Many soft tissue sarcoma subtypes have consistent chromosomal translocations with novel fusion genes, which result in disordered cellular function. The microscopic appearances, immunophenotype and behaviour of such tumours relate to the genetic events to a variable extent. This paper reviews the molecular pathology and related morphological and clinical features of sarcomas with non-EWS translocations. These include synovial sarcoma, alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, alveolar soft part sarcoma, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, infantile fibrosarcoma and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour.