Kootenay Burlesque Festival

The Kootenay Burlesque Festival is a lavish and luxurious summer weekend affair that takes place in beautiful Nelson, BC. Our stage features world-renowned burlesque artists from across the globe alongside local luminary performers, creating two extravagant nights of exotic and enticing entertainment. At KBF, we believe that what we do off stage is equally as important as what we do on stage. We take great pride in providing educational and social opportunities as part of our festival experience. We offer educational workshops taught by professional artists that help preserve, promote, and further advance burlesque as an art form in our community. We also host a variety of social events designed to help performers foster meaningful connections and build relationships both locally and abroad. We strongly believe in fairly compensating artists for their talent and hard work, and all performers receive a $100 honorarium for their act. The Kootenay Burlesque Festival has been recognized for both artistic excellence and community impact, earning a Top 10 Nomination for "Best Place to Be" at the 2025 Silver Tusk Awards and receiving the 2025 Kootenay Quartz Award for Best Production..