Gender Bender – Multiarts Festival

Gender Bender – Multiarts Festival

Gender Bender is a multidisciplinary arts festival launched in 2015 by Sandbox Collective. Based in Bengaluru, the festival creates space for artists and creative practitioners to question established ideas about gender, identity and social expectations through innovative artistic work.

The festival invites applications from artists and individuals to develop projects that engage with gender in thoughtful and unconventional ways. Selected projects receive support through grants and are presented to audiences, with many continuing to reach new communities after the festival.

Festival Highlights

• Theatre and Performance: Experimental performances that challenge conventional narratives around gender and identity.

• Dance and Music: Creative interpretations of gender through movement, sound and performance.

• Film and Literature: Screenings, readings and storytelling that explore diverse lived experiences.

• Visual Art and Installations: Artistic projects that invite audiences to reconsider social expectations and cultural assumptions.

• Talks and Discussions: Conversations and workshops that encourage dialogue, reflection and empathy.

• Technology and New Media: Interdisciplinary work exploring gender through emerging creative formats.

Over the years, Gender Bender has featured work by artists, writers, filmmakers and activists, creating a platform for diverse voices and experimental practices. The festival aims to foster positive social change by encouraging audiences to engage with gender in more open and nuanced ways.

Event Details

• Festival: Gender Bender

• Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka

• Organizer: Sandbox Collective

• Category: Multiarts / Performing Arts / Gender and Identity

• Programme: Dance, theatre, music, film, literature, visual art, installations, workshops and discussions

• 2026 dates and venue: Not confirmed in the available listing

The event page contains historical festival information, but I could not verify a current 2026 edition schedule. Please confirm the next edition’s dates, venue and registration details with Sandbox Collective before publishing.