Drag Me Up - Queer Art Festival

A queer festival spanning all of Rome

Drag Me Up - Queer Art Festival is the event that, since 2020, has brought queer performance art and the codes of drag subculture to the city of Rome. Conceived and directed by Ondadurto Teatro, the festival is promoted by Roma Capitale - Department of Culture and was a winner of the Roma Creativa 365 public call, in collaboration with Zètema Progetto Cultura. The artistic direction is entrusted to Karma B and Margó Paciotti, two highly recognizable figures of the Italian drag scene.

The polycentric format

The most distinctive feature of the event is its polycentric nature: rather than focusing on a single venue, Drag Me Up traverses the urban fabric from the center to the eastern and western outskirts of the Capital, in the Metropolitan City of Rome, in the Lazio region. The venues involved include Centrale Preneste Teatro, OFF/OFF Theatre on Via Giulia, Teatro Tor Bella Monaca, Teatro del Lido di Ostia, Accademia Italiana, and the Goffredo Mameli Library, in addition to online programming. It is a deliberate choice: to reconnect very different neighborhoods through cultural spaces, bringing queer languages even where they do not usually reach.

What to expect

The program is never just a showcase of shows. Each edition alternates between different formats, designed for different audiences:

• Drag galas — the most spectacular evenings, featuring performers from the national scene taking the stage
• Artistic residencies — work periods open to the public, which then culminate in a stage performance
• Free workshops — from drag costume construction to online courses on comedic writing and performance
• Talks and meetings — public debates on transphobia, media representation, and rights
• Exhibitions — visual and photographic projects dedicated to drag culture

A declared civil commitment

Drag Me Up openly addresses themes of homophobia, transphobia, patriarchal society, and all forms of discrimination, with a declared intersectional approach. The festival aligns with the goals of the 2030 Agenda and European cultural programming standards, building a dialogue every year between different generations of the Roman LGBTQ+ community. It is no coincidence that many events are free and that the workshops are designed as tools for access, not as niche activities.

When it takes place

The timing is now well-established between November and December, with a duration of over a month that allows the festival to distribute appointments across multiple municipalities. The sixth edition, titled Umanamente Eroə, took place from November 3 to December 15, 2025. For the Roman public, it has become the queer event of the autumn, complementary to the Rome Pride in June: less street-based and more stage-focused, less of a parade and more of an artistic exploration.

Who it is for

The festival speaks to the LGBTQ+ community but not only: the theatrical programming, exhibitions, and talks are built for a broad audience, curious about contemporary theater and hybrid languages. Prices remain affordable — many events are free, and show tickets are around 12 euros with discounts — precisely to ensure that access does not become a barrier.