Major LGBTQ+ films coming in 2026, from Kristen Stewart’s debut to the Heartstopper finale
Peter Hujar’s Day, Hearstopper Forever and The Chronology of Water are all set for 2026 releases. (Picturehouse Entertainment/Netflix/BFI)
2025 has been an amazing year for LGBTQ+ cinema, but 2026 is set to be just as exciting for film!
From a directorial debut from the iconic Kristen Stewart to the Heartstopper finale to a campy lesbian horror, here’s what to look out for next year:
The History of Sound
Internet’s boyfriends Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor are lovers in this upcoming World War I historical romantic drama. Directed by Oliver Hermanus – who directed three episodes of Nicholas Galitzine’s gay historical drama Mary & George – the film is based on a short story by Ben Shattuck.
The History of Sound will follow the relationship of the two young soldiers, Lionel (Gladiator II‘s Mescal) and David (Challengers‘ O’Connor), as they meet in 1916 and then travel together in the summer of 1919 to rural New England, where they record folk songs.
History of Sound is out in the UK on January 23.
The Chronology of Water
Kristen Stewart is returning to the big screen, but this time as a director. Her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, is a force of nature and a piercing adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch’s 2011 novel of the same name. Stewart’s psychological drama follows a young woman (Imogen Poots) who escapes trauma through writing and also swimming.
It’s a challenging watch but a poignant perspective on addiction and motherhood through the eyes of a queer woman. The film also marks the first project from Nevermind Pictures, the production company set up by Stewart, Stewart’s wife, screenwriter-producer Dylan Meyer and producer Maggie McLean.
The Chronology of Water is out in the UK on February 6.
Peter Hujar’s Day
Ben Whishaw offers a wholly singular performance in Passages director Ira Sachs’ latest drama, Peter Hujar’s Day. Whishaw plays the titular, real-life gay photographer who is best known for his often candid black-and-white portraits in the 70s and 80s.
The film orbits Peter in conversation with writer Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall) in 1974. Furthermore, what seems like a simple recounting of his day becomes a vibrant portrait of New York culture and artistic ambition.
Peter Hujar’s Day is out in the UK on February 6.
Night Stage
From partners and co-writer-directors Marcio Reolon and Filipe Matzembacher comes gay erotic thriller Night Stage. The film charts the secret affair of actor Matias (Gabriel Faryas) and politician Rafael (Cirillo Luna).
The pair embark on a sensual odyssey, and they then discover a fetish for exhibitionism. What starts as intercourse with the windows open then becomes a boundary-pushing fascination with public sexual encounters.
Night Stage is out in the UK on April 3.
Mother Mary
One of the most highly anticipated 2026 films is David Lowery’s psychological drama-thriller-horror, Mother Mary. The film will see Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel play estranged best friends reuniting, but there’s something more to their friendship that meets the eye.
Hathaway is said to play Mother Mary, a “Lady Gaga-Taylor Swift hybrid”, while Coel is Sam, her former best friend and costume designer. Furthermore, the film will be scored by original music, written and produced by Jack Antonoff, Charli XCX and FKA Twigs.
Mother Mary is out in the UK on April 24.
Blue Film
The risqué gay camboy drama Blue Film has got everyone talking. The ‘polarising’ movie follows fetish camboy Aaron (Boots’ Kieron Moore) agreeing to spend the night with an anonymous client, a much older man named Hank (American Horror Story’s Reed Birney). Then, as the night progresses, it becomes clear this pair aren’t exactly strangers.
Elliot Tuttle’s feature film debut has made waves with its taboo themes, erotic gay sex, as well as the controversial age-gap dynamic. It’s even been reported that viewers have walked out of screenings.
Blue Film is out in the US on May 8. A UK release date is yet to be announced.
Lesbian Space Princess
The animated sci-fi comedy from Emma Hough Hobbs and Leela Varghese follows an introverted lesbian. Anxious space princess Saira (The Pitt’s Shabana Azeez) embarks on a mission to rescue her ex, Kiki (Bernie Van Tiel), from evil aliens. During her journey, she is joined by a gay popstar and a problematic spaceship.
Lesbian Space Princess is brought to life with bright, candy-coloured animation. A riotous, comedic and also wholly queer mission through space, it’s a joyous tale you don’t want to miss.
Lesbian Space Princess is out in the UK on May 22.
Stop! That! Train!
RuPaul fans listen up, the star’s Drag Race film is set to premiere in May of next year, and it stars some of our drag queen favs. Stop! That! Train! follows best friends and train stewardesses Tess (Ginger Minj) and DeeDee (Jujubee), who trade their roles at the Stank Rail for the Glamazonian Express.
However, the camp comedy is far from smooth sailing. The pair must join forces with first-class attendants (Brooke Lynn Hytes, Marcia Marcia Marcia, Symone) and President Gagwell (RuPaul) when a catastrophic “Stormaganza” threatens to derail the high-speed train.
Stop! That! Train! is set to be released on May 29.
Fairyland
After the death of her mother, young Alysia (CODA’s Emilia Jones) and her father Steve (Argo’s Scoot McNairy) move to San Francisco to restart their lives. It’s a coming-of-age story for both daughter and father. The latter, in particular, is able to come out as a gay man, but as the AIDS crisis looms, nothing is straightforward.
Fairyland is the feature directorial debut of Andrew Durham, based on Alysia Abbott’s memoir Fairyland: A Memoir of My Father. The film was also produced by legendary filmmaker Sofia Coppola.
Fairyland is out in the UK on May 29.
Madfabulous
It’s a Sin’s Callum Scott Howells is the star of MadFabulous, a biopic about Henry Paget, the fifth Marquess of Anglesey. The flamboyantly rebellious 19th-century aristocrat famously loved extravagant parties and also lavish outfits.
