New York is known as the city that doesn’t sleep, and there’s a reason why: the LGBTQ+ nightlife scene runs nonstop. Gone are the days when all the great parties only happened in Chelsea or the Village. Whether it’s epic drag performances at House of Yes in Bushwick, go-go dancers in Washington Heights or nightcaps in Astoria, there’s something to get your attention every night of the week—in nearly every corner of the City. Read on for our day-by-day guide to the hottest weekly LGBTQ+ events.
Monday
Drag Wars
Pieces, Manhattan
Local nightlife legend Shequida hosts this West Village drag competition, which is inspired by RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as a little sci-fi flick from the 1970s. Who will win the wig-studded night? There’s a cash prize at stake each week.
Broadway Mondays
Hardware Bar, Manhattan
Hosted by Cacophony Daniels, Sutton Lee Seymour and Paige Turner, this Broadway-themed night in Hell’s Kitchen gets started at 7pm and features your favorite show-tune clips from stage and screen as well as a live show, which starts at 10pm. Come early, stay late and sing along.
Mondays in the Club with Lance
Club Cumming, Manhattan
Head downtown for a more, well, downtown show-tune night at the East Village’s Club Cumming, owned by stage and TV veteran Alan Cumming. Gather around the piano with Lance Horne and Hunter Canning for a fun and irreverent evening, during which surprise celebrity guests often show up.
Fiesta Latina Mondays
The Monster, Manhattan
Alex Mendez deejays a night of salsa, reggaeton and merengue at this venerable nightclub in the West Village. Pregame with martinis and show tunes at the upstairs bar, or go directly downstairs to shake it out and get into the Latin groove.
Tuesday
Bear at the Bird
The Phoenix, Manhattan
Head to the East Village to join the bears every Tuesday at 9pm. Downtown drag darling Viva Vidalia hosts this furry evening with pop-up drag shows, beer specials and beats by Jackal.
Polish the Queen
Stonewall Inn, Manhattan
This weekly drag competition, hosted by Kristy Blaze and Fifi Dubois, takes place at the Village nightclub that was the site of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Let your hair down at the upstairs bar and enjoy the great beats by DJ Chauncey Dandridge.
Cut Throat Karaoke
Rise Bar, Manhattan
The fun, unpretentious crowd at this Hell’s Kitchen club makes it the perfect environment to “Sing out, Louise!” Get up and belt out your favorites; DJ TK presides, with auto-tune at the ready.
Go-Go Tuesdays
Posh, Manhattan
Who doesn’t need a little go-go in their life? Enjoy the sexy dancers and the beats by DJ Alex Mendez at this hopping bar in Hell’s Kitchen.
Wednesday
Snatched!
Pieces, Manhattan
Rising drag superstar Jan Sport joins RuPaul’s Drag Race alumna Shuga Cain and Instagram favorite Ruby Roo for a night to remember in the Village. DJ Thomas Branigan supplies the bopping beats.
Dizzy
Nowhere, Manhattan
DJs Jay D and Mordecai spin dark wave, new wave, goth and rock at this funky downtown dance party. This neighborhood bar has been at the center of East Village nightlife for more than a decade. Warning: there will be fog!
Kray Karaoke
Macri Park, Brooklyn
Metropolitan bar’s little sister, Macri Park, is an intimate dive bar where everyone is welcome. Wednesdays are all about karaoke with Jen Urban, so start practicing your rendition of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.”
Thursday
Dirty Thursdays
House of Yes, Brooklyn
Doors open at 10pm for this extremely popular dance party, which has weekly themes like Born This Way, Bootylicious and ’90s Night. House of Yes is the Bushwick go-to for all kinds of late-night mischief and deep-Brooklyn cultural experiences.
Queen
Industry, Manhattan
Check into a spacious, industrial-chic Hell’s Kitchen bar to see some of the wildest and funniest queens in town. Expect ladies like Holly Dae, Phi Phi O’Hara, Bootsie Lefaris, Jada Valenciaga and Chelsea Piers.
Do the Right Thing
The Ritz Bar & Lounge, Manhattan
Bust out your neon-powered 90210 looks for this popular ’90s-themed party in Hell’s Kitchen, hosted by Morgan Royel with beats by K-Styles. Upstairs, check out the “go-go bears” at the seasonal Beers & Bears party.
Friday
Hot Rabbit
Primarily Manhattan and Brooklyn venues, check Facebook for details
Considered by many the top queer nightlife event, this fete has been serving up weekly dance parties for the LGBTQ+ community since 2011. Note that the Rabbit sometimes hops on Saturday nights.
Frankie Sharp’s Boys
Rebar, Manhatttan
If you’re familiar with Westgay, you already know that Frankie Sharp is a king of New York City nightlife. Head to Rebar in Chelsea for this dance party packed with go-go guys and surprise guests.
Turnt Up Fridays
Henrietta Hudson, Manhattan
Dance the night away with some of the hottest lady DJs in the City at this popular, longtime lesbian bar in the West Village.
Fabulous Fridays
Icon, Queens
Join Jan Sport for her popular drag show at Astoria’s biggest gay club featuring dancing, lip synching and live music. Stay after the show to get down with Icon’s rotating resident DJs.
Saturday
Romy & Michele’s Saturday Afternoon Tea Party
Club Cumming, Manhattan
An intimate East Village bar-club owned by Alan Cumming (who starred in Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion) hosts this 3 to 8pm tea dance, which focuses on a diva or a band’s music.
Set It Off Saturdays
Boxers, Manhattan
Head uptown to Washington Heights’ best all-inclusive LGBTQ+ party featuring hosts like Egypt, Yasmine Delano and Hibiscus with beats by DJ Emanuwell or DJ Nesto. Arrive before 11pm and there’s no cover; after that it’s $5 to get in.
Metrosensual
Metropolitan, Brooklyn
Another Frankie Sharp production, this one takes place in Williamsburg, with singers, drag queens and the Ru girls. There’s lots of late-night dancing too, courtesy of a roster of rotating DJs.
Sunday
Sunday Beer Blast
The Eagle, Manhattan
There’s no cover at the long-running, super popular Sunday Beer Blast, which starts at 5pm on the Chelsea bar’s outdoor deck (weather permitting). It’s often shoulder-to-shoulder men, and domestic drafts flow for just a few bucks a pop.
Mister Sunday
Nowadays, Brooklyn
Harkin and Carter are the longtime resident DJs and organizers of this popular afternoon dance party happening on the border of Bushwick and Ridgewood.
Slurp
Therapy, Manhattan
You never know what Paige Turner has up her sleeve at her Hell’s Kitchen Sunday night variety show. Join her weekly romp with boys, games, giveaways and show-stopping numbers.
Sunday Funday
Happyfun Hideaway, Brooklyn
Head to this homey Bushwick bar that has draft margaritas (which come out of a poodle-shaped tap), tasty nachos and fun pinball.