3 November 2026
Drag Shows in Brighton: Where to See Drag, Day and Night
Brighton is the UK's queer capital, and that means drag is everywhere: on stages, in bars, at brunch and in the middle of the street at Pride. Whether you're a first-timer or a regular, here's where to see drag in Brighton, day and night.
Daytime: drag brunch every Saturday
If you want drag in daylight, with food and drinks in hand, a drag brunch is the way to do it. Ours is every Saturday at 2pm and 5pm at Legends on Marine Parade, in Kemptown on the seafront.
- 2.5 hours of live drag: the queens host, sing live and run the games
- Food served at your table and 90 minutes of bottomless drinks
- From £42.50 per person, plus a 4% booking fee
- Over-18s only
It's the easiest way into drag for groups. Hen parties, birthdays and work dos make up most of the room, and nobody has to get up and perform unless they want to. We've hosted more than 900 brunches in five years.
Evenings: Kemptown's cabaret bars
Kemptown is the heart of Brighton's LGBTQ+ scene, and its bars are where you'll find drag most nights of the week.
- The Queens Arms, George Street. One of Brighton's best-known gay cabaret pubs, with drag and cabaret through the week and karaoke in the mix. Check their socials for who's on.
- St James's Street and around. The main strip of Kemptown has plenty of LGBTQ+ bars, and several put on drag hosts, cabaret and themed nights. Walk the street and see what's on.
Legends, where our brunch takes place, is right at the bottom of Kemptown on the seafront, so you can go straight from brunch to the bars.
Shows and theatre nights
- Komedia. The arts and comedy venue in North Laine runs drag shows alongside its comedy.
- Ironworks Studios. This venue puts on cabaret, burlesque and drag shows.
- Brighton Dome. In recent winters it has hosted Brighton's Big Drag Pageant, a drag competition hosted by Alfie Ordinary. Check the Dome's listings to see if it's back this year.
Summer: open air drag and Pride
- Brighton Open Air Theatre has hosted Drag in the Park, outdoor drag shows in the summer months.
- Brighton & Hove Pride, usually on the first weekend of August, brings drag to the streets, with cabaret stages around Kemptown and acts all over the city.
How to find out what's on
Drag line-ups change every week, so check before you go:
- The venues' own Instagram and Facebook pages
- Scene Magazine, Brighton's LGBTQ+ magazine, for listings and news
- Ticket sites like Eventbrite and DesignMyNight
- Our dates for the Saturday drag brunch
Your first drag show? A few tips
- Sit at the front only if you're happy to be part of the show. Queens love a front row.
- Bring cash or small change for tips at bar shows. It's how many performers get paid.
- Cheer loudly. Drag runs on energy, and the more you give, the better the show.
- Don't touch the queens (or their wigs) without asking.
- Bring photo ID. Most drag nights and brunches are 18+.
- Wear what you like. Sparkle is always welcome, and there's no dress code. Our tips on what to wear to a drag brunch work for most shows too.
Why we love drag in Brighton
Every Qwerky brunch is paid work for drag artists. Over five years we've booked performers around 1,800 times, and every ticket helps keep Brighton's drag scene working all year round. So whichever show you choose, go, cheer, tip, and come back for more.
