As the summer heat swiftly wanes, Body Movements Festival is just around the corner. Ticketholders have much to look forward to on August 30th, as this festival holds its own as one of London’s most anticipated queer events (and honestly, London festivals generally). For those unfamiliar, Body Movements is a project founded on grassroots effort, DIY spirit, and is dedicated to freedom of self-expression in all its forms. Built on four key principles, ‘visibility’, ‘discovery’, ‘community’, and ‘respect’, there’s a reason some liken it to a short-term queer utopia. From noon, the festival takes over Southwark Park and features 5 distinct stages, brandishing playful names like “The Strap”, “Mother”, and “Hot Mess”.
Beyond the music, you can check out the ‘Mooch’ market, and enjoy food and beverages from an array of food stalls. This year, the festival is also collaborating with two charity partners, London Trans+ Pride, and MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians). The sold out event has much in store for those who were lucky enough to snag a ticket in time with a stacked lineup. Guests can expect high-energy performances from the likes of, deBasement (Live), FAFF (Live), Horse Meat Disco, Babymorocco, mika, Queer House Party, Romy (DJ), Saoirse & Shanti Celeste,THEMPRESS, and Sippin’ T, to name a few. And for those who are as excited about the dancers as they are the DJs, you can expect to see Go-go dancers by Little Gay Brother.
Leaning into all of the pre-fest excitement, NOCTIS spoke with four tastemakers and icons set to perform to get an idea of what to expect.
Michelle Manetti brings 20 years of DJ experience to the table. Having been brought up by the 90s UK Rave scene, she’s long become a London music industry icon. A DJ, vocalist, promoter, and producer, she hosts the inimitable Bi-Monthly party, Fèmmme Fraîche. This nightlife fixture is hosted at the iconic Dalston Superstore on Kingsland Road. Manetti proudly bends genres, building different tracks and musicalities in her mixes. You can expect high-energy, dynamic, and seamlessly blended House, Techno, Acid, Rave, and many more in between.
Why Body Movements, what does this festival mean to you as a performer?
It’s honestly always a highlight of the Summer for me as an artist. It’s a place where we as queer artists, big and small, get to shine and be celebrated by our scene and our community, surrounded by our LGBTQ+ family. So many of London and beyond’s finest parties and collectives all come together in one space, with our collective audiences, a beautiful melting pot of pure queer unadulterated joy.
Why are spaces like Body Movements so important for queer creativity and queer community more generally?
Now more than ever, as LGBTQI+ and especially Trans+ folks rights and existence are under attack, we need spaces where we can feel safe, feel seen, be held and show up as our bold, beautiful and unapologetically queer selves. Our community is thriving, will continue to thrive and festivals and spaces like Body Movements allow us to come together to celebrate and show just how incredibly strong, resilient, vibrant, diverse, brave and wonderful our LGBTQ+ community is.
After your set, who on this year’s lineup are you most excited to see live?
Eris Drew and Octo Octa, as without doubt are two of the finest DJs in the world, but b2b with them is really something incredibly magical and shouldn’t be missed. I’ve also yet to see FAFF doing their brand new live set, which they only debut a couple of months ago. I’ve heard really amazing things so I’m excited to check that out & give our local lads some love and support.
Hailing from Venezuela and based in London, Tedesco is co-founder of queer Latinx party 2CPERREA (alongside multidisciplinary artist Josefa). Their sets blend Latin rhythms common in Reggaeton, Neoperrero, Guaracha. Listeners can expect these upbeat tracks alongside heavy bass, techno, and other electronic musicalities. Returning for a third year, you won’t want to miss what they’re bringing to the decks at Body Movements 2026.
Why Body Movements, what does this festival mean to you as a performer?
It’s my third year playing BM and every time it feels just as special because the energy comes from people who are there to connect, express themselves, and dance without judgment. As a queer DJ and someone who runs a queer collective, it’s inspiring to be part of a lineup that reflects the diversity and creativity of our community.
Why are spaces like Body Movements so important for queer creativity and queer community more generally?
The space creates opportunities for people to discover new sounds, new artists and new ways of connecting with each other. Especially at a time when queer spaces continue to face different kinds of challenges, festivals like this remind us that nightlife can be a place of care, resistance, joy, and collective celebration.
After your set, who on this year’s lineup are you most excited to see live?
This year I will be closing so I’m making sure to get there early AF to shake my booty! Super excited for Six Sex, Rakans, Jay Jay Revlon, my sister Twang and many many more!!!
MCR-T is a producer, songwriter, and DJ based in Berlin, Germany. This year he is set to perform at Body Movements 2026 for the first time. Known as an established underground tastemaker, his mixes toe the line between Electric club, Ghettotech, and Miami bass. Meanwhile, you’ll want to listen in for layered, playful lyricism that makes it near impossible not to move when you’re in front of his decks.
Why Body Movements, what does this festival mean to you as a performer?
As a Cis Hetero Male, it means the world to me to be invited as a guest of the beautiful LGTBQ+ Community at a Festival that has been the tip of the spear for London’s Queer Community. I get to add to the energy and provide happiness and sexyness to the dance floor. It’s a privilege !
Why are spaces like Body Movements so important for queer creativity and queer community more generally?
Visibility, Community, and Representation is everything. It is so important for spaces like this to exist on a larger scale. Out in the open, not behind closed doors, tucked away in the night. People get to have a safe and visible space to express themselves carefree and truly embrace their truth and way of life. It makes me happy and I feel honored to be welcomed and able to contribute to this experience.
After your set, who on this year’s lineup are you most excited to see live?
To be honest I haven’t looked at the lineup yet. I like to be surprised and just explore new artists by blindly attending stages and letting the music and the soul of the performance sort out the rest. I’d love to see a Ballroom Performance – I love fashion, attitude and sick outfits accompanied by nice music.
Six Sex hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina and is known colloquially as the “queen of the Perreo Rave”. Her music is equal parts ass-shaking as it is playful, jovial, and sensually compelling. Her tracks just about command the audience to move in unison, jumping, singing, and dancing to the beat. This artist is known as a not-to-miss act on any lineup, celebrated globally, and is sure to keep energies high amidst the end of summer heat.
Why Body Movements, what does this festival mean to you as a performer?
I’m really happy to be part of Body Movements for the first time. Queer events are by far my favorite ones to play, and London has given me some really lovely experiences too. BM feels like exactly the kind of festival where people come to actually dance, enjoy themselves, and express who they are together, and that’s the crowd I always want to play for.
Why are spaces like Body Movements so important for queer creativity and queer community more generally?
“Safe space” has become a phrase people throw around a lot in the last few years, but not every space that calls itself safe actually is. To me, a safe space is one where nobody is judged for who they are, where respect comes first, and where love and empathy aren’t just nice values to have: they’re requirements. I think this energy will be present in the crowd and on the dancefloor.
After your set, who on this year’s lineup are you most excited to see live?
I’m really looking forward to Tedesco’s set! We met at my very first show in London, so this kind-of feels like a little reunion. deBasement is playing the festival too, and I love what they do, they’re amazing. I’m also excited to catch MCR-T, we’ve worked together a lot before and his sets are always fun and super danceable. And if I get the chance, I’d love to catch Babymorocco’s show as well. But honestly, I’m most excited about my own set this time. It’ll be my first London show since ULTRA came out, so I really hope the crowd enjoys it as much as I love performing it.
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Words: Lauren Bulla
Photographer: Sienna Lorraine Gray