Founded in 2007, Polari is the UK’s leading live showcase for emerging and established LGBTQ+ literary talent.

Inspired by the gay slang of the same name, Polari is a celebration of LGBTQ+ words and voices – whether written, spoken or sung.

We also run the Polari Prize awards for books which explore LGBTQ+ themes and characters, by writers born or based in the UK and Ireland. The 2023 winners were announced on Nov 24 at The British Library.

Curated and hosted by author Paul Burston, Polari has appeared at arts centres, bars, book festivals, book shops, libraries, museums, nightclubs and even a race course.

We also tour regularly, funded by Arts Council England. The Polari Prize National Showcase runs until Nov 2024.

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