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On September 9 and 10, the time will come for drag’s biggest weekend to finally hit the art form’s world capital. RuPaul’s Drag Con promises two days of panels, parties and chances to meet the gender-defying performers who inspire you. Here’s why we can’t wait for the insane NYC drag event.
1. The guests
Queens from every season of the cultural juggernaut RuPaul’s Drag Race will show up to meet fans, speak at panels and, of course, one-up each other’s looks. Keep your eyes peeled for iconic divas like Detox, Ongina, Sasha Velour and others, who are joined by past judges and drag community legends including Michelle Visage, Amanda Lepore and bounce-music star Big Freedia.
2. The glam
Prepare to deck yourself out in eleganza from your favorite queens, as well as products from queer lifestyle and makeup brands from all over NYC. Check out clothing from Japanese art collective Massive, camp T-shirt crew Swish Embassy, master Drag Race illustrator Chad Sell, performance makeup site Sugarpill and Fierce Drag Jewels. One can never have enough fake eyelashes.
3. The gigs
The best gigs during DragCon actually go down outside the convention's doors. You can watch Trixie Mattel, Kim Chi, Latrice Royale, Jinkx Monsoon and other queens savage one another at Haters Roast on September 8 at Beacon Theatre. That same night, a show dubbed Nine from 9 + Tammie Brown is at the Town Hall, where hosts Bob the Drag Queen and Lady Bunny welcome some of the most recent season’s fiercest competitors to the stage. And on September 9, watch Raja, Tyra Sanchez, Sharon Needles, Violet Chachki and more strut their stuff in Battle on the Runway at Stage 48.
4. The one true queen
The pièce de Résistance of RuPaul’s Drag Con is an appearance from Gay Oprah herself, supreme diva RuPaul. After a summer of violence and political strife, some sage wisdom from one of the paragons of LGBTQ culture will be much appreciated.
5. The looks
One of our favorite parts of New York Comic Con is the deluge of cosplayers taking over streets, subways and afterparties—and you can expect much of the same during DragCon. Beyond the big-name divas hitting the Javits Center, lesser-known queens and kings will flock the streets in their most camera-ready couture, and fans will show up decked in glitter, sequins and homemade looks to celebrate the art form. Bring your A-game.
You can buy your tickets to RuPaul's DragCon here.