filmmaker tucked into the notes app.

Some events turn participation into community support

Cycle For The Cause is a very different kind of weekend. The multi-day ride travels through New York, New Jersey and Connecticut before finishing at The Center in Manhattan, raising funds for LGBTQ+ services including health support, youth programmes and mental-health provision.

It's a serious undertaking, with a route covering more than 200 miles and an optional 100-mile day for ambitious riders. Participants receive meals, accommodation, rest stops and technical support, but the fundraising commitment means this isn't a casual cycle arranged on a whim. Virtual participation and donations offer more accessible ways to contribute.

The Center's Women's Event takes a more formal approach, combining a gala, celebration and fundraising appeal. Tickets begin at a substantial price, while a cheaper after-party option is available, making it possible to support the organisation without committing to the full evening.

The best LGBTQ+ events are now spread across the country

Beyond New York, the International Eressos Women’s Festival in Lesbos offers ten days of concerts, workshops, sport and outdoor activities in the town associated with Sappho. It's the kind of destination event that doubles as a holiday, although travellers will need to factor in flights, accommodation and the festival wristband.

SisterSpace Weekend in Northern Maryland takes a similarly immersive approach, with camping, art, music, workshops and nightly gatherings for women and non-binary attendees. In the Hudson Valley, Out on the Farm is a more manageable day trip, combining a market, crafts, food, live music and a later cabaret and disco. It also welcomes families and pets during the daytime, which is a useful detail for anyone who doesn't want a nightlife-only outing.

Provincetown's Women's Week is larger still, with hundreds of events spanning comedy, theatre, sport, crafts, music and seaside excursions. Meanwhile, Philadelphia's OURfest brings National Coming Out Day celebrations into the streets with parties, a parade and a block event in the city's Gayborhood.

Film festivals make autumn a particularly strong season

Queer cinema has a busy stretch ahead. NewFest in New York is expected to present more than 130 films and programmes, while Seattle's STUFF focuses specifically on trans filmmaking, from documentaries and shorts to more experimental fare.

The Utah Queer Film Festival adds another regional stop in Salt Lake City, showcasing features, documentaries and short films from emerging queer filmmakers. These festivals are worth considering even if you don't recognise the titles in advance. A festival audience is often more open to taking a chance, and a screening can become the unexpected highlight of a trip.

For practical planning, watch ticket-release dates closely, particularly when the programme is announced in stages. If you're travelling, book accommodation before the most popular weekends fill up, and leave room in your itinerary for talks, Q&As and the occasional post-screening debate over coffee.

Autumn's LGBTQ+ events calendar is full of options, so pick the experience that feels most like you and start planning early.

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