Thank you for your interest in applying to the 7th Annual Kootenay Burlesque Festival, happening June 25 - 28, 2026 in the breathtakingly beautiful city of Nelson, BC
The Kootenay Burlesque Festival is a celebration of the Art of Burlesque and beyond, bringing together some of the most talented performance artists from across the globe.This is your copportunity to shine on stage, connect with a vibrant community of like minded artists, and create unforgettable memories. With an enthusiastic audience and an atmosphere that embraces diversity and creativity, our festival is the perfect place to inspire, be inspired, and showcase your artistry
Our festival welcomes an exciting spectrum of performance styles, including burlesque, drag in all its forms, live vocal acts, circus and vaudeville performers, and flow arts such as hoop, poi, and aerial work. We celebrate versatility, creativity, and the unique talents every artist brings to the stage.
Our Festival Features Two Spectacular Showcases:
The Dirty & Nerdy Show - Friday, June 26 – A playful and provocative evening of nerdlesque and risqué performances
The Sparkle & Sass Soirée - Saturday, June 27 – A glamorous cabaret style showcase highlighting burlesque, drag, and circus artistry
These themed showcases allow us to celebrate a wide spectrum of talents and styles, promising a weekend filled with diverse entertainment and unforgettable performances
Make The Most Of Your Weekend
We encourage performers to stay for the full weekend so you can truly experience the festival, not just onstage, but within our vibrant and welcoming community. The festivities begin on Thursday with our Alice in Burlyland Meet & Greet Party, it's the perfect way to kick off the weekend and connect with fellow performers. On Friday, indulge in the flirty, dirty, and provocative performances of our Dirty & Nerdy Showcase. Saturday features workshops taught by professional touring artists, offering opportunities to learn, grow, and connect before the evening’s glamorous Sparkle & Sass Soirée. After the showcase, join us for our themed After Party, a lively late night celebration where performers can unwind and keep the celebration flowing.
Sunday brings our beloved Beach Party, where you can kick back, relax, soak up the sunshine, cool off in the lake and enjoy a free pizza lunch with your new festival family. In the evening, we finish in true KBF style with our dazzling Kaftan Karaoke Farewell Party, a warm and laughter filled wrap-up of the weekend. Staying for the full festival gives you time to recharge, make real connections and immerse yourself in the beauty of one of Canada’s most charming mountain lake towns.
Rising Star Spotlight Program
We know how challenging it can be for performers to get the opportunity to get to take the next step toward becoming a featured or headlining artist. As a festival rooted in community, growth, and celebration, we believe in using our platform to raise, support, and uplift performers at every stage of their artistic journey.
That’s why, this year, we are excited to formally introduce our Rising Star Spotlight Program. From our pool of applicants, we will select two performers to be elevated to Feature Performer Artists, one featured on Friday and one featured on Saturday. These performers will be highlighted as special guests of the festival and recognized for their talent, their potential, and their commitment to their craft.
Rising Star Spotlight Artists will receive:
- Spotlight billing in festival promotions and social media
-Special recognition during their assigned showcase
-A Featured Performer position within their showcase lineup
- An increase in performer payment
This initiative reflects our dedication to uplifting performers, creating meaningful opportunities, and helping artists shine both onstage and within our wider burlesque community.
APPLICATIONS
Application Timeline
Applications are open from December 1 to 31, 2025. All applicants will receive an email with their results by January 15, 2026. Selected performers will then have a short window to confirm their participation in the festival.
Set Yourself Up for Success
We want to set every applicant up for success, so we encourage you to take a moment to review the judging criteria available on our website before submitting your application. These guidelines outline what our adjudication team looks for and can help you present your work in the strongest possible way. We strongly encourage you to follow all application instructions carefully, provide clear public video links, properly label your music and photos, and respect time limits. This helps ensure your act is fully and fairly considered for inclusion.
Each application allows you to submit up to two acts, but if you’d like to apply with more, you may submit multiple applications
Your video doesn’t need to be professionally recorded, we happily accept videos filmed in your dance studio, living room, on your phone or any space where you can showcase your performance. Just ensure the video quality is clear enough for our adjudication team to fully see your movements.
Please note: We are currently unable to accept fire performances, glitter dumps, or acts involving excessive liquids. Your music track must not exceed 5 minutes in length.
Thank you for your interest in applying, if you have any questions please send them our way, we can’t wait to see your sparkle, sass, and sensational artistry!