Just GO! 14 Upcoming Events in NYC and Beyond

Let’s Start With NYC

All Things Go NYC 

September 25-27, Queens, NY

One of the most anticipated annual music festivals returns to New York this year with an all-female and nonbinary lineup, including some of the biggest names in pop. This three-day concert in Queens is always packed with sapphic icons, and this year is no different. Zara Larsson and Lola Young kick off the festivities on Friday, with supporting acts Rebecca Black, Cara Delevingne, Chloe Qisha, and Blu DeTiger. Saturday and Sunday promise to be even more queer, with performances from Brandi Carlile, CMAT, Meg Stalter, Hemlocke Springs, The Beaches, and MUNA. If that wasn’t enough, gay icon Carly Rae Jepsen is closing out the festival with a full-length sunset performance on Sunday. 

All Things Go NYC will take place at Forest Hills Stadium, 1 Tennis Place, in Queens. As always, a second, concurrent festival will take place—though with a different, incredibly queer, lineup—in Washington, D.C. the same weekend. You can find the full schedule for both festivals online and purchase tickets at allthingsgofestival.com. General admission single-day and two-day tickets are still available, but selling fast. You can also join the Besties Circle, All Things Go’s membership, for an additional $59 to secure guaranteed early entry to the festival, a free collectible poster, access to exclusive merch, and more. 

Cycle For The Cause 

September 25-27, Randall’s Island, NY

This three-day, more than 200-mile, tri-state course doesn’t just help fund The Center, one of New York’s oldest LGBTQ+ community organizations; it’s also a one-of-a-kind way to explore New York beyond the city. The ride sets off from Randall’s Island and, over the next two days, makes pit stops in New Jersey and Connecticut before closing things out at The Center in the West Village, giving riders a chance to bike through idyllic nature scenes and busy city streets alike. For ambitious riders, day two of the ride will feature an optional Century Ride: a 100-mile course through New York and Connecticut, roughly 50 miles longer than the standard route. Funds raised from the ride go toward The Center’s annual operations, including HIV/AIDS prevention, testing and care, mental health services, arts and culture programming, advocacy and organizing efforts, and youth programs.

Cycle For The Cause begins Friday, Sept. 25, at 7:45 am on Randall’s Island. Space is limited, but you can register online at cycleforthecause.org. The fundraising minimum is $2,000 for participants 18 to 25 years old and $3,000 for participants over 25. All participants receive accommodations for the first and second nights of the ride at the Stamford Hotel in Connecticut, as well as support from the race crew and bike techs, rest stops every 10 to 15 miles, and three days of meals. If you’re not a cyclist, you can support The Center by joining the ride as a virtual participant, watching in person at one of the designated cheering stations along the route, or donating to any participant’s fundraiser at support.gaycenter.org/events/517.

Lesbians Who Tech Summit 

October 5-7, Manhattan, NY

For sapphics in tech spaces, it’s never been easier to find your people. This fall, the Lesbians Who Tech LWTSUMMIT brings together thousands of queer women working in every corner of the tech world to level up their careers by exploring cutting-edge inventions, learning from leaders in their fields, and building community. The bulk of the action happens on Oct. 5, with a full day of interactive sessions on everything from AI in banking to the future of women’s sports. However, the fun continues throughout the week with a curated itinerary of events on Oct. 6 and 7, including strategic networking events and an exclusive dinner with journalist and tech entrepreneur Kara Swisher.

The Lesbians Who Tech Summit takes place Oct. 5-7 at two venues in Manhattan’s Seaport neighborhood: Gitano NYC and The Cinemas. Annual Leadership Passes—which grant access to the workshops, exclusive networking events, and three virtual trainings after the summit—are available for $1,999. For $3,000, the Executive Pass grants access to all of the above, plus priority check-in and a sit-down dinner with Kara Swisher. Attendees are required to request an invitation online. If you can’t attend the summit in person, you can also reserve a free virtual pass, which provides access to all virtual sessions, a livestream of the event, and select recorded sessions. Learn more about the event and register to attend online at lwtsquad.com/lwt-summit-2026.

NewFest 38 

October 15-25, Manhattan, NY

New York’s largest LGBTQ+ film festivalreturns this October for 10 days of feature films, documentaries, and shorts made by and for queer film lovers. NewFest is known for premiering some of the biggest titles in LGBTQ+ cinema, including All of Us Strangers, Rustin, and All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. The Pride festival this summer even featured the world premiere of Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, so while the full fall itinerary isn’t public yet, you can expect an equally star-studded lineup. This year’s festival will feature more than 130 narrative, documentary, and short films, as well as TV series, panel conversations, parties, and in-person screenings and Q&As at BAM, SVA Theatre, and venues across NYC.

