Photograph: Courtesy Michael Palma
Photograph: Courtesy Michael Palma

The best LGBTQ Christmas events in NYC

Get down at shows, performances and parties by your favorite LGBTQ performers this Christmas and Hanukkah

Advertising

There's plenty to do for Christmas in NYC this year, but for those looking to make the yuletide extra gay, we’ve got the best burlesque shows, comedy events and LGBTQ parties from your favorite NYC drag queens, performers and queer nightlife icons.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to Christmas in NYC

Best LGBT and gay Christmas events

  • LGBTQ+
  • price 2 of 4

Now in its 15th year, Charles Rice-González's holiday play—which subverts The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol—imagines a queer Latino couple caught in a journey through time one trippy Christmas eve. Witness ’80s flashbacks, Martha Stewart dinner parties and plenty of angelic divas to light the way. 

Advertising
  • Music
  • Cabaret and standards
  • price 1 of 4
Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas?
Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas?

Barrelling onto stages and into our headphones with his high cheekbones, even higher vocal register and unmistakably Long Island sensibility, sketch comedian and Las Culturistas podcast co-host Matt Rogers has proven himself to be a multihyphenate we can all adore—as if he was giving us a choice. Now, the emerging gay comedy doyen dons his tackiest sweater to sing original songs from his nonexistent comedy album. He's joined by musical cowriter Henry Koperski at the keys. Count on appearances from fellow glitterati Catherine Cohen, Bowen Yang, Larry Owens, Dave Mizzoni and Friends Who Folk.

  • LGBTQ+
  • price 1 of 4
Kweendom
Kweendom

Yes Gawd! At his monthly queer comedy throwdown, pop-culture maven Bobby Hankinson hosts some of his favorite queer comedians and performers for songs, sketches and stories. December's edition always promises a Mariah Carey-level Christmas blowout, with sets from Alexis Powell, Wanjiko Eke, Gabe Gonzalez, Daniel Lempert and Gus Constantelis.

Advertising
  • Music
  • Cabaret and standards
  • price 2 of 4

Supreme stage siren Justin Vivian Bond has developed a cult of fans who don't miss their annual holiday show—a classic cabaret blowout featuring songbook favorites, queer protest and meandering musings from the singular mind of JVB. Look sharp and look up: you're about to see the very best act in town. 

  • LGBTQ+
  • price 1 of 4

Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp—the gay terrorists from Funny or Die’s Jared & Ivanka videos and The Opposition with Jordan Klepper—host their bananas variety show featuring an array of queer and honorarily gay performers. For their annual holiday spectacular—a staple of alt-comedy cheer—they blow out the Bell House with guests Jaboukie Young-White, Naomi Ekperigin, Nathan Lee Graham, Pat Regan, Amy Jo Jackson, Erin Markey and Sydnee Washington. Henry Koperski and His Straights provide musical accompaniment. 

Looking for more LGBT events?

  • LGBTQ+

There’s never a shortage of LGBT things to do in New York, whether you’re looking for talks, film screenings, drag show or world-class gay bars and gay clubs in NYC. And the city’s queer scene isn’t confined to the established gayborhoods in Manhattan either. Nowadays, you’ll find LGBT events throughout the boroughs every night of the week. With so much to choose from, there’s no excuse not to get out there and have a gay old time.

Recommended
    More on Christmas
      You may also like
      You may also like
      Advertising