Start of the year means the start of yearly goals, and boy: I’m not sure what even the next three months hold! To be honest, these early January weeks have been mostly filled by thoughts of how l-o-n-g last year actually was. Helping those thoughts proliferate have been all the year-in-review style Instagram posts folks have made – which really puts into perspective what a mixed bag 2025 was.
I noticed most of last year’s positives were personal or professional successes rather than wider progressive gains, which makes sense given our current federal administration’s highway-to-hell approach to governance. When we can’t control the wider ill-winds created by a certain president’s bluster, why not try to control what’s in your power? Myself, I’d like to take that energy further in 2026. How can I use my skills to better the Austin community for everyone else? Beyond letting y’all know about cool queer events every week, of course…
Let’s try our best, Reader, and bring about a better Austin together in 2026.
ATX Vogue Nights
Thursday 15, Swan Dive
Starting a little later than usual but no less fantastic is House of Lepore’s monthly kiki ball. Miss Girl6 emcees, DJ Babidoll spins, and you? You’ll be a respectful participant in this culture, you hear? 11pm.
Honkers II Electric Boogaloo
Friday 16, Elysium
These clowns, they honk for thee! Celebrate MK Ultra’s birthday with a big ol’ Shock Therapy bash featuring special guests and tunes spun by DJ BB Crux. 11pm.
Vita Vontesse Starr
Friday 16, Highland Lounge
For your RuPaul’s Drag Race season 18 viewing pleasure, guest Vita joins host Justice and her co-host Eileen Dover for a very special watch party including a post-show meet & greet. 7pm.
Girls on Aux: Freaknik Edition
Friday 16, Neon Grotto
Jos Tha DJ kicks off the weekend with a downstairs dance party themed to Atlanta’s original freaky picnic. VVN guests, with reverse happy hour, Jungle Juice, and free lollipops. 9pm.
ATX Sapphic Chaotic Singles Party
Friday 16, Stargazer Bar
Chaotic Singles Party teams with Local Queer ATX to bring you a totally bonkers singles mingle. If you’re 1) single, 2) a chaotic sapphic, and 3) 21 years or older, swing by Stargazer to get your color-coded name tag. 8pm.
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Saturday 17, the Tiny Minotaur
Get ready for the heavenly drag show of your trans dreams – or nightmares – with host the Trans Era and her cast of Venus Rising, Hurricane Short King, Stephania Elegonza, and Atlas Mars. 9pm.
Drip
Saturday 17, Cheer Up Charlies
Premiering their new music video, 24Cobras and Vertarias host a party celebrating the collab with multiple local artists, drag stars, and other creatives via live performances from Lucy Lone Star, Leo Von Sol, Miss Girl6, Robbie Lepore, and Vertarias. Plus, a preview of Austin queer nightlife doc I Need Space. 8pm.
Lesbian Singles Mixer
Saturday 17, 29th Street Ballroom
As event promoter Faye Fearless says in this social’s copy, this is the perfect place to find a date for February’s Lez Prom. Dance, drink, chat, and generally break ice with other singles throughout the night. 7pm.
The Nerve Drag Brunch
Saturday 17, Wanderlust Wine Co.
Diamond Dior Davenport and Nazareth join host Cheeki Khant for this nervy brunch featuring drink specials and spins by DJ Arlini. 1pm.
Lez in the Capital Presents MLK Day Party
Saturday 17, Pop
Get in the groove all day with Jos Tha DJ spinning through this black & pink themed affair. Plus, hookah, flavored mimosa towers, and on-site food from Good Eats With Jeff. 4pm.
Frisky Business Burlesque Presents Fet-Tease
Saturday 17, Captain Quackenbush’s Soundspace
Kinky spirits arise this Saturday with your devilish friends – or maybe fiends? – Frisky Business performing their annual fetish-themed show. Quack’s also offers a themed drink menu, and there’ll be vendors, merch, and a raffle. 8pm.
The Patio Sessions: MLK Weekend
Sunday 18, Highland Lounge
Pride in Black ATX runs their usual Sunday kickback with Melissa Bellz behind the decks and plenty of community spirit. 4pm.
