As the Philippines assumes the 2026 chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, more than 70 LGBTQIA+ artists, activists, and cultural workers from across the region will convene in Quezon City from 26 to 28 February 2026 for the Southeast Asia Queer Arts and Justice Summit (SEAQAJS), positioning art and culture as strategic tools for regional advocacy.
Organized by the ASEAN SOGIE Caucus, the summit frames queer “artivism” — the intersection of art and activism — not as symbolic expression, but as a practical and strategic component of civic engagement within ASEAN processes.
SEAQAJS underscores the growing recognition that culture and creative practice play a critical role in shaping public discourse, strengthening civil society participation, and influencing policy conversations. In a regional context marked by shrinking civic space, censorship, climate vulnerability, and ongoing legal inequality, the summit aims to elevate artistic expression as a credible and constructive advocacy pathway.
As a civil society-led platform, SEAQAJS provides space to address issues that often fall outside formal ASEAN mechanisms, while remaining grounded in regional realities. Its timing during National Arts Month further reinforces the role of the creative sector in advancing inclusive development and human rights.
Building on the momentum of the Southeast Asia Queer Cultural Festival (held in 2021, 2024, and 2025), the summit seeks to translate cultural energy into deeper political dialogue, cross-border collaboration, and shared advocacy strategies.
“Art has long been a site of resistance, care, and survival for queer communities in Southeast Asia,” said Ryan Silverio, Executive Director of ASEAN SOGIE Caucus. “Through SEAQAJS, we are advancing artivism as a strategic force — one that can engage ASEAN-level processes, strengthen movements, and connect human rights advocacy to lived realities, climate justice, and collective care.”
The three-day program will feature policy dialogues, workshops, and peer exchanges focused on key themes including queer futures in ASEAN, creative economies and fair work, climate justice and Indigenous knowledge, healing and transitional justice, safety under repression, censorship and representation, and community storytelling as a driver of narrative change.
A central pillar of the summit is intersectionality as both lens and strategy — linking LGBTQIA+ rights with broader regional concerns such as environmental protection, care labor, and economic precarity. Participants aim to co-design advocacy approaches capable of influencing conversations beyond formal diplomatic channels.
Complementing the summit is the Southeast Asia Queer Arts Space, a parallel exhibition featuring visual art, films, and zines from regional partners. Attendees will also contribute to a Queer Community Quilt, symbolizing collective visions for a more inclusive ASEAN.
Through cross-border collaboration and sustained engagement, SEAQAJS seeks to help expand civic space, strengthen regional solidarity, and contribute to ongoing efforts to advance equality and human rights across Southeast Asia.