“The whole ethos behind SISTALAND came through not waiting for someone to give me permission. It’s about doing it anyway,” says Nikita Dare, founder and creative director of SISTALAND. It’s an unapologetically staunch statement, and one that’s at the core of the festival she founded in 2024.
Part-creative weekender, part-networking event but without the forced smiles and small talk, SISTALAND is a three-day retreat for women, trans women and non-binary people working in the creative industries, from music and film to dance and literature. These are all showcased at the festival itself, whether through live performances and film screenings held in woodland enclaves to panel discussions and music. But by design, SISTALAND is a hub that represents those not being seen elsewhere.
SISTALAND began through necessity, says Nikita. While working long shifts in the film, music video and commercial world, Nikita realised the unique challenges that women and non-binary creatives faced in the daily grind. “There were a lot of shared struggles in being seen as a human being rather than just a role,” she says.
Nikita then set up a WhatsApp group where friends from across the cultural spectrum could have hidden conversations that aren’t allowed to exist in the 9-5. Childcare struggles and ‘complaining’ about tired eyes after 12 hours on your feet isn’t exactly welcomed in typical workplaces, even if they are a reality.
But in that, SISTALAND is growing into a “proper ecosystem for people to feel safe and listened to,” Nikita says.
This ecosystem is not just about providing three days of cultural exploration, dance and music. Yes, there is that, but it’s about something much broader. “I wanted to provide a place where we could talk honestly about building a creative life, but also enjoy ourselves,” Nikita says. “Somewhere you could meet a future collaborator, dance and take a breath, all in the same weekend.”
On the weekend, this means confronting topics such as burnout, meeting unreachable expectations and neurodiversity in the creative industries. Conversations are designed to challenge and to push people out of their comfort zone, while also providing a welcomed break for exhausted production runners or festival staff operating on zero hours sleep.
“The festival gives people time to get beyond introductions,” says Nikita. “You’re sharing a weekend, so there’s room for conversations and connections that wouldn’t happen in a quick networking event.”
It’s easy to think that a women and non-binary only event wouldn’t be enough to send anyone red in the face. But anyone who’s ever been on the platform formally known as Twitter can attest to the fact that a small but vocal minority shout the loudest. Public figures use their influence to rally against communities who form less than 1% of the UK population. Pride parades are protested and culture wars form the basis of political campaigns.
In Nikita’s own words, SISTALAND isn’t a festival that’s “anti-men. We’re pro-women,” however she still acknowledges she’s forced to make explanations that other festivals simply don’t have to. “If we create spaces which are only for men or are only for women, then you need to convince people that we’re not rallying the troops for destruction. Rather, we’re just celebrating positivity,” says Nikita.
That’s why Nikita believes it’s important to block out the outside noise and focus on what they want in the way they want to do it. “We’re creating a safe space for women to say what they need to say without any judgement, and it does change when men enter that conversation,” she says. “In the world we’re living in these spaces where people can speak freely are important. These spaces should exist for men too.“
And in a way, SISTALAND provides a crucial outlet to escape the pressures of the world, something that most of us can relate to. “If anyone looks on the news right now, it you know everyone knows this is an extremely scary world right now, and for a lot of women there’s a lot of anger,” says Nikita. “We don’t get anywhere in life if we meet anger with anger, so for us to make positive change is share our feelings, thoughts and anger in a positive and sustainable way.“
While the challenges Nikita described are very much part of wider society, this obviously bleeds into the festival industry. Line-ups have long-suffered from all-male headliners and a lack of diversity. In 2024, data from A2D2 found that at some of UK’s most popular festivals 63% of acts were male artists or all-male bands, compared to 21% for female artists or female-led groups.
Some festivals are trying to change that. Festivals such as Primavera Sound and Iceland Airwaves have long dedicated themselves to a 50/50 gender-split line-up. Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields, held in California in August, featured a women-fronted line-up that saw the likes of Chappell Roan, Bikini Kill and Doechii perform to 45,000 people.
But these are headline events which have been established for years or are headlined by a global pop superstar. It’s easier to stand for something when you have the influence and money to do so, after all. And while festivals can offer weekend escapism, they need to have an impact beyond a weekender.
For SISTALAND, a festival built on community, this is done through year-round support for attendees, collaborative events with festival-goers and facilitating new opportunities for festival-goers long after the doors have shut. “The festival is a big gathering point, but life carries on when everyone gets home,” says Nikita. “We want people to have somewhere to return to when they’re stuck, looking for collaborators, celebrating something or figuring out their next step.”
Following its 2026 edition in Somerset, SISTALAND will move to the Welsh countryside of Candleston Woods, Bridgend, in 2027. Running on the theme of ‘How do we build creative lives that last?’, the programme will explore how to remain inspired in a demanding creative industry.
But on that same topic, of building something despite the challenges that may come with it, Nikita says the message that fuels her to do it is a simple one. “This is all about reminding people of the power there is in just doing things for yourself and doing what you want to do. That’s who we are.“
Tickets for SISTALAND 2027 are available now.
