Rainbow Lit Fest 2025 in Delhi to Showcase Global Queer Voices and Celebrate Rainbow Awards
South Asia's largest queer-inclusive festival returns with over 90 speakers and diverse programming.
The seventh edition of the Rainbow Lit Fest, recognised as South Asia’s biggest queer-inclusive cultural festival, will take place on December 6 and 7 at the Gulmohar Park Club in New Delhi. Over 1,800 minutes of programming across two venues will feature more than 90 speakers from Thailand, Canada, Norway, and cities across India including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Shimla, Panaji, and Delhi.
This year’s line-up includes prominent voices such as chef-author Suvir Saran, feminist publisher Urvashi Butalia, actors Dolly Singh and Shahana Goswami, beauty pioneer Blossom Kochhar, activist Anish Gawande, academic Madhavi Menon, and senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal. Sessions will explore mental health, love, parenting, kink, intersectionality, sensuality, and everyday queer experiences through panels, poetry readings, drag performances, dance, and music.
The cinema segment promises several highlights: the Delhi premiere of Tara, directed by Dalit filmmaker Ashutosh Shankar and produced by Dalit transgender woman Zena Sagar; the national premiere of Don’t Interrupt While We Dance by Anureet Watta; and screenings of The Night Queen starring Sheeba Chaddha, The Lime Green Shirt featuring Lillete Dubey, and the UK-originated short Queer Parivar.
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A vibrant Queer Bazaar will showcase LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs representing diverse socio-economic and intersectional backgrounds. The festival will also host the Rainbow Awards 2025 for Literature and Journalism, honouring exceptional queer narratives and reporting selected from over 100 entries received this year.
Festival director Sharif Rangnekar emphasised that the event continues to grow as a safe, warm space for honest storytelling and free expression despite limited funding for queer initiatives in the country. With support from donors, sponsors, and community groups, Rainbow Lit Fest 2025 will run daily from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm, celebrating lived queer experiences through art, dialogue, and celebration.
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