Discover DRAGRIFT Editions

Dive into the themes, headliners, and community moments that shaped each DRAGRIFT production.

FREAKY CIRQUE

The Night with Pandora Nox marked the rewriting of Slovak queer history, as Dragrift touched the official Drag Race franchise for the very first time. The judging panel welcomed Pandora Nox, winner of Drag Race Germany, alongside Creativeswine representing Prague, Spizy G for Slovakia, and the divine Valerie Divine for Hungary. For the first time in Dragrift’s history, the panel was composed entirely of drag queens.

The theme Freaky Cirque was not chosen by chance – beyond its strong visual potential, it carried a deeper meaning. It recalled a history when people who were different were often confined to circuses. Yet within the harsh conditions of nomadic circus life, many found a form of validation, as other options were often denied to them.

SLOVAK RIFT

Slovak Dragrift was no longer a whisper of activism – the theme itself became a scream. As a response to the worsening political climate in Slovakia and the attempt of extremists to claim “traditional Slovak culture” as their own, the chosen theme gave every performer space to present their national heritage through the colors of their identity.

For the very first time, the evening opened with a tradition-setting opening performance by Madrid, which framed the narrative and emotional energy of the night. Another milestone was the introduction of unique, custom-designed Dragrift trophies — original sculptures created exclusively for the winners. The Slovak edition also marked the beginning of new collaborations, including Humanic and the art design book series “AHA” by graphic artist Tomáš Kompaník.

The night unfolded as an opulent celebration of folklore, surrealism and identity — a reclamation of cultural roots and a reminder that our heritage belongs to us as well. Many attendees arrived wearing traditional Slovak folk garments taken from their family wardrobes, bringing generational symbols to a queer space. It became a shared gesture of pride and continuity — a way to claim home without asking for permission.

At a time when a large part of the queer community in Slovakia feels that the political far-right is trying to take away their sense of belonging, this evening transformed into something more than entertainment: it became a cultural statement, a love letter to our roots, and a declaration that Slovak queer identity is real, alive and here to stay.

The judging panel featured Slovak actress Kristína Kanátová, set designer Rasťo Matys, fashion designer Sarkis Gazaryan, and — for the first time — Spizy G, who officially became Dragrift’s first permanent judge. The evening was hosted by Ivinitty, with music by ballroom DJ Zolthanos, Queen Kar´Ma, and an electrifying afterparty by Spacer and Bali G.

DIZZNEY

With the fairytale-themed Dizzney edition, a new chapter began – Dragrift stepped out of the underground and queens brought their artistry to the city center’s largest and most established club, Kácečko.

The judging panel featured actress Soňa Norisová, who lent her voice in Slovak dubbing to Disney princesses as well as legenddary villains in both animated and live-action films. Her presence brought light and validation to Dragrift beyond the queer community. Alongside her were drag performer Creativeswine, the uncompromising Rasťo Matys, and activist and former performer Roman Samotný, returning to the panel for the second time.

DEMON

The Demon edition closed the trilogy of underground queer parties in October 2023. For the first time in history, a drag queen sat on the judging panel – the monstrously perfect La Cuntessa, who came all the way from Prague. She was joined by activist legend Roman Samotný, along with model and influencer Aicha, who had also confirmed her participation.

This demonic edition broke records with the number of performers – the dark tone of the night and the kickoff of the Halloween season attracted not only drag artists but also sex performers and representatives of various kinks. For the very first time, political statements were delivered on the runway, turning the night into a community representation of values, opinions, and passions, giving Dragrift a deeper meaning.

TROPIC HOUSE

The second edition of Dragrift was born out of the euphoria of the first event’s success – just two months later, the community gathered again, this time under the tropical theme Tropic House. The vibe was just as wild, but the categories shifted to reflect the night’s spirit, with a brand-new Pride category added to celebrate Pride Month.

The judging panel once again included Lady Vivian, joined by the uncompromising Rasťo Matys. The extra special guest judge was makeup artist and influencer Milan WTF – the very first celebrity judge in Dragrift’s history, kicking off the tradition of guest stars on the panel. The party was once more fueled by DJ Noona and Queen Karma, who kept the tropical energy alive all night.

QUEEN EDITION

The first-ever Dragrift stormed onto the scene on April 15, 2023, under the iconic name Queen, shaking up the underground techno dungeon Radosť music club. This baby was born out of the fierce need for safe queer spaces in Bratislava — ‘cause darling, when the world gets shady, we create our own sparkle.

The theme was crystal clear: QUEEN. Sure, there was a cute lil’ friendly competition, but let’s be real — the true kiki was about giving drag queens and every fabulous queer soul the chance to strut, stunt, and serve looks till the break of dawn. What was supposed to be an intimate gathering turned into a full-on gag — the basement was bursting with nearly a hundred party monsters, living their fantasy and screaming “YASSS” all night long.