Long Live the Queens: "Best in Drag Show" Returns to the Orpheum to Support Housing for People with HIV

Drag pageant parody's all-stars edition brings back six former winners and runners-up for an ultimate showdown on Sunday, October 4, benefiting APLA Health's Alliance for Housing & Healing

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- One of Los Angeles' most anticipated and outrageous events is raising the stakes! On Sunday, October 4, 2026, Best in Drag Show returns to the iconic Orpheum Theatre with a special all-stars edition: BEST OF Best in Drag Show. For one night only, fan favorites, past runners-up, and former titleholders come back to the stage to settle it once and for all, competing head to head for the ultimate "BEST OF" title. Only one can reign supreme.

For more than three decades, Best in Drag Show has been a cultural institution in L.A., blending high-octane performances, theatrical flair, and irreverent humor as contestants push the boundaries of drag artistry with inventive costumes, dramatic entrances, and jaw-dropping acts. From its humble beginnings in a West Hollywood living room, this over-the-top beauty pageant parody has become one of the city's most beloved and enduring fundraisers, drawing attendees from all walks of life to celebrate community, resilience, and the transformative power of drag.

"Best in Drag Show has always been about the community showing up for one another, and this year our champions are showing up in a whole new way," said Craig E. Thompson, CEO of APLA Health. "At a moment when funding for HIV care and prevention are under real threat, every dollar raised on this stage translates directly into housing, food, and dignity for the people we serve. This is joy with a purpose."

Produced entirely to support the Alliance for Housing & Healing, a program of APLA Health, Best in Drag Show raises funds for essential services and housing for people with HIV across Los Angeles County. The evening is brought to life by a dedicated team of volunteers, led by longtime host Patrick Rush, director John Carlos Frey, set designer Jimmy Cuomo, and photographer John Paschal. And as always, a panel of celebrity judges will score the queens across the show's signature rounds: swimsuit, talent, evening gown, and question-and-answer. This year's celebrity judge lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

"There is truly nothing else quite like this night," said Terry D. Goddard II, Senior Director of the Alliance for Housing & Healing. "It is part pageant, part comedy, and all heart. Every performance helps keep a roof over the head of someone with HIV, and that is what makes the laughter matter."

Tickets for Best in Drag Show are now available at bestindragshow.com, and sponsorship opportunities remain open for individuals, businesses, and organizations eager to support this vital cause. Whether attending as a longtime fan or a first-time spectator, guests can expect an immersive experience full of laughter, spectacle, and heart, all in support of APLA Health's mission to provide critical housing and support services to people living with HIV.

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About APLA Health
APLA Health (formerly AIDS Project Los Angeles) provides comprehensive healthcare and vital support services to more than 23,000 people each year. Since 1983, we have remained committed to ending the HIV epidemic in our lifetime. Through eight Federally Qualified Health Centers across Los Angeles County, we deliver primary care, dental, mental health, and sexual health services, along with food and housing support for people with HIV. Our Vance North Necessities of Life Program provides groceries equalling more than one million meals annually, making it the nation's largest food pantry for people with HIV. APLA Health also advances sound health policy and raises critical support through AIDS Walk Los Angeles and the Best in Drag Show. Learn more at aplahealth.org.

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SOURCE APLA Health