La MaMa’s SQUIRTS Festival Will Return This June

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club has announced the return of SQUIRTS, the organization’s queer intergenerational performance festival, running June 4–7, 2026 at The Club at La MaMa.

Now in its 13th edition, this year’s festival will take place within a silver chrome installation known as “The Memory Palace,” described as a space for reflection, remembrance, and dialogue. The lineup will feature appearances and performances by Lady Bunny, Chiquitita, RuAfza, Mei Ann Teo, Ife Olujobi, and Deepali Zeer, among others. The festival will also include tributes to Agosto Machado and Diana Oh.

Festival events include an excerpt of the late Cecilia Gentili’s Red Ink, conversations between performers across generations, tribute performances, and readings. Surprise guests will also be announced.

SQUIRTS was founded in 2012 by Dan Fishback in partnership with La MaMa to address generational divides within queer communities intensified by AIDS and gentrification. The festival has since focused on supporting queer and trans artists, particularly QTPOC creators, through experimental live performance.

The 2026 festival is curated by Paris Alexander and produced by Buffy Sierra. Promotional imagery for the event was photographed by MTHR TRSA at C'mon Everybody and features Crackhead Barney and Justice Smith.

Schedule

Thursday, June 4 – 7:30 p.m.

Act 1: Chiquitita performs an excerpt from Red Ink
Act 2: Conversation between Chiquitita and Lady Bunny

Friday, June 5 – 7:30 p.m.

Act 1: Show, Girl by RuAfza featuring LaWhore Va g i s t a n
Act 2: Mother-daughter dialogue with a performance by Bijli

Saturday, June 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Tribute evening honoring Agosto Machado

Sunday, June 7 – 5:30 p.m.

Conversation with Mei Ann Teo, reading of My H8 Letter to the Great American Theater by ZaZa D / Diana Oh, and a closing performance by Deepali Zeer

Tickets