Start your engines and race to see the best drag queen clubs across Australia!
Since RuPaul’s Drag Race sashayed onto our television screens over 10 years ago, there’s never been a better time to experience the glamour of drag queens. Charisma, uniqueness, nerve and of course talent are all in abundance at any drag queen performance – whether that drag bingo, drag cabaret, or anything in between.
With so many to choose from, we’ve come up with a list of the best drag queen shows and drag clubs in Australia. So grab some friends and let loose for an unforgettable night of fun and ferocity!
Photographed by Anna Kucera. Image via Destination NSW.
Imperial Hotel
A drag queen institution since 1983, the iconic Imperial Hotel in Sydney’s Erskineville is one of the best drag queen clubs in Australia. Most well-known as the glittery opening for the film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), today the Imperial is host to a roster of outlandish, exciting and renowned drag shows. While staples like drag bingo are a regular fixture, new shows Rood Food – a raunchy performance pairing juicy food and scrumptious drag queens – highlight just that. Despite being close to 40 years old, Imperial Hotel is pushing what drag in Australia can be.
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Stonewall
Named after the New York club that arguably changed LGBT history, Stonewall Hotel is one of Sydney’s premier gay venue, featuring almost daily drag performers both fierce and farcical. Weekly karaoke nights, trivia and showgirl performances are sure to make everyone snap their fingers in glee. So strap in for a gobsmacking good time with some of the best drag queens in Sydney!
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The Oxford
With drag queen shows almost every night, The Oxford Hotel has earned its place as one of the best drag show clubs in Sydney. First established over 100 years ago, recently this three-storey establishment has transformed into an essential experience for drag queens on the verge of breaking out! Whether you’re looking for a night out to party, a quiet meal with friends or a glamorous drag queen show, the Oxford Hotel’s four distinct spaces mean anyone in the LGBT community can feel welcome.
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Universal Sydney
If you’re looking for a regular dose of on-fleek drag goodness, look no further than Universal Sydney. The two-storey club in Sydney’s inner city features some of the best drag shows in Sydney almost daily, stitching together a line-up that’ll have you in stitches. We’re talking drag queen trivia, competitions and RuPaul viewing parties – the perfect balance between raunch and camp in a way only a drag queen could. Make sure to book ahead, and sashay to a great night!
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Mollie’s Bar and Diner
Open Wednesday through Sunday, Mollies’ Bar and Diner has a jam-packed roster of some of the best drag queen shows in Melbourne. A fixture of Fitzroy’s LGBT scene, Mollie’s stands out with its inclusive atmosphere and spectacular drag queens. Favourites like drag queen bingo and roulette make for a great night out with friends, while Babydrag shows off some of the most exciting new queens sashaying into the spotlight. Make sure to book ahead so you can secure your seat to a night of outrageous laughs!
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Pride of Our Footscray
A short walk from Footscray Station, Pride of Our Footscray is a community bar that stands out as one of the best drag show clubs in west Melbourne. After starting in 2018 with the help of over 200 people chipping in, Pride of Our Footscray has built a fun and friendly atmosphere, where patrons of all walks of life can enjoy glamorous weekly and monthly drag shows in the heart of Footscray. If you’re looking for drag to bring a group of people together, Pride of Our Footscray also offers private drag queen bingo and trivia sessions for groups to hang out and bond.
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The 86
After opening in 2011, The 86 Club has made a name for itself as one of the best drag show clubs in Melbourne. Found in Fitzroy and featuring outstanding weekly shows like Fellas in Frocks and the drag burlesque show Red Light Confidential, The 86 also organises major drag events such as Drag-a-Thon – a non-stop day of drag goodness just in time for the Midsumma Festival. Open from Thursday to Saturday night, make sure to book ahead for an unforgettable night!
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Mary’s Poppin
Mary’s Poppin in Adelaide’s CBD is the crown jewel of the city’s LGBT community, and they also take the title as one of the best drag show clubs in Australia. A blend of weekly drag shows and regular visits by international queens mean there’s always something to look forward to at Mary’s Poppin. The drop-dead-gorgeous venue, with two large chandeliers, a disco ball and neon-drenched aesthetic make Mary’s Poppin one of the must-visit attractions in Adelaide.
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Connections Nightclub
For almost 50 years, Connections Nightclub has become the longest running gay club in Australia, along the way becoming one of the best drag queen clubs in Perth. Open from Wednesday to Saturday, this LGBT institution has over a dozen larger-than-life queens hosting a variety of weekly drag queen shows that are simply divine. Drag bingo and pop-tastic lip-sync performances are just a few of the drag queen shows you can expect from this iconic Perth drag club!
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The Court
Painted in a bold rainbow pattern, The Court is upfront and proud about being a LGBT club with a deep connection to drag culture in Perth. A short walk from McIver Station, this all-inclusive venue is here to entertain from Wednesday through Saturday regardless of your background. With weekly Drag Factory challenges showing off some of the best drag queen talent in the country, there’s never been a better time to head one down to The Court and scream “Yas Queen!” at one of the many talented drag queens.
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Sportsman Hotel
Known as “Spoties” by patrons, the Sportsman Hotel has built a reputation as one of the best drag show clubs in Brisbane over its 30-year history. Just outside of Brisbane’s CBD, Sportsman hosts various drag-fuelled events from Tuesday to Sunday, ensuring a fierce night out for any occasion. The line-up includes drag karaoke, a camp-tacular dinner theatre, and drag queen comedy shows that are sure to have you walking in purse first!
If you’re after some more LGBT entertainment, look no further than our list of the 10 Best LGBT+ Movies of All Time. Powerful and packed with pride, read through this selection of the Best LGBT+ Books to Read in 2024.
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