NewFest runs from Oct. 15-25 at the SVA Theatre at 333 W. 23rd St. in New York. Tickets go on sale Sept. 15. NewFest members can enjoy presale access and exclusive benefits, including festival passes. You can become a member, purchase tickets, and learn more about the festival at newfest.org. 

Lezreadit 

First Thursday of Every Month, Manhattan, NY

If you’re looking for a regular gathering space organized by and for sapphics, look no further. Lezreadit is a brand-new, monthly book club for lovers of sapphic sports novels, hosted at New York’s first women’s sports bar, Wilka’s. This intimate activity is perfect for anyone looking to start their reading journey, find new sapphic titles, or just connect with fellow book lovers. The club’s organizers typically announce their monthly book selection during the week before each meeting, so make sure you’re following @lezreadit on Instagram for updates. Past selections have included sapphic romances like Cleat Cute by Meryl Wilsner and Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochrane.

Lezreadit meets on the first Thursday of every month at 6 pm in Wilka’s Sports Bar at 241 Bowery in NYC. 

The Center Women’s Event 

November 6, Manhattan, NY

This annual gala serves two purposes: First, it celebrates women’s historic contributions to the LGBTQ+ community, from Marsha P. Johnson’s integral role in the Stonewall Uprising and City Councilwoman Crystal Hudson’s groundbreaking win as one of the first out gay Black women elected to office in New York City, to the academic work of Audre Lorde and Roxane Gay. This event also raises funds for The Center’s essential community services, including mental health and substance abuse treatment, HIV/AIDS testing and care, youth programs, immigration support, gender-affirming healthcare, housing assistance, and more.

The Center’s Women’s Event will be held on Friday, Nov. 6, from 6 to 11 pm at the Ziegfeld Ballroom at 141 W 54th St. in New York, with an after-party beginning at 9 pm. The dress code is festive cocktail attire. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $550, or $99 for access to the after-party only. Visit gaycenter.org/womensevent to purchase tickets and stay updated as more information about the night’s itinerary and featured guests becomes available. If you can’t attend the gala in person, you can also support The Center by donating online. 

Outclose Dinners

Every Thursday, Manhattan & Brooklyn, NY

Finding a queer friend group in New York has never been tastier. Outclose is a social app without the romantic pressure, which connects LGBTQ+ people across NYC by pairing them for platonic dinner parties. Diners sign up online by taking a quick “vibe quiz” about their personality, interests, and goals, after which the app’s algorithm pairs them with a group of compatible LGBTQ+ strangers for a dinner in the city. When registering, you can request to be paired with people of your same identity and age group or a select mixed crowd. Outclose handles all the logistics, from picking a restaurant to making reservations—you just show up and pay for your meal. Since it isn’t a dating platform, events are open to singles and couples alike.

Outclose is currently hosting dinners in 23 cities around the world, with plans to continue expanding. Dinners in NYC are held every Thursday at 7 pm at select LGBTQ-led restaurants in Chelsea and Williamsburg. You can purchase a single dinner ticket for $15.99 (excluding the cost of the meal), or subscribe for $19.99 to participate in monthly dinners. Learn more and purchase your tickets at outclose.com. 

Get Outta Town…

International Eressos Women’s Festival 

September 9-19, Eressos, Lesbos, Greece

This fall, spend 10 days celebrating all things sapphic in the birthplace of the poet herself. The International Eressos Women’s Festival—held in Sappho’s hometown on the Greek island of Lesbos—is organized by and for women, and it’s jam-packed with activities. You can catch outdoor concerts from sapphic acts like Kids With Buns, Charlotte Brandi, and Carta Flora, take in an alternative fashion show, take a dance or improv workshop with experts from around the world, play in a five-side football match, or even try caving at this one-of-a-kind international gathering of sapphics.

The International Eressos Women’s Festival takes place from September 9-19 in Eressos, Lesbos, Greece. You can purchase a general access wristband for $143 at womensfestival.eu. 

SisterSpace Weekend

September 11-13, Northern Maryland

Spend a weekend reconnecting with nature in Northern Maryland at this long-running celebration of women’s art, music, and culture. This three-day outdoor event is specifically designed for women and nonbinary campers and features a full lineup of musicians, performance artists, and community workshops. Connect with your artistic side in the Georgia O’Keefe ArtSpace, get active with a game of pickup basketball, or a nature hike, connect with fellow sapphics at nightly dances and parties, explore erotic play at the Sexuality Space, and much more. 

