Cryptid Queers Fest ’26 brings a full day and night of drag monsters, alt-drag, workshops, market stalls and DJs to FORGE Warehouse, Sheffield on Saturday 8 August 2026.
Running from 2pm until 3am, the festival is billed as the world’s first Drag Monster festival and marks a major step up for Sheffield’s queer performance scene. Expect international headliners, local favourites, hands-on workshops, a makers’ market, food, after-party DJs and a line-up built around horror, glamour, filth, cabaret and club culture.
Why Cryptid Queers Fest matters
Cryptid Queers has become one of Sheffield’s most distinctive queer nights, giving drag monsters and alternative performers room to be strange, theatrical and unapologetically themselves. This festival edition takes that energy into a larger warehouse setting, with FORGE Warehouse hosting the main performances, stalls, workshops and late-night party under one roof.
For Sheffield audiences, it is a chance to see major international drag talent alongside a deep bill of local and UK performers. For visiting fans, it puts Sheffield firmly on the map for alternative drag, queer nightlife and monster performance.
Headliners and performers
The headline bill includes HoSo Terra Toma, a two-time finalist on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula across season four and Titans; BLACK PEPPA, the Birmingham performer and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK finalist; and Cadaverous Black, bringing live vocals, magic and fire to the festival stage.
The day is hosted by King Confuza, Bipolar Abdul and Binbag, with a packed support line-up spanning drag, cabaret, monster performance and club-ready chaos.
More performers on the bill include Jada Love, Romeo De La Cruz, Cake Boi, Sweet Boy, Elena Blvck, Matt Hazzard, Eva Serration, Tysie Blaque, Miss Diagnosis, Nefarious DeVile, Mordecai, Bella B Damned, Calamity Satire, Coffin Goblin, Pesty Cide, Neapolitan Vonschweets, Folkme Arder, Hotpot, Lux Matter and Haus of Piecost.
Workshops, market and after party
Cryptid Queers Fest is not only a stage show. The programme includes workshops, market traders and space for the community around the performance bill, before the night moves into an after-party with DJs and late-night sets.
The Camp Cryptid Class of 2026 will also be around during the festival, meeting people and adding to the wider Cryptid Queers community presence across the day.
The wider bill also features G4YBOY, Eve Trankenstein, Gutter, Heretic, Tom Foolery, Xaymaker, Xena Morph, Elwood, Gilly Woo, Kohl, L8N, Disgustay and Elvibra Strapiton.
Full event flyer
Tickets, times and access
Cryptid Queers Fest ’26 takes place at FORGE Warehouse, 148 Effingham Road, Sheffield, S4 7YS, from 2pm on Saturday 8 August 2026 through to 3am on Sunday 9 August 2026. Tickets are listed from £50 via Outsavvy.
Use the Sheffield Events listing for the local event details, venue information and site archive links, or go straight to Outsavvy for ticket availability.