Alan Cumming Announces New Queer Festival in Scotland
Graham Norton, Ian McKellen, and Armistead Maupin are set to join the event in the Scottish Highlands this January. Alan Cumming, known for hosting the popular show The Traitors and running his New York cabaret club Club Cumming, is deepening his ties to Scotland.
In 2024, Cumming was named artistic director of the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in his beloved Scotland. He took on the role earlier this year and plans to start programming in early 2026.
Introducing Out In The Hills Festival
One of Cumming’s first projects is a new LGBTQ+ arts festival titled Out In The Hills. It will take place from January 16 to 18, 2026, offering a special queer theatrical experience outside the usual summer Pride season.
The festival is located at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in the Perthshire Highlands, about a two-hour drive north of Edinburgh. The venue overlooks the River Tummel and the scenic Ben-y-Vrackie mountain.
Festival Highlights
- Ian McKellen will perform a rehearsed reading of his new one-man play, Equinox.
- Alan Cumming will lead a six-person cast in Me and the Girls, a stage adaptation of Noel Coward’s 1964 short story.
- Cumming will also have a conversation with TV chat show host Graham Norton.
“Out In The Hills offers a unique opportunity to enjoy some theatrical queer life away from the summer Pride season.”
The Scottish Highlands may be chilly in winter but provide breathtaking views and a captivating atmosphere year-round.
Author’s summary: Alan Cumming’s new LGBTQ+ festival in the Scottish Highlands promises intimate queer theatre and renowned talent, marking a fresh cultural highlight in January 2026.
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