Support ButFest 2025 and Queer Nightlife in Istanbul

Dear Supporters and Friends,

As we count down the days to ButFest—Queerwaves’ biggest and boldest event of the year—we’re reaching out for your support. Organizing a full day of music, art, and community that’s accessible to all is no small feat. But with a little help from our friends, we know we can make it happen.

ButFest 2025 is Coming!

Back for its 5th edition, ButFest returns to the forest on August 16, 2025, for a 15-hour open-air festival featuring two stages—BUT and GULLÜM—filled with performances, workshops, and surprises created by LGBTQ+ artists.

The BUT lineup for 2025 will feature familiar favorites and exciting new acts, with artists like Şevval Kılıç, Jtamul, Florence K Delight, Tusidi, Salome and many more preparing exclusive performances for August 16, 2025. Check our instagram for full lineup and schedule.

️ Solidarity Tickets

Last year, with your help, we were able to provide solidarity tickets for approximately one-fourth of our attendees (170) —people who would otherwise be unable to join due to financial barriers.

This year, your support will again help us cover the cost of these tickets and make sure our community events remain radically inclusive.

One solidarity ticket costs only 20 Euros, but any amount you contribute will make a real difference.

✊ Why Your Support Matters

In the face of growing censorship, bans, and discrimination against the queer community in Turkey, safe spaces like ButFest are more than festivals—they are acts of resistance, visibility, and collective care.

At the same time, Turkey's ongoing economic crisis has made it increasingly difficult to sustain events like ButFest. Each year, the costs of equipment, transportation, technical support, and even basic logistics rise dramatically. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to organizing a radically inclusive, non-profit, and safer space—driven entirely by voluntary labor and collective effort.

By supporting ButFest, you're not only helping cover essential costs, you're standing with a community that insists on joy, visibility, and resistance—even when the odds are against us.

What We’ve Achieved Together

Thanks to your support over the years, we have:

* Organized over 75 queer events in 10 years.

* Supported more than 30 queer nightlife workers

* Welcomed over 4,000 attendees

* Helped many cover essential expenses during difficult times

Your donations have created tangible change and meaningful community—thank you.

How You Can Help

Donate

Help us cover event expenses and provide solidarity tickets.

Share

Spread the word! Share this campaign with your friends, community, and networks.

Join Us

If you’re in Istanbul, come to ButFest and dance with us under the trees.

️ Festival Ethos

Organized by Queerwaves, ButFest is a non-profit festival run entirely by volunteers. It is a safer space built by and for Lubunyas (queer folks in Turkish slang). We uphold a strict zero-tolerance policy for racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, harassment, and discrimination.

An on-site awareness team will be present throughout the event to support anyone in need.

About Queerwaves

“Queerwaves is an initiative that has been organising queer events in Istanbul for about 10 years and has expanded its following, especially through the parties it organises. The parties don't have a specific venue; they take place in different locations. To create safer spaces, the venue is only announced to ticket-holders. Apart from parties, Queerwaves also organise various events such as markets where queer designers can sell their products, exhibition tours, and workshops. Operating within DIY culture, where every aspect from decor to sound system, from bar to door, is taken care of by the team, Queerwaves is truly a valuable organisation for those who want to dance in a safer space until the morning.

It is one of the crucial groups that contributes to nightlife as resistance in Istanbul.”

— "Nightlife as Sustained Resistance in Istanbul," CTM Festival, June 2024

Thank you for standing with us.

Together, we can continue to build spaces where our community can breathe, dance, and resist.

No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.