Shady Queens

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Hold on to your wigs, Toronto, because Shady Queens is back and serving all the shade you can handle on October 17, 2026 at the Isabel Bader Theatre. 

Mark your calendars because we are bringing ferocious talent, razor-sharp wit and humour to the stage for the 2026 edition of Shady Queens – and we’re not apologizing for it (#sorrynotsorry). This year’s lineup is packed with legendairy queens from the RuPaul Drag Race pantheon to serve and slay!  
 
Early Bird ticket sales begin June 1, 2026: sign up to the Shady Queens Insider mailing list for early access! 

Funds raised from “Shady Queens” will go towards Fife House’s supportive housing programs and wraparound services for vulnerable community members and families who are living with HIV/AIDS, and experiencing homelessness or housing precarity.

Meet Your 2026 Queens:

• Trinity the Tuck (Host) – Winner, Drag Race All Stars S4: The body, the beauty, and your host for the evening! Get ready for a masterclass in pageantry and shade.  
• Gawdland – Winner, Drag Race UK vs The World S3: We are going international! Prepare to be stunned by the fierce, boundary-pushing drag of Thailand’s very own Gawdland. 
• Vangoth – Winner, Drag Race Canada S6: Serving Northern alt-drag excellence and edge. Expect the unexpected from this fierce Canadian powerhouse.
• Vanessa Vanjie Mateo – Drag Race All Stars S9: Miss Vanjie is BACK! We are highlighting the highly anticipated return of the undisputed banjee queen of viral drag charisma. 
• Miz Cracker – Drag Race All Star S5: She’s a woman, she’s a witty one, and she is ready to serve comedy and conceptual looks that will leave you gagging. 
   

Get Involved

• Grab your Tickets: Be there and be seen. Snatch your tickets the moment they go on sale to secure your seat to one of Toronto’s most iconic nights of 2026 – because once they’re gone, hunty, they gone! Not even the most dramatic sob story will save you from elimination. 
• Listen to “I Live For This Review”: Can’t wait until showtime? Get your early fix of our fabulous host by tuning into Trinity the Tuck’s hit podcast, I Live For This Review, on Youtube, Spotify and Apple podcast. It is the ultimate warm-up for all the shade that’s about to go down! 
• Sponsor the event: Strut your brand where the shade sparkles and the wigs are high. Partner with Fife House and become a sponsor for Shady Queens to support a cause that matters. For sponsorship inquiries or to volunteer, slide into our DMs or contact Tyler Cooper, Senior Development & Event Coordinator, at tcooper@fifehouse.org. 
• Volunteer with us: Ready to werk? Bring your sassy self and your helping hands, and tag team with us to make Shady Queens a night to remember! 

At this year’s Shady Queens, we are excited to feature a Modern Photo Booth built by Nomad Customs – open from 7pm to 10pm – offering event guests with a special way to capture their memories of the event. Since 2019, they have been building mobile bars, coffee trailers, food trucks and custom campers.

Our Shady History

From the moment it first hit the stage in 2016, Shady Queens™ sashayed straight into the spotlight as one of Fife House’s most beloved and celebrated fundraising events. 

Year after year, a shade parade of drag royalty from the RuPaul’s Drag Race pantheon and our own dazzling local queens serves up a night of glitter, sass, kicks, splits, and jaw-dropping performances. It isn’t just entertainment—it is glamour with purpose and heart, raising vital funds for Fife House’s supportive housing programs and services for people and families living with HIV/AIDS. 

Since it began, the Shady Queens stage has welcomed a star-studded lineup including Alaska 5000, Bob the Drag Queen, Courtney Act, Willam, Jinkx Monsoon, Ginger Minj, Sharon Needles, Violet Chachki, Trixie Mattel, Katya, Shea Coulee, Priyanka, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, Nicky Doll, Pangina Heals, Icesis Couture, the Virgo Queen, and more! This year, for our 2026 annual extravaganza, we are thrilled to add Trinity the Tuck, Miz Cracker, Gawdland, and Vangoth to this legendary roster, with Vanessa Vanjie Matteo returning for another legendary performance.  

Shady Queens hasn’t just snatched wigs. Since its inception, the event has now raised over $762,000 for Fife House! This proves that drag, shade, and generosity are killer combinations that always wins the crown.

Thank you to our Shady Sponsors & Partners!

Presenting Sponsor

 Gold Sponsor

 Supporting Sponsors & Partners

Fife House is also grateful to welcome Chelsea Hotel as our Official Hospitality Partner.