Cryptid Queers proudly presents a brand new festival dedicated to drag monsters and alternative drag!
Bringing together a curated programme of artists, performers and independent creators working across drag, live art, and music. Designed as a full-day experience, the event moves across multiple spaces, building from daytime workshops and market browsing into an evening of high-impact performance and late-night DJs. It's our love letter to the drag monster community, we are excited to showcase multiple aspects of drag throughout the day..
Across the programme, expect:
🩸 Multiple drag shows showcasing boundary-pushing performers
👑 The Crowned Cryptid 26 competition - a live, on-stage clash of drag monsters competing for the title
🎤 Live music from alternative artists
🕯 Monster-led workshops and interactive performances throughout the day
🖤 Meet & greets with performers
🛍 A large queer alternative market featuring independent traders, artists, and makers
🔊 DJs taking the night through to close
The full lineup will be announced shortly, with a strong mix of emerging talent and established names from across the alternative scene and some very exciting headliners.
We hope you will join us for this full day celebration of monster pride and creativity!
If you trust us to deliver a good time before the lineup drops then you're in luck because Early Bird tickets are now available in strictly limited numbers!
Secure your place early at the world's first drag monster festival!
Show Info
Doors 2pm
First Show 2.45pm
Final Show 11pm with LOTS of entertainment in between
Full schedule will be posted on our website soon and in a printed programme on the day.
After party finishes 3am
Workshops and Meet & Greets must be booked in advance, tickets for these will be available soon. Workshops are free/donation.
We are hoping to be able to release concession tickets for this event, keep an eye on our socials for concessions becoming available.
After Party tickets available soon.
Cryptid Queers offers a friendly, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere that delivers a queer and goth safer space with a unique party and some of the most thrilling alternative entertainers around.
This is a standing event with seating available for anyone who needs it.
This is a queer event but it's open to anyone outside of the LQBTQIA+ community if you feel like it's going to be your kind of vibe. All are welcome to come and party as long as you're respectful of people being their authentic queer selves in a gender neutral venue!
Dress Code
No actual dress code is enforced - be fierce, be comfy, be yourselves! However you're encouraged to wear goth, metal, alternative, cyber, rave, kawaii, fetish, latex, leather/pleather, lace etc. No one will be refused entry on the basis of how they are dressed.
Accessibility
FORGE is an accessible venue with step free access throughout. Seating is available free of charge for anyone with disabilities or health concerns and is located at the front in the form of benches - this is unreserved for the festival but is marked as for those with accessibility needs only. There are also wheelchair spaces, these do not need to be reserved ahead of time. FORGE has accessible toilets. There is a Welfare Area located near the entrance which can also be used as a quiet space. Please be aware that the courtyard has cobbled areas, and the floor in Room Two/The Workroom is mostly cobbled.
If you have any accessibility concerns or queries please get in touch. On the night if you need any assistance please find either one of our stage managers (Terra Belle and Isa) or one of the FORGE staff who will be more than happy to assist you.
Cloakroom
FORGE no longer operates a cloakroom as this has been replaced by lockers located in the main room which can be purchased in advance via the FORGE website and selecting the relevant event and date. They can also be purchased on the night. Payment is taken digitally via the website or app.
We offer tip add-ons from £1 to £25. This extra amount goes directly to our guest performers on top of their fee to help increase their earnings for the night as this is a completely indie run event. If you are unable to make the event but would like to offer your support to our fantastic artists please feel free to tip us
Donations go towards the running costs of the event which currently receives no funding and is ran not for profit.
Any questions drop me a DM on here or via @cryptidqueerssheffield or cryptidqueerssheffield@gmail.com
All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable, however they are transferrable but we ask patrons to be aware of potential ticket resale scams. Please send me a contact request or email cryptidqueerssheffield@gmail.com if someone is offering to resell you a ticket and you have any doubts as to its authenticity.
This event is 18+ only. ID may be required on entry but does not need to match the name on your ticket as this is a trans friendly event and we don’t care about government names, only that you are over 18.
Cryptid Queers is a R.O.A.R event. This means we reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone if we believe their presence will cause upset or danger to our regulars. If you have a history of violence, abuse, predatory behaviour, or any form of aggression towards anyone but especially queer people, femmes, or anyone who is vulnerable you will be refused entry on the grounds that your presence would make my regulars feel unsafe. Your ticket will not be refunded as this is a non-refundable event. We are 100% committed to keeping this event a safe space. If you have any concerns please drop me a message.
Follow @cryptidqueerssheffield on Instagram for updates and cast announcements!
Bat poster design: SpaceWaste Illustrations
Cryptid Queers Fest '26 Logo: Ash Elio Art