EXXXOTICA'S SPARK!
Rooted in LGBTQIA+ culture and aligned with EXXXOTICA’s commitment to freedom of expression, SPARK! ignites connection, creativity, and conversation. It serves as a gathering point for Queer attendees and allies alike — a full-spectrum sanctuary where individuality is celebrated, community is centered, and everyone is invited to show up authentically.
From SW!TCH to SPARK!
From SW!TCH to SPARK!
The Evolution of EXXXOTICA’s LGBTQIA+ Experience
Something powerful is unfolding.
What began as SW!TCH is evolving into SPARK! — a reimagined, full-spectrum sanctuary where pleasure is healing, care is radical, and community is at the center of everything.
More than a showcase, SPARK! is a movement. A living, breathing space for queer joy, sexual exploration, wellness, art, and empowerment. It’s where drag meets dialogue, kink meets care, and identity meets illumination — creating room for expression, connection, and collective growth.
In 2026, SPARK! rises in full force, igniting new stages, new stories, and new ways to connect. With bold activations, deeper collaborations, and an expansive celebration of the queer experience in all its forms — inclusive, intersectional, and unapologetically authentic.
SPARK: Here, Queer & Full of Cheer
SPARK is EXXXOTICA’s celebration of LGBTQIA+ visibility, self-expression, community, and connection. During Pride Month and beyond, SPARK shines a spotlight on the incredible diversity of queer culture through dynamic stage performances, thought-provoking seminars, queer-owned businesses, adult performers, artists, educators, advocacy organizations, and community leaders.
Whether you’re looking to be entertained, educated, inspired, or simply surrounded by a welcoming community, SPARK offers something for everyone. From drag, burlesque, fetish & kink, and live music performances to conversations around wellness, relationships, identity, advocacy, and pleasure, SPARK embraces the full spectrum of queer experiences.
Come celebrate authenticity, discover new voices, support queer creators, and connect with a community that believes everyone deserves a place to shine. Because at EXXXOTICA, we’re here, queer, full of cheer—and everyone is welcome.
The fire is building. The future is bright. And this is only the beginning.
EXXXOTICA & Twin Cities Pride: One Unforgettable Weekend
Mark your calendars for June 26–28, 2026, as EXXXOTICA Minneapolis and Twin Cities Pride come together for one of the most exciting weekends of the summer.
The Twin Cities Pride Festival is Minnesota’s second-largest festival and the largest FREE Pride festival in the region. Highlighting the very best in LGBTQIA2S+ entertainment across three stages, the festival features more than 650 vendors, including LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC community organizations, artists, makers, businesses, and advocacy groups.
With the Minneapolis Convention Center located just a 9-minute walk from Loring Park, attendees can easily experience both events throughout the weekend. Spend the day exploring Pride festivities, live entertainment, community resources, and local vendors before heading over to EXXXOTICA for world-class performances, educational seminars, immersive experiences, and hundreds of exhibitors dedicated to pleasure, wellness, relationships, and self-expression.
We’re especially excited to welcome members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, allies, creators, performers, educators, and advocates to Minneapolis during Pride Weekend. From queer-owned businesses and community organizations to drag, burlesque, boylesque, pole, music, and educational programming, EXXXOTICA offers countless opportunities to connect, celebrate, and discover.
Whether you’re visiting for Pride, EXXXOTICA, or both, Minneapolis will be buzzing with energy, inclusivity, and unforgettable experiences all weekend long. We can’t wait to celebrate with you June 26–28, 2026.
