Sheffield’s Cryptid Queers have turned the city’s nightlife upside down with a brand of drag that’s equal parts glamour, gore, and other-worldly fantasy.
Part traditional drag, part horror spectacle, the collective brings ghosts, ghouls, and cryptid creatures from across Europe to the stage, challenging ideas of gender, identity and performance while delivering a night that is as frightening as it is fabulous.
The first-ever Cryptid Queers Monster Fest 26, set for 16 May at FORGE Warehouse, promises to be a one-of-a-kind celebration of alt culture, queer expression, and drag artistry.
Alongside an independent makers market featuring everything from handmade costumes to experimental makeup, the festival will showcase live music, alternative drag performances, DJ sets, and hands-on workshops – all in a space designed to be safe, inclusive, and celebratory.
Attendees can expect everything from high-glam horror queens to punk-inspired monster acts, each performance blending spectacle with subversive humour and social commentary.
Founded in 2021 by the visionary King Confuza, Cryptid Queers has become a hub for creative experimentation and queer community-building.
Since the launch of Camp Cryptid, the group has trained over 20 new performers, teaching the history of drag alongside confidence-building, stage presence, and the technical skills required for elaborate costumes and SFX makeup.
The artists combine inspiration from myths and alternative fashion, creating creatures that are uniquely terrifying—and utterly unforgettable.
Binbag is one of many successful acts from Camp Cryptid, which now hosts a regular monster drag night, Trash Haus, at Lughole in Sheffield’s Kelham Island
The Monster Fest aims to cover production costs, pay performers, and ensure the event remains accessible to anyone who wants to attend. In a city traditionally known for steel and grit, Sheffield’s cryptid drag scene is carving out a new kind of underground culture—one that is fiercely queer, creatively unhinged, and impossible to ignore.
For more information on Cryptid Queers check out their Instagram. For tickets go to outsavvy.com/cryptidqueersfundraiser