However, he quickly burnt through his multi-million-pound inheritance and racked up massive debts of £544,000 (around £70 million today). Furthermore, directed by Celyn Jones, MadFabulous paints a vivid picture of this historical figure ahead of his time.
Madfabulous is out in the UK on June 5.
Erupcja
Another film that sees Charli XCX exercise her acting chops, Erupcja follows the romantic lives of two women. Charli co-wrote the script with director Pete Ohs and co-star Lena Góra.
Set in Warsaw, Poland, local florist Nel (Góra) reunites with her friend Bethany (Charli), the latter who is starry-eyed for the former. However, Bethany arrives with her boyfriend, Rob (Will Madden), who wants to propose. As sapphic pining underscores Erupcja, the dynamic between these two women is at the heart of the film.
Erupcja is in UK cinemas on June 5.
Girls Like Girls
Hayley Kiyoko, otherwise known as Lesbian Jesus, is best known as a singer-songwriter. However, she is set to turn her attention to writing and directing for her feature film debut. Kiyoko has directed all her music videos, including the video for her 2015 track “Girls Like Girls”. The song also inspired her 2023 debut novel, Girls Like Girls.
Girls Like Girls, as a film, follows new girl Coley (Maya da Costa) who falls for Sonya (Myra Molloy). However, the only issue is that the latter already has a boyfriend.
Girls Like Girls is set for a US release on June 19. A UK release date is yet to be announced.
Leviticus
Writer-director Adrian Chiarella’s Leviticus is an Australian horror that reframes the typical portrayal of so-called conversion therapy. The film charts two teenage boys, Naim (Joe Bird) and Ryan (Stacy Clausen), who have a budding romance.
Then, caught by their pastor, they’re forced into a religious conversion ritual to ‘cure’ them. However, when the ‘cleansing’ ritual on the two boys goes wrong, a demonic entity is released. This demon takes the form of a victim’s lover, and so this queer horror film takes an even darker turn.
Leviticus is set for a US release on June 19. A UK release date is yet to be announced.
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma
The upcoming third feature from critically acclaimed I Saw the TV Glow director Jane Schoenbrun is Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. The film also stars Sex Education’s Gillian Anderson and Hacks’ Hannah Einbinder.
The film follows a queer filmmaker who is hired to direct a reboot of the infamous Camp Miasma slasher franchise. However, when the director becomes obsessed with the ‘final girl’ actress in the original movie, these two women descend into a psychosexual mania.
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma is out on August 7.
Hearstopper Forever
2026 will see us bid farewell to the beloved Heartstopper universe. The Netflix hit show is concluding its final chapter with a film set to tie up the story told over three previous seasons.
Adapted from Alice Oseman’s upcoming sixth graphic novel, as well as the novella, Nick and Charlie, Heartstopper Forever will mark the end of Nick Nelson (Kit Connor) and Charlie Spring’s (Joe Locke) queer teen love story.
Hearstopper Forever is due to be released in 2026.
The Housekeeper
Adapted from Rose Tremain’s short story and forthcoming novel, The Housekeeper is a fictionalised telling of the inspiration behind Du Maurier’s classic gothic tale, Rebecca. Pulp Fiction’s Uma Thurman and also Bridgerton’s Phoebe Dynevor will be helming this evocative romance set in the wild landscape of Cornwall.
Danni (Thurman) is a housekeeper working for the wealthy Lord DeWithers (Anthony Hopkins) when she meets novelist Daphne Du Maurier (Dynevor). Also, this 1930s secret lesbian romance is bound to include twists and turns with mounting desire, deceit, ambition, fear and legacy.
The Housekeeper is expected to be released in the UK in 2026.
Cry to Heaven
After a long wait, fashion designer Tom Ford is finally getting back in the director’s chair. His last film was a decade ago with Nocturnal Animals. Based on the 1982 novel by Anne Rice, Cry to Heaven is set in 1700s Italy. The film chronicles Venetian nobleman Tonio Treschi and singer Guido Maffeo, who has lost his voice. When the pair meet as men in Venice, Tonio teaches Guido to sing again.
The story is underscored by ambition, eroticism, and also betrayal; it’s all very Tom Ford! Cry to Heaven has a stacked cast, including Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hunter Schaffer, Lux Pascal, Colin Firth, and even singer-songwriter Adele’s acting debut.
Cry to Heaven is set for release in 2026.
Perfect
The first feature-length film from director Milicent Hailes premiered earlier this year at the SXSW Film Festival. Perfect is set in a not-so-distant future dystopia, where the world has been affected by contaminated water.
Reeling after a breakup, Kai (Ashley Moore) meets Mallory (Julia Fox), a wealthy pregnant woman who is running away from her past. Despite their differences, they fall into a steamy lesbian romance. They then discover a hidden lake and a group of outsiders, who have created their own mini utopia.
The supporting cast also includes Shirley’s Micaela Wittman and After the Hunt’s Lío Mehiel and The ‘L’ Word’s Kate Moennig.
Perfect is set for release in 2026.
Forbidden Fruits
The upcoming horror Forbidden Fruits is an adaptation of Lily Houghton’s play Of the Women Came the Beginning of Sin, and Through Her We All Die. The film has an impressively stacked cast, including Hustlers’ Lili Reinhart, The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Lola Tung, You’s Victoria Pedretti, Barbie’s Alexandra Shipp and Emma Chamberlain in her debut performance.
The film is set to follow a young woman who secretly runs a witchy femme cult. However, when a new woman enters their realm, their sisterhood is questioned. Additionally, make sure Meredith Alloway’s camp and thrilling film is on your 2026 LGBTQ+ film watchlist.
Forbidden Fruits is expected to have a UK release in 2026.
