For 2025, we’re collaborating with Rachel Rampleman and drawing from her Life is Drag archive to curate a stellar lineup of artists—visionaries of the Brooklyn art drag scene and powerhouses of the NYC and DC drag worlds—artists who inspire locally and globally through their brilliant and joy-inspiring drag, and who create and connect beyond the stage through their unique and artistic activist voices.

Alongside the performances, SoMad will be alive with video projections from Rachel’s 364-piece-and-counting archive, and the Rosemart (a volunteer-run queer marketplace) will pop up on the 4th floor. We’re also thrilled to welcome The Chosen Family Law Center, offering legal support for low-income queer communities.

This year’s Mad Pride lineup brings together an extraordinary group of diverse performers pushing the boundaries of drag, all hosted by the iconic Julie J. From art and disembodied drag by Amygdala, to comedy it-girl Ma’amshe, to the sad songs and 60-inch wig glamour of Patti Spliff, each artist brings a singular voice to the stage. The lineup also includes Voxigma Lo, Paris Alexander, and Julie J—creators of Sylvester, an all-Black experimental drag variety show; Divina GranSparkle, who fuses burlesque and drag; King Molasses, whose work channels Black surrealism and liberation; and Sweaty Eddie, known for uncanny, high-energy comedic pieces.

This year's Mad Pride pop-up shop will be curated by The Rosemart, a queer art market dedicated to showcasing the work of local LGBTQ+ artists and makers. Now in its fifth year, the market has become a vibrant community tradition, hosted monthly at the iconic gay bar The Rosemont in Williamsburg. It’s more than just a shopping destination—friendships, projects, and collaborations have been born here, building a true community.

Mad Pride vendors include: Alegria, a Colombian artist in NY creating art and fashion from recycled and vintage pop materials; Astro Boi, offering out-of-this-world fashion for all gender expressions; Flora Zhai, a metal and accessories designer with an unwavering passion for crafting one-of-a-kind creations that blend nature’s ethereal beauty with the raw power of metal; Gaypin’, pins and products for queer folks; Haus of Toys, a queer-centric and kink-friendly marketplace for all things pleasure, wellness, and education; Le Sylphide Tattoos, a non-normative body art practice rooted in a holistic and spiritual approach to working with the body; and Matthew Dean Stewart, a queer-owned brand making handmade candles. Lena Horné will be on host duty!

Chosen Family Law Center will have a booth at this year’s Mad Pride event. The nonprofit is dedicated to cultivating equitable social and legal recognition of LGBTQIA and polyamorous families and individuals, as well as other underserved family forms such as platonic co-parents and multigenerational families. They work to eliminate prejudice and discrimination, defend human and civil rights for these communities, and offer education to lawyers, therapists, and other professionals to help them provide informed, affirming support.