Welcome to 2026! Or, well, I hope the new year feels welcome. I’m writing this column solidly still in 2025, where things are bleak but not hopeless. Yes, our state government seems determined to restrict trans people – mostly trans women’s – access to potties their budgets fund, BUT at least Austin City Council has pledged to make city restrooms open to all. Really f*cked that we have to fight to piss in stinky stalls other people recently farted in. I like most parts of being trans, but this part? Not great!
Whatever, man. Life churns on despite an uptick in conservative outrage maneuvers, all of which appear totally inspired by a major favorability dip for the current Republican machine’s desertion of anyone making less than a billion per year. Some chuds who previously poured their one precious life into the Leopards Who Eat People’s Faces party hype-engine appear to finally be smelling the rotten roses – “It was all well and good when the leopards who eat people’s faces ate queer, brown, Black, and poor people’s faces, but now they’ve made remarks threatening to eat my face! Egads!” – but I won’t consider them comrades until they stop pushing forward dogwater bills that axe gender-affirming care for youths. (All those alligator tears about the prez’s betrayal and you’re still coming after kids like this, Marjorie?)
Oh right: This is supposed to be a hopeful column. Yeesh. Well, we have each other – and I don’t say that as a pity note. What makes us strong is solidarity and standing up together. So if you can make it to an event, put on a cute outfit and get in the action. I promise, going to queer functions totally outpaces doomscrolling Instagram for hyping up your hope.
New Year’s Eve Party
Wednesday 31, Barbarella & Swan Dive
All your favorite beats and bops share space in these two sister bars for an all-night party until 2026 hits – and then after that, as well. 9pm.
Eagle Annual White Party
Wednesday 31, the Austin Eagle
Party in your palest apparel at this NYE event themed around shades of eggshell, ivory, and pearl. DJs Boost and Sin Morera offer spins all night, so throw back a cream-colored cocktail and dance. 9pm.
New Year’s Day Yard Party
Thursday 1, Lynny’s trailer
Food’s a great way to start the year, so join the Lynny’s gang in munchin’ black-eyed peas (veggie-style or with ham hocks), cornbread, fried eggs, and coffee off the percolator. Plus a limited run of free Modelos and micheladas. 12pm.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 Viewing Party
Friday 2, Highland Lounge
Justice kicks off this weekly watch party with co-host Eileen Dover and special guest from Drag Race season 17 Crystal Envy. 7pm.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 Viewing Party
Friday 2, the Austin Eagle
Rev your engines with Cheeki Khant at this weekly watch party where, in addition to her clever commentary, Cheeki runs games that feature fabo Sir Rat Leather-sponsored prizes. 7pm.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 Viewing Party
Friday 2, Cheer Up Charlies
Your hosts Iggy Bank and Embry Officially offer their takes on this season’s queens with new special guests each week. 7pm.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 Viewing Party
Friday 2, Oilcan’s
Triple dip with hosts Casady Milan, Lawrie Bird, and Harlot serving hot takes on this Drag Race season as well as trivia and giveaways. 7pm.
Lezzz B. Honest Presents: ManifestGAYtion
Friday 2, Ani’s Day & Night
A night of sapphic socializing is in your future as hosts Kino Kino and Venus Rising preside over this new year’s celebration. Expect crafting, a vendor market, and plenty o’ drag. 7pm.
Body Mechanics: Closer to All Your Dreams
Friday 2, 4211 Todd Ln.
Wednesday night left you desperate for more dancing? DJ Dream Days spins all night Friday for ya, so shake off last year and embrace the new. 10pm.
First Fridays
Friday 2, Rain on 4th
Pride in Black ATX invites y’all to great the new year with a patio party featuring spins by Babidoll. 10pm.
Lip Sync for Your Leather
Saturday 3, the Austin Eagle
Battle for lip-sync supremacy – and for a good cause! Entry donations ($10) go toward supporting the Eagle’s leather titleholders in their upcoming travels. Winner snags a secret prize package, so belt it out, baby. 7pm.
No Wahala With Bad Apple
Saturday 3, the Volstead Lounge
DJ Bad Apple keeps the doctors away with pulsing beats spun through the early evening with no cover – how a-peel-ing! 7pm.
Coco Cxnts
Saturday 3, Coconut Club
Raise the roof with the Cxnts on their fifth anniversary. Special guest Cynthia Lee Fontaine joins Arinna Heys, Bohemia, and Brigitte Bandit for a knockout drag brunch, with DJ Babidoll behind the decks. 1pm.
Pork’d: Lumberjacked
Saturday 3, the Iron Bear
Flannel, jeans, and other manly things pack the Bear at this edition of Package Austin’s Pork’d gear night. Just easy with the axes, gentlemen; you could do some real damage swingin’ those things. 9pm.
New Year New You
Sunday 4, the Austin Eagle
Do you have what it takes to wear the wig? The United Court of Austin presents this drag makeover game show where contestants get dolled-up by local drag artists and compete to see who’s got the goods. 12:30pm.
Tha’ Spot
Sunday 4, Rain on 4th
Diamond Dior Davenport hosts this weekly get-down of R&B, hip-hop, and drag alongside co-host Omari Dior and DJ Cysum. 9pm.
New Year’s Coffee and Chat
Wednesday 7, Genuine Joe’s
Meet up with fellow trans men and mascs for java at the newest location of this classic coffeehouse. 1pm.
Reading the Rainbow Book Club South
Wednesday 7, Twin Oaks Branch Library
Join in-person or virtually with other LGBTQ readers as this week the group discusses advice column/memoir ¡Hola Papi! by John Paul Brammer. 7pm.
In the Calendar
EQB’s Sluttiestcracker
Saturday 3, Austin Playhouse
Hopefully you haven’t spent all your holiday cheer the past two weeks, because those sexy silly folks behind ErotiQueer BurlesQue have got a whole ’nother nut to crack. Based on Vanessa White of Lipstick Criminals’ original “The Slutcracker” concept, EBQ puts their own spin on this revision of the classic Christmas ballet. Traditions? Reinvented. Tinsel? Turned upside down. And you? You’ll be freakin’ gooped and gagged, girly. – James Scott
This article appears in January 2 • 2026.