ExCeL London sparkles with RuPaul’s DragCon UK

RuPaul’s DragCon UK presented by World of Wonder went off with a bang this weekend…

The event welcomed a record-breaking 180 Drag Race queens from around the globe, thousands of delighted fans, and celebrities to ExCeL London. The newly crowned Ginger Johnson and the entire cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 5 kicked the convention off in style on Friday evening at the After Hours Party, with performances that certainly got the party started.

On Saturday, RuPaul’s Drag Race Emmy®-nominated judge and Executive Producer Michelle Visage ceremoniously cut the coveted pink ribbon, before the hottest queens from the global franchise strutted down the pink carpet to officially open the weekend of drag-tastic entertainment. The sparkling RuPaul’s Drag Race UK VS The World lineup was then ruvealed on stage, giving fans the exclusive first lewk at the cast which includes Choriza May, Hannah Conda, Keta Minaj and Le Grande Dame.

Queens taking to the pink carpet for the iconic Queen’s Walk included Lawrence Chaney (UK S2 winner), Krystal Versace (UK S3 winner), Danny Beard (UK S4 winner) and the newly crowned winner of Season 5, Ginger Johnson.

RuPaul’s DragCon UK then played host to a gag-worthy 100 Main Stage performances across the weekend which brought all the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to tens of thousands of attendees. Sickening Main Stage performances from Baga Chipz, Black Peppa, ChelseaBoy, Clover Bish, Divina De Campo, Drag Syndrome, Elektra Fence, Endigo, Fontana, Ginny Lemon, Joe Black, Kendall Gender, Keta Minaj, LaLa Ri, Nicky Doll, Pixie Polite, River Medway, Scarlett Harlett, Sister Sister, Tia Kofi, Tyomi Banks, Vanity Milan, Victoria Shakespears and many more, captivated fans.

Fans delighted in wig-snatching merch, signings and meet & greets with the queens at their booths plus a range of family fun activities in the Kids Zone sponsored by WildBrain’s Teletubbies. In a RuPaul’s DragCon UK first, WOW Presents Plus’ Bring Back My Girls Series 3 hosted by Ts Madison reunited casts from around the globe to spill the tea on their seasons and catch up with where they are now.

The After Hours Party was back with the Global Glamazons taking to the stage as the biggest party in drag continued into Saturday night.

Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, Co-Founders of World of Wonder:

“What a landmark weekend. No better way to celebrate 15 years of Drag Race than at DragCon UK. So grateful to everyone who was a part of this amazing celebration. Huge thanks to every single one of the fabulous 180 queens who came from all over the world, to Michelle Visage for hosting the Queens Walk on the pink carpet streaming exclusively on WOW Presents Plus, to TS Madison for hosting our first edition of Bring Back My Girls, and to the Teletubbies who truly represent the spirit of love and inclusiveness that DragCon is all about. And of course a big thank you to everyone who joined this joyous celebration and for being a part of this incredible family.”

Further highlights from 2024’s the DragCon event included sickening Main Stage performances from Baga Chipz, Black Peppa, ChelseaBoy, Clover Bish, Divina De Campo, Drag Syndrome, Elektra Fence, Endigo, Fontana, Ginny Lemon, Joe Black, Kendall Gender, Keta Minaj, LaLa Ri, Nicky Doll, Pixie Polite, River Medway, Reggy B, Scarlett Harlett, Sister Sister, Tia Kofi, Tyomi Banks, Vanity Milan, Victoria Shakespears and many more gag-worthy showstoppers.

Bring Back My Girls hosted by Ts Madison reunited casts including RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 4 & 5, Drag Race Belgique, Drag Race France Series 2 and Drag Race Espana Series 3, Drag Race Germany and Drag Race Italy to spill all the tea. Fans snatched time with their favourite queens with meet and greets.

WildBrain’s Teletubbies said ‘eh-oh’ to adults and kids alike as fans met the iconic characters Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po. Exclusive After Hours performances from the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Series 5 which kicked things off on Friday evening and continued with the Global Glamazons on Saturday evening.

RUPAUL’S DRAGCON UK was at ExCeL London on Saturday 13 January and Sunday 14 January 2024. Series 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race is available exclusively in the UK via the streamer of all things drag, WOW Presents Plus.