The SisterSpace Weekend festival takes place from Sept. 11-13 at a private campground in Northern Maryland. Rates are presented on a sliding scale with full-weekend tent, cabin, or RV passes starting at $430, or single-day passes starting at $263. Visit sisterspace.org/register/ to purchase passes or learn more about the event. 

Out on the Farm 

September 26, Highland, NY

Bring the whole family to this queer-affirming, all-ages fall celebration in the Hudson Valley. Hosted by Big Gay Hudson Valley, Out on the Farm kicks off with an afternoon of kid- and pet-friendly activities, including a farmer’s market, arts and crafts, drag story hour, local food trucks, live music, and orchard picnicking. After sundown, catch the adults-only Bushels + Pecs Farm Fresh Cabaret, featuring drag and burlesque performers Curlz, Forrest Fleur, Sake, Magnifique, and Melina Mauve. Finally, round out the night with the Orchard Disco dance party, featuring DJ Patrick Kyle. 

Out on the Farm runs from 2 pm to 10 pm at Bad Seed Hard Cider Taproom, 43 Baileys Gap Road, in Highland, NY. Tickets are $15 if purchased in advance, or $20 at the door. To purchase tickets and view a full itinerary, visit biggayhudsonvalley.com/outonthefarm. 

Women’s Week Provincetown 

October 12-18, Provincetown, Mass. 

This week-long festival features more than 300 sapphic-centered events that sound like an adult’s dream summer camp. For art lovers, there’s live music, theater, comedy shows, exhibits, crafting, and even a talent competition. For the more athletically inclined, there’s flag football, golf, pickleball, and more. The Cape Cod setting means there’s also plenty of opportunity to soak in the seaside views, including whale watching, vineyard tours, hiking, and dune tours. With thousands of attendees, nightly dances, and daytime singles events, it’s the perfect place to form new connections while basking in queer joy. Now in its 42nd year, Women’s Week is also known for attracting iconic performers, including Janis Ian, who performed in 2025, and this year promises to be even more exciting.

Women’s Week Provincetown officially runs from Oct. 12-18, though some events start as early as Oct. 9. Visit womensweekprovincetown.com to stay up-to-date on the itinerary and learn more about where to stay during your trip to Provincetown.

OURfest

October 9-11, Philadelphia, Pa.

Celebrate National Coming Out Day for an entire weekend at this three-day festival in Philadelphia. The country’s oldest and largest coming out festival rings in its 37th year this October with an outdoor dance party and massive parade through Philadelphia’s historic Gayborhood featuring live performances, local artists, food, and a community resource fair. The festivities kick off on Friday night with parties across several local bars, VIP events, and float previews. On Saturday, local DJs and performers take over the Gayborhood for an all-night dance party. Finally, the National Coming Out Day Parade comes Sunday morning, followed by an all-day block party. 

OURFest takes place from Oct. 9-11 in Philadelphia. The official National Coming Out Day Parade sets off from 5th and Market at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, with a block party taking place from noon-7 p.m.

STUFF 2026 

October 15-18, Seattle, Wash.

Just a few days before NewFest 38 hits New York, Seattle welcomes its own all-star lineup, featuring the latest in trans film. The Seattle Trans Underground Film Fest premieres new work by and for trans film lovers. Whether your niche is documentaries 

about trans life, erotic horror, or short films, STUFF has something for everyone—and may be where you discover the next big name in trans filmmaking. 

STUFF runs from Oct. 15-18 at the Northwest Film Forum at 1515 12th Avenue in Seattle. Tickets will become available online in September, after the lineup has been announced. Follow @seattletranfilmfest on Instagram or visit seattletransfilmfest.org to stay up-to-date.

Utah Queer Film Festival 

November 6-8, Salt Lake City, Utah

This November, a whole new slate of queer films is coming to the Beehive State. The Utah Queer Film Festival returns Nov. 6 for its 24th year of premiering new feature films, documentaries, and shorts by emerging queer filmmakers. Past festivals have featured screenings of SALLY, the groundbreaking documentary about the life of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, and The Indigo Girls: It’s Only Life After All. 

The Utah Queer Film Festival runs from Nov. 6-8 at the Utah Film Center, 375 West 400 North, Salt Lake City. You can reserve full festival passes or purchase individual film tickets online at utahqueerfilmfestival.org.