2026 THEYFRIEND Artist Deadline
Friday, July 17, 2026, 11:59 PM
About the Event
The THEYFRIEND Nonbinary Performance Festival is a yearly gathering dedicated to uplifting, centering, and celebrating nonbinary performers and creative expression.
Now in its sixth year, the festival brings together artists and audiences to build community through performance, experimentation, and shared joy. We are currently accepting artist applications for the upcoming festival.
As part of this year’s call, we invite artists working across disciplines (performance, music, movement, comedy, drag, experimental work, and beyond) to share proposals for interactive, embodied, and audience-engaged experiences.
From festival curators Rawiyah Tariq & Vin Seaman:
“[THEYFRIEND] …is a time for us to utilize spectacle, connectivity and radical joy to play, experiment and reclaim parts of ourselves that traditional gender norms have forced us to suppress or eject.”
For more information and for full eligibility and festival information, please access our 2026 THEYFRIEND Nonbinary Performance Festival Artist Guidelines & Application Instructions.
Accessibility Information:
We are committed to making the application process accessible and supportive.
Application Workshop (Zoom): July 1, 5:30–7:00 PMJoin us for a guided walkthrough of the application, with space for questions and live support from the curators.
Flexible Application Formats: Applicants may submit their narrative responses in written form, audio recording or video submission.
Application Template: Take a look at the application questions so you can draft your responses
If you have any access needs or requests, please email vin@diamond-wave.org and we will do our best to accommodate you!
About THEYFRIEND
THEYFRIEND uplifts, centers, and celebrates nonbinary artists and has grown into a cornerstone gathering for nonbinary creative community in the Bay Area and beyond. Our goals are to:
Present high-quality, interactive artistic experiences that showcase the creativity and diversity of nonbinary performers.
Foster welcoming spaces where nonbinary people and people of all gender expressions can connect, build belonging, and celebrate together.
To learn more about past festivals, programming, and our work, visit THEYFRIEND online.
To Apply
We welcome applications from nonbinary performers, video artists, and workshop facilitators!
Want to participate but not a performer? Volunteer with us! We need your help to make this year’s THEYFRIEND happen!