Houston’s cultural calendar is getting a powerful new highlight this summer as The Normal Anomaly Initiative announces that acclaimed Houston artist and activist Harrison Guy will serve as Creative and Producing Director for the 2026 Black Like That Festival, an expanded evolution of the popular Black Queer AF Festival.

The festival, presented in partnership with Pride Houston 365, is scheduled for Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Ironworks. Organizers say the reimagined event will celebrate Black creativity, LGBTQ culture, and the vibrant artistic energy that continues to shape Houston’s identity.

The appointment of Guy signals a bold new chapter for the festival. Known nationally for his work as founder of the Urban Souls Dance Company, Guy has spent decades blending choreography, storytelling, and activism to preserve and amplify Black and queer history through the arts.

Festival organizers say his leadership brings both artistic vision and deep community roots to the event.

“We felt an immediate alignment in our work,” said Ian L. Haddock, founder and executive director of The Normal Anomaly Initiative. “Harrison and I both believe deeply in the power of telling stories of the Black and queer experience to advance healing and justice. This year we are being very intentional about ensuring that the artistry, history, and cultural contributions of our communities are not pushed to the margins.”

Haddock said the festival’s transformation into Black Like That reflects a broader effort to elevate Houston’s Black queer culture in a way that is visible, celebratory, and unmistakable.

For Guy, the opportunity represents both a professional milestone and a deeply personal mission.

“Houston has always had a rhythm that belongs to us,” Guy said. “A rhythm born from its Black queer creativity, resilience, and joy. Black Like That is about amplifying that rhythm and celebrating the artists, organizers, and everyday people who make this city extraordinary.”

Guy added that the festival aims to create a space where Black identity and self expression can exist without limitation.

“Whether you are Black like Barbara Jordan or Black like Billy Preston, this festival is an invitation to lean fully into expressing your Black, your way,” he said.

The Houston native brings an extensive record of cultural leadership and activism to the role. His advocacy work began in 2005 with the Donald R. Watkins Memorial Foundation, an organization focused on HIV prevention and education. Since then, he has served as LGBTQ community coordinator for the Houston NAACP, national president of Delta Phi Upsilon Fraternity, and a member of the LGBTQ Advisory Board for the Democratic National Committee.

In 2018, Guy founded Gatekeepers, a Houston based organization dedicated to Black activism and civic engagement. The group helped establish a historic marker in the city’s Montrose neighborhood recognizing the area’s role in Houston’s LGBTQ history.

Guy also launched the Black LGBTQ Houston History & Heritage Project – Charles Law Community Archive at the African American Library at the Gregory School, preserving the stories and contributions of Black LGBTQ Houstonians.

His leadership has also been recognized at the city level. In 2019, Guy became the first Black male Grand Marshal of the Pride Houston Parade and later served as an inaugural member and former chair of the LGBTQ Advisory Board for former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

The event will combine art, performance, education, and community celebration into a one day cultural experience designed to highlight the voices and stories that continue to shape Houston.

“Harrison has inspired so many leaders and creatives in Houston and beyond,” Haddock said. “For years, people who experienced his work thought, ‘I want to be Black like that.’ To now have his creative vision guiding our festival is incredibly meaningful.”

With tickets now on sale, organizers expect the festival to draw audiences from across the region eager to experience a celebration of Black culture, creativity, and pride that is distinctly Houston.

The Black Like That Festival takes place Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Ironworks. Pre sale tickets are available now.