UK's largest trans art festival returns to Manchester for fifth year with a promise of good vibes and hope

The UK's largest trans arts festival is returning to Manchester for its fifth year.

Trans Vegas, which is curated by Kate O’Donnell, has been a fixture of Manchester’s events calendar since 2017 and celebrates trans brilliance with a programme jam-packed full of art, cabaret and performances.

This year’s festival will feature a panel discussion with trans activist Travis Alabanza, a window installation by illustrator Ashton Attzs and an all-out cabaret extravaganza led by Yvy DeLuca’s The BollyWitch.

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“We’re always very proud of Trans Vegas,” Kate tells the M.E.N. “It’s such a nice offering to Manchester in terms of culture. I love how over the last five years, we’ve created a hub and carved out some space for trans art.

“I feel that Trans Vegas is so important for Manchester and the city would really be lacking without it. I feel it really represents what’s going on not just in the city but in the country.”

Trans Vegas kicks off this week with a window art installation at the Feel Good Club on Hilton Street in the Northern Quarter. Created by non-binary painter and illustrator Ashton Attzs, the ‘And THEY Lived Happily Ever After’ display tries to change the narrative around the vilification that trans people are often met with.

The ‘bold and unapologetic’ art display, which runs until August 13, features popular queer ‘villains’ and reintroduces them in a world where they live happily ever after.

Performer and writer Kate describes Trans Vegas as her ‘gift to the city’ for helping her in her own transition. She hopes the festival will be the beacon of hope she didn’t have herself growing up.

“I transitioned here 20-odd years ago and