TAKE THE STAGE AT THE 8TH ANNUAL KBF June 24 - 27 2027

 ** APPLICATIONS FOR THE 8TH ANNUAL KBF OPEN DEC 1st - 31st 2026 **

Join us for the 8th Annual Kootenay Burlesque Festival June 24 - 27 2027 in beautiful Nelson, BC. We are thrilled to welcome a diverse lineup of performance artists from around the world for a weekend celebrating burlesque and beyond. More than just a stage, our festival is an opportunity to connect, inspire, and showcase the incredible talent within the  community.

OUR FESTIVAL FEATURES TWO DIFFERENT SHOWCASE NIGHTS

The Dirty & Nerdy Show (Friday, June 25th) 

– A playful evening of nerdlesque and risqué performances that will captivate and delight.

The Sparkle & Sass Soirée (Saturday, June 26th) – A dazzling cabaret-style production highlighting burlesque, drag, and circus artistry in all its grandeur.

We welcome a wide variety of acts, including burlesque, drag in all it's forms, singing, circus, vaudeville, hoop, poi, and aerial performances. However, please note that we are unable to accept fire performances, glitter dumps, or acts involving excessive liquids.

Each application allows for up to two acts, and performers are welcome to submit multiple applications if they wish to apply with more.

Thank you for your enthusiasm and passion. we look forward to seeing your artistry light up our stage

 Are you considering applying to the Kootenay Burlesque Festival? Here are some of the perks that our performers will receive

* Performer Honorarium

* High quality video & photos of your performance

* Free entrance into BOTH Festival Showcase nights

* Fabulous swag bag with exclusive merchandise

*Entrance for two to our performer Meet & Greet on Thursday, June 25th
 

* Free entrance into our exclusive after party

*  A day of fun in the sun on Sunday  at our infamous  Beach Party! Bring your favorite  floatie and enjoy an afternoon with the glitter gang with FREE PIZZA lunch  provided

*  Kaftan Karaoke Farewell Party to end the weekend festivities off with a bang 

Our team of adjudicators are looking forward to viewing your video submissions, each applicant will be marked and scored in the following categories.

* Creativity- Did the performer or group use imagination and/or artistic 

vision to create an innovative piece? 

  * Originality- Was the performance individual, fresh, and unique? 

* Stage Presence- Did the performer or group connect with the audience in a meaningful way? 

* Costume- Does the costume support the narrative of the piece?

* Choreography and/or Skill 

 When selecting our cast, we also consider the overall stylistic, demographic, and geographic diversity of  all applicants as we strive to create an inclusive and diverse show.