Smoqua 10 is kicking off – hearts full of queer joy! :)
LORI warmly invites you to the grand 10th edition of Festival of Queer and Feminist Culture Smoqua , taking place from October 1st to 3rd, 2026, in Rijeka.
Quick queer preview: What’s in store?
Dozens of artists, activists, collectives, and organizations from various countries are bringing us a vibrant programme – from workshops to performances – as we come together to celebrate 10 years of Smoqua in the "City that Flows"!
This year’s theme, "Back to the Roots," brings together our struggles, efforts, and shared humanity, while celebrating the collaborations, friendships, and mutual support that form the very foundation of our festival. At the same time, it reminds us that roots are not just the past or a look backward, but a source of strength for a future we genuinely believe in – one of justice, equality, and solidarity.
PROGRAMME SMOQUA 2026:
Thursday, October 1st
15.00 – 17.00 Smoqua town & Sport games
If you want to mingle and hear what human rights and youth organizations do or simply enjoy queer sports with the Decathlon crew – see you at Smoqua town!
Art-kvart Benčić, Viktora cara Emina 1
16.00 – 17.00 Cottage Queer
Crochet workshop with Roberta is for everyone who wants to learn the basics of crochet or simply wants to hang out surrounded with thread, wool, warm tea and an accepting crowd.
Art-kvart Benčić, Viktora cara Emina 1
17.00 – 17.30 Public action: Benčić in rainbow colours (¹)
Let’s queer Art-kvart with rainbow coloured handicraft made during summer gatherings of our fellow citizens devoted to crocheting and equal opportunities for all.
Rijeka City Library, Viktora cara Emina 1
17:30 – 18:00 Opening with Retrospective: 10 Years of Smoqua in Rijeka
Ten years of togetherness, queer and feminist culture through an intersection of activism and art is turned into a dynamic retrospective following Smoqua throughout the years. The digital part, as well as the physical, show interesting moments and anecdotes which were a crucial part of each year’s festival. The execution of the retrospective was supported by Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and Rijeka City Library.
Art-kvart Benčić, Viktora cara Emina 1 – by the stream
18.00 – 19.00 Institutional Struggle of LGBTIQ+ Activism: How Do We Achieve Change?
Societal change happens with protests, campaign and community work, but also through strategic dialogue with institutions. How to recognize the right moment for collaboration and when is a more critical approach needed? How to advocate for change on a local, national or international level of LGBTI persons rights? Activists from different countries share with us how they fight for improvement in their communities and institutions.
Rijeka City Library, Viktora cara Emina 1
FRIDAY, October 2nd
10.30-13.30 Workshop: Career development, part I. (²)
The first day of the workshop by K-Zone organisation experts is aimed at empowering primarily LBTIQ women and nonbinary people by strengthening key competencies needed for successful career management and management of the job market. After the programme finishes there will be opportunities for individual consultations for further career plan development. Sign up using the link.
Rijeka City Library, Viktora cara Emina 1
14.00-16.00 Club costume making workshop (¹)
Through an exploratory workshop, Kris and Lana cover rave, club and drag culture through everyday queer experiences. This workshop is perfect for creative relaxation and creating THE BEST going out getups.
Rijeka City Library, Viktora cara Emina 1
17.00 -17.30 Exhibition opening: Lines of resistance
Members of Fierce Beez network Rina Barbarić, Ivana Geček, Korin Hunjak and Helena Janečić use illustration, design, comics and posters to explore spaces between personal and political, intimate and public. From queer narratives to socially engaged visuals, the works speak out about personal experiences, build togetherness and offer social criticism.
Rijeka City Library, Viktora cara Emina 1
18:30 – 20.00 Sex-ed pub kviz by LELO
Let’s check our knowledge on sexuality, reproductive health and the body while hanging out and laughing. Create your team of max. 5 people, sign up on the spot and of course – come early, the number of teams is limited and the LELO prices luxurious.
Kalvarija Ri Teatar, Kalvarija 8
20.00 – 20.30 Film projection: The Rebellion of Lesbian Jacobins
In 18th century rural Hungary, a group of Jacobins lives and practices the ideals of the French revolution: liberty, equality and sisterhood. A short, humorous film by Marie Takacs and Hungarian organization Labrisz makes fun of current topics by queering important moments of Hungarian history.
Kalvarija Ri Teatar, Kalvarija 8
20.30 – 21.15 Performance: What colour is truth?
Produced by organisation Proces, choreographer Mateo Babić focuses on the issues of pathologizing and trying to change sexual orientation through so called “conversion therapy”. He opens a needed dialogue about the experiences of LGBTIQ+ persons who went through this harmful process with the basis of the performance being the body that talks rather than the language of coercion.
Kalvarija Ri Teatar, Kalvarija 8
SATURDAY, October 3rd
10.30-13.00 Workshop: Career development, part II. (²)
The second part of the workshop on personal and professional development of LGBTIQ+ women and nonbinary persons: from inspiration to practical advice and mentoring after the workshops. Sign up using the link.
Rijeka City Library, Viktora cara Emina 1
14.00-16.00 (My) right to public assembly
Freedom of assembly as a human right is a protected democratic value in society. But what does that mean in practice? What are the state’s obligations and what are ours? We will talk about safety and belonging with Maja Atanasova, a human rights lover and advocate for informing, awareness, and networking, coming to us from Skopje.
O.K. Gallery, Krešimirova 26
15.00-16.00 Talk: Empowering girls, young women and fight against human trafficking
Centre for Girls from Niš has years of experience working with young Roma women and women from marginalized communities. Through an open discussion, we will focus on their key activities in combating human trafficking and discrimination. Find out how they systematically raise the quality of life for women who experienced violence through education, activism and direct psychological support.
Art-kvart Benčić in front of Rijeka City Library, Viktora cara Emina 1
16.00-17.00 Exhibition opening: Our sisters
Sculptural installation by Croatian artist Ivana Mrčela is constructed of around twenty intertwined, soft, female bodies shown in textile in shades of pink. Each body is tattooed telling visual stories of women’s history and battles – from the right to vote to contemporary feminist activism.
O.K. Gallery, Krešimirova 26
17.00 -17.30 Performance: Milk me, Negin Rezaie
In a touching and powerful performance, multidisciplinary Iranian artist with an Austrian address explores the concept of colonies as a metaphor for female body, referencing the famous quote from Christopher Columbo: “The colonies are like a woman’s body and America its nipple”. By extracting oil from west Asian countries, Negin draws a parallel between historical exploitation of colonies and contemporary exploitation of natural resources.
O.K. Gallery, Krešimirova 26
21:00 –02.00 Queer-UP! Party: Žene BIH
Although it may feel like therapy, there will be no crying involved. DJ/Vj set ŽeneBIH come from Sarajevo and Prag to make us move with different ex-YU tunes, nineties pop. Expect camp, trash, modern sevdah and nostalgia – one would call them classics. Masha and Amila know how to make audiences strut.
Palach, Kružna 8
23.00-00.30 Drag show by Harem Girls
Known to shake up the scene across the region - hot drag collective of queens from different parts of hilly Balkan. For them drag is a mixture of art and talents. Favourites who almost made it to Eurovision - they're young, who knows what the future brings?!
Palach, Kružna 8
↔ All festival events are free, while donations for the Queer-UP! Party are collected at the entrance.
(¹) Funded by the European Union through Erasmus+ programme
(²) Funded by the EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community and the European Union.
Supported by: City of Rijeka / Global Fund for Women / Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice / EuroCentralAsian Lesbian* Community / Austrian Cultural Forum Zagreb / Adria print / Decathlon / Rijeka City Library / the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
