COVENTRY PREPARES TO ‘TURN BACK TIME’ AGAIN, AS ‘CHER THE NEWS’ TAKES OVER WEST ORCHARDS FOR AUTUMN IS QUEER 2026
Coventry city centre is set to transform into “Cher-ventry,” the (un)official European home of Cher, as West Orchards Shopping Centre hosts a spectacular community takeover for Cher The News on Sunday, October 25th, 2026. Falling on the day the clocks go back, allowing fans to literally “Turn Back Time”, this flagship extravaganza is part of the second annual Autumn Is Queer festival, running from 1pm to 4pm.
Produced by Extraordinary Us CIC with support from Coventry City Council and Arts Council England, the event champions the city’s ethos of radical inclusion “Coventry loves you as you are.”
The festivities at West Orchards offer a packed afternoon of free entertainment, inviting shoppers and locals to simply come along, soak up the atmosphere, and join in the fun:
- Ongoing: between 1pm and 4pm adult Chers and younger Chers can make their own feathered headdress to proudly strut around West Orchards Shopping Centre as they shop, eat or grab a coffee.
- 1pm – 1:20pm: The celebration kicks off with a lively, brass-infused Cher song set from Mark Steele (Tuba), Craig Holmes (Tenor Sax) and Hannah Ockford (Trumpet)
- 1:30pm – 2pm: ‘The Big Cherformance’ [1] will take over the centre, bringing together a community cast, bands, and performers for a vibrant theatrical spectacle. Repeated at 3:30pm.
- 2:40pm – 3pm: Visitors can then jump into the action with a high-energy ‘Zumba With Cher’ session led by Matt from Fitness With Matt [Cher]
- 3:30pm will see the grand finale encore of ‘The Big Cher-Formance’ and your final reminder to ensure your clocks have turned back… by an hour.
- The programme will be hosted by local drag performer Ibi-Profane… AKA: Cher. AKA:
So head down to West Orchards to witness the pop-up performances, interactive intervention, flashmob moments created alongside partners Highly Sprung Performance, Fitness With Matt, and The Tin Music & Arts. The event will feature over 30 ‘Chers’ taking part in the festivities.
“I just had this innate impulse to be a Cher,” explained Andrea Mbarushimana, a community participant and one of ‘The Chers’.
While iconic wigs and Cher outfits are warmly welcomed, the focus of the afternoon is simply on community participation, whether you want to sing along, dance, or just enjoy the spectacle of “Cher-ventry”. Be Cher for it.
To find out more or to get involved in the moment, visitors can explore the full programme at autumnisqueer.co.uk/cher-the-news or email hello@extraordinaryus.co.uk.