Queer MMA
Sunday 18, Black Widow MMA
Taught by coach Lu Villarreal, this monthly class is open to anyone in the LGBTQ community who wants to learn more about mixed martial arts. 12:30pm.
Dirty Bird Drag Brunch
Sunday 18, the Austin Eagle
Malibu Imported brings back this bustling brunch with cast members Stella Rey Love, Mz. Cookie Dlux, and Vylette Ward. 12pm.
Dirty Dynasty Bingo
Sunday 18, Oilcan’s
Join bingo queens Cupcake and Lady Grackle as they liven up your Sunday scaries with prizes from Adult Video Megaplex, Package, and Vixen Creations. 4pm.
Austin Idol
Sunday 18, Highland Lounge
Aria Rey hosts this singing competition every Sunday with a cash prize, special guest judges, and – huge plus – no Simon Cowell plastic surgery jumpscares. 10pm.
Wide Open Spaces
Monday 19, Sagebrush
She needed wide open spaces, and by golly, Neon Rainbows is gonna deliver! Celebrate the 28th anniversary of the Chicks’ album with DJ Ed West, Country Fried Dance, and a live performance by Libby & the Loveless. 7pm.
Ritzy Roulette
Monday 19, Oilcan’s
Ritzy Bitz returns to the Monday drag stage with special guest Eileen Dover for her unpredictable request-based show where the songs are on shuffle. 10pm.
Dolly Parton’s 80th Birthday Blowout
Monday 19, Vinyl Beauty Bar
Celebrate Dolly’s birthday with performances by Brigitte Bandit, Darci Carlson, Hilary York, Jolie Goodnight, Annie Marie Lewis, Danny B. Harvey, Billie Buck, Lindsay Walker, Jeska Forsyth, Jamie Bahr, and Dalynn Grace. Plus, a Dolly look-alike contest, chair massages, wig-snatching, a nail bar, and oodles more. A portion of ticket sales goes to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. 6pm.
Brushes & Bubbles Paint + Sip
Wednesday 21, Halcyon
Violet Aziza hosts this biweekly creative space where queer artists can have a drink, make some art, and enjoy each other’s company. Theme switches each session. 6pm.
Queer Film Theory Presents Anime
Thursday 22, the Highball
New year, new QFT 101: Come listen to queer media “professors” school y’all on their favorite Japanese animated features, series, and OVAs. (That’s original video animations to you bakas.) 7:30pm.
Drag Bingo: TikTok Rewind
Thursday 22, Industry
Vylette Ward and Juliana bring you back through all the most viral TikTok tracks of 2025 while you try to win a big ol’ bingo prize. 8pm.
In the Calendar
Bound
Friday 16, Hyperreal Film Club
Of course I love all Wachowski films almost equally – I haven’t seen Cloud Atlas and therefore can’t speak on ginger Halle Berry – but there’s nothing that compares to their first feature. Made as a proof of skill before the sisters could enter The Matrix, this taut thriller features groundbreaking sapphic chemistry between stars Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon. Against a backdrop of mob warfare, Christopher Meloni with hair, and tense phone calls separated by a single wall, gangster’s moll Violet and former jailbird Corky find love – and 2 million dollars – in a nearly hopeless place. Screening hosts Carabiner Club add in drag by Karabiner, spins by DJ Kshal, and a 2-for-1 drink special for you and a cutie who shares your star sign. – James Scott
the past is a jean jacket Poetry Reading
Saturday 17, Alienated Majesty Books
No one ever loses those big emotions they felt as a teenager – we only lose the space and joy of staring at the ceiling, bumping whatever sad-sack sounds soothe the soul while considering the meaning of it all. Author Cloud Delfina Cardona channels those impeccable impulses in her poetry collection, the perfectly titled the past is a jean jacket. Listen to Cardona’s own reading, accompanied by literary fellows Amber Isaac, Dee Lalo Garcia, and Travis Shosa. Gently indulge your past self with an evening of poetry. – Cat McCarrey
This article appears in January 16 • 2026.