COVENTRY PREPARES TO ‘TURN BACK TIME’ AGAIN AS THE ‘AUTUMN IS QUEER’ FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 2026
Coventry is gearing up for a vibrant, city-wide celebration of self-acceptance and inclusivity as Autumn Is Queer returns for its second year, running from September 22nd to November 30th 2026.
Produced by Extraordinary Us CIC with support from Coventry City Council and Arts Council England, this year’s festival theme, Coventry: Feeling Proud, honours both the city’s civic pride and the LGBTQ+ ethos of radical inclusion: “Coventry loves you as you are.”
PHOTO credit – @photogempic
The festival’s highlight event, “Cher The News,” takes place on Sunday, October 25th – the day the clocks turn back time (by one hour) – as Coventry city centre transforms into “Cher-ventry,” the (un)official European home of Cher. This major community celebration will bring together participants, choirs, bands, and performers to dress up as Cher, featuring pop-up performances, interactive interventions, and plenty of iconic wigs. Creative partners include Highly Sprung, Fitness With Matt, and The Tin Music & Arts.
If Cher-ventrians want to don a wig and turn back time then organisers are calling on local residents, performers, and Cher enthusiasts of all backgrounds to join the fun for ‘Cher The News’ on Sunday, October 25th.
Whether you want to perform, sing, or simply dress up as your favourite Cher, you can sign up or find out more by visiting autumnisqueer.co.uk/cher-the-news or emailing hello@extraordinaryus.co.uk.
Extraordinary Us also offers at the CBS Arena under the header ‘Feeling Proud’, the “Museum of Me: City Till I Die” community pop-up structure celebrates Coventry City Football Club fans through thick and thin, featuring stories from the co-founder of the Proud Sky Blues fan group.
Outside of this – over 40 events across the CV postcode region bring together local venues, cultural spaces, and nightlife. Highlights include drag brunches at The Yard, tributes to iconic pop stars, and the British Art Show – A Chorus Of Strangers. You’ll also find Dogoween at FarGo Village, Tease at Albany Theatre, and Congregational by Fatt Butcher at Warwick Arts Centre.
In Autumn, Coventry is the place to LGB and T and Q and +.
Local businesses and allies can support the festival through corporate partnerships, found on the website.
Red Panda rebrand as Alley Food & Mood, and relocate to Smithford Way.
The team behind a Coventry restaurant, which had to relocate due to demolition work in the city centre, has found a new home.
Alley Food & Mood has opened in Smithford Way and is under the same management as Red Panda, which was based beneath Coventry Point – the high rise building that is being demolished as part of wider regeneration work in the city centre.
Acting for the landlord, Holt Commercial brokered the deal with the Oriental restaurant.
Chris Hobday, Associate at Holt Commercial, said Smithford Way is becoming a destination for varied international food outlets reflecting the multicultural demographic of Coventry and the ever increasing international student population.
He said: “It’s great to see another unit in the city centre being let and we are delighted to have assisted Alley Food & Mood in opening in this property.
“Everyone wants to see the continued regeneration of the city centre – especially with UK City of Culture 2021 on the horizon – but that inevitably means that there will have to be some disruption in the process.
“The team behind Alley Food & Mood wanted to be in the city centre and the premises on Smithford Way is perfect for them as they sit alongside restaurants, cafes and eateries with a real international flavour.
“They have, after securing a long term lease, undertaken a comprehensive fit out which shows their commitment to the city centre.
“We have several other units on the market in Coventry city centre and the interest is very strong, with further deals expected very soon.
“Everyone knows that the traditional high street retail sector is going through a testing period and what we are seeing is businesses looking to the city centre for different uses which, in the long run, will add to the sustainability of our city centres.”
Ms Kai Wang, of Alley Food & Mood, said: “We are very pleased to bring our unique restaurant offer to Smithford Way. We can see that this is going to be a very exciting time in Coventry and this area of the city centre is becoming very popular with people wanting to eat out.
“We are very grateful to Chris and Holt Commercial for helping us to move here.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration said, “I’m really pleased that Alley Food and Mood has joined the growing number of independent food traders in Smithford Way. It’s an area that is thriving and we will also be investing in some improvements in the area alongside our work in the Upper Precinct.”
