Applications for our 2025 festival are now closed. Applicants will be notified of results by June 1, 2025.

TBF 2025 is November 13-16 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
in Downtown Toronto.

Things you need to know - we are dedicated to making our festival as inclusive and accessible as possible. TBF aims to showcase innovative, provocative, and captivating burlesque performances with a focus on creating a space where diverse perspectives and experiences are valued, appreciated and championed.

  • No application fees - ever!

  • All performance spots are paid.

  • Confirmed performers will be limited to performing one solo and one duet/group number per year.

  • Performers can submit up to two applications per year (either two solos, or a solo and duet/group).

  • Aerial acts are accepted this year, but performers must provide a certificate of insurance.

  • We actively seek to amplify underrepresented voices in burlesque, prioritizing applications from performers from the BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, and disabled communities.

  • Our festival mandate ensures that at least 40% of programming is dedicated to marginalized artists, reinforcing our belief that burlesque is a space for everyone. In 2024, we surpassed those goals with 57% BIPOC performers, 64% 2SLGBTQIA+ performers, and 30% disabled performers.

  • Read more about our festival diversity policies and about the accessibility of our venue partner, Buddies in Bad Times.

    Adjudication Criteria:

    Our adjudication rubric asks the jury to grade the works based on four factors:

    Originality / Creativity of the act -  Rate 1-5

    Execution / Performers skills - Rate 1-5

    Aesthetics of the performer / Act - Rate 1-5

    Do you want this act in the festival? - Rate 1-5

    Extra factor: for example an under-represented performer: Is this a performer you want to be heard/seen - Yes/No (Automatically add 2 points if YES)

    An application will have a rating from 5 - 20, in total, plus 2 points for the extra yes/no factor. Each act category is graded as follows:

    5 - Excellent - strong artistic vision, development and execution - performance has the potential to influence or challenge the field

    4 - Good - clear artistic vision, development and execution - performance has the potential to impact the field

    3 - Average - Decent artistic vision, development and execution - unsure of impact on field

    2 - Below Average - Unclear Artistic Vision, Act needs more development, Execution shows promise, but not yet ready for this showcase 

    1 - Not yet ready for the festival stage