Queer AF: art + fashion show 2026

About this event

Queer AF: In Denim Get Tickets to QAF 2026! From RuPaul to Project Runway, the