Can you feel it? The forest floor is calling us back.
As we prepare to step into our 6th gathering, we find ourselves craving stability, connection, and a moment to breathe deeply. We are thrilled to finally unveil the guiding spirit for Something Queer 2026.
This year, we are getting Rooted.
Returning to the Source
For five years, we have built a temporary city of light and love in the woods. For year six, we are focusing not just on what we build above ground, but on the foundations that hold us up.
“Rooted” is a call to return to the earth to find our strength. In a world that often feels chaotic, we are consciously choosing to reconnect with our history. This theme speaks to the foundational bonds we share, recognizing the fierce queer ancestors who paved the difficult paths so that we could gather here today. We honor the history that anchors us, providing the stability we need to keep growing.
The Wisdom of the Forest Network
We often talk about “community,” but nature shows us what that truly looks like.
Look at the trees around us in our forest home. On the surface, they appear as singular, majestic individuals. But beneath the communal ground, something incredible is happening. Their roots are intertwined in a vast, supportive network, sharing nutrients, information, and strength through the shared soil.
That is us.
Something Queer 2026 is about celebrating this ecological truth. We gather to draw nourishment from each other, allowing every unique individual to stand tall in their own identity while remaining deeply connected to the collective. We are moving beyond just attending an event; we are feeling the collective strength that flows through our interconnected veins. When the winds blow hard, it is this tangled, beautiful, underground network that keeps us from falling.
Magic & Mycelium
However, being “rooted” doesn’t mean being stagnant. Having strong roots is exactly what allows you to reach for the sky.
The seriousness of our shared history is balanced by the absolute joy of our present existence. Once again, our forest home is calling us to dance, prance, frolic, and reconnect with each other and ourselves. We are creating a sanctuary where you can be your wildest, most authentic self, supported by the ground beneath you.
We have some ideas on how we will enact the theme this year — a shared altar, some faerie traditions, grounding activities, dance, and even a collective tree planting. Prepare for deep conversations in the shade and ecstatic movement under the stars. We’re bringing that essential “Something Queer” magic—with a little bit of that extra faerie dust—to ensure we don’t just survive, but thrive.
It’s time to get ready to root ourselves in community together. Whether this is your sixth return or your very first season, there is a vital place for you in this ecosystem.
We’ll see you in the dirt. Let’s grow.