“It has become a global queer haven”
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE PROVIDED
Picture this: LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people from around the world laughing, dancing, singing, sharing stories and coming together in meaningful conversation, with the Mediterranean stretching out along Palma’s coastline.
This is ELLA Festival.
In 2026, ELLA celebrated the 10th Summer edition of ELLA Mallorca – a week-long celebration of music, culture, food, travel, connection and community for LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people. From inspiring talks and workshops to DJs, parties and unforgettable moments by the sea, the festival once again brought its global community together under the Mallorcan sun. Among this year’s speakers was DIVA Charitable Trust executive director Lady Phyll, adding to a programme that placed community, visibility and LGBTQIA+ voices at its centre.
But ELLA is about more than a week of celebrations. For founder Kristin Hansen, creating spaces where queer women and non-binary people can meet openly, feel represented and find community is a form of activism. Her vision has always extended beyond creating a festival. It is about visibility, belonging and the power of seeing other people living openly and courageously – particularly in places where LGBTQIA+ people may still struggle to be seen.
To celebrate ELLA’s 10th Summer edition, we sat down with Kristin to hear the story behind the festival, the activism that drives her work, and why she believes visibility can change lives.
How was ELLA Festival founded?
ELLA Festival was founded in Palma in 2013, and this year we celebrated our 10th Summer edition. But the idea started much earlier. About 17 years ago, I was sitting in my garden with a glass of wine, imagining how beautiful it would be to create an international meeting place for lesbians in Mallorca. A few years earlier, I had arrived on the island and didn’t know where to connect with or find like-minded women. I remember thinking about how wonderful it would be to bring women from all over the world together here. That idea stayed with me, and eventually ELLA was born. What started as a personal feeling of loneliness became something much bigger – a community where people from different countries, cultures and backgrounds could meet and feel that they belong.
Do you see ELLA as a form of activism?
Absolutely. For me, creating visibility is activism. When people see other LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people living openly, being successful, falling in love, building friendships and simply enjoying their lives, it can have a very powerful effect. Visibility matters because there are still many places in the world where people don’t have the freedom to be completely themselves. That is one of the reasons I want ELLA to reach different parts of the world. It is not only about bringing people together for a festival. It is about creating spaces where people can see themselves reflected, connect with others and feel less alone. I believe that when you give people visibility, community and courage, you can create change.
What is your favourite part of ELLA Festival?
What I like most isn’t really an event. It’s the people. Seeing women and non-binary people from all around the world come together, get to know each other, laugh, share experiences and inspire one another – that is what means the most to me. Of course, the ELLA Opening is always very special because everyone comes together and we officially open the festival. There is a real feeling of excitement and anticipation. But for me, it’s the connections that happen around those events that make ELLA so special.
What advice would you give to someone coming to ELLA Festival for the first time?
Be curious and open. The ELLA Community is full of open-minded women and non-binary people with such warm energy. It’s very inclusive, so I would say: come as you are, enjoy yourself and have a blast! And don’t be afraid to talk to people. You never know which conversation might change your life.
What can you tell us about ELLA Colombia 2027?
I’m very excited about ELLA Colombia. It’s actually a project that was originally planned about seven years ago, but we had to cancel it because of the pandemic. Now it’s finally happening, together with our local team in Colombia. There are many LGBTQIA+ rights that we share in Colombia, but there is still so much work to do when it comes to visibility and representation. We want to expand ELLA to different parts of the world, particularly countries where visibility is still very much needed. That is what really moves me – bringing ELLA to places where it can have a deeper meaning. I want women to see other people being courageous and feel that they can be courageous too, and that they can come out and live openly. For me, that is one of the most important things ELLA can do: show people that they are not alone.
Why is visibility so important to you?
Because I know what it feels like to arrive somewhere and not know where you belong. When you are able to see people like you, it changes something. You realise there is a community out there and that you don’t have to navigate everything alone. I want ELLA to be a place where people can come and see thousands of women and non-binary people being completely themselves. There is something incredibly powerful about that. And I think visibility creates visibility. The more openly we live, the more we challenge stereotypes and create space for the people who come after us.
What has ELLA Festival brought to your life?
When I first had the vision for ELLA, I was feeling alone. I simply imagined connecting with like-minded women. ELLA has brought me happiness, friendship and so much inspiration. It has become a global queer haven. For me, it is a deep joy to see this happen – to see people meeting, falling in love, getting married, coming back year after year and, most importantly, being themselves. But it has also given me a sense of purpose. I know that what we are creating can mean something very different to every person who comes through the ELLA doors. For some, it is a holiday. For others, it is the first time they have felt completely free to be themselves. For someone else, it might be the beginning of a friendship, a relationship or a new chapter in their life. That is incredibly powerful. It’s a project from my soul.
You can find out more about ELLA Festival at ellafestival.com or ellaglobalcommunity.org
Love media made by and for LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people? Then you’ll love DIVA. We’ve been spotlighting the community for over 30 years. Here’s how you can get behind queer media and keep us going for another generation: linkin.bio/ig-divamagazine
Did you know that DIVA has now become a charity? Our magazine is published by the DIVA Charitable Trust. You can find out more about the organisation and how you can offer your support here: divacharitabletrust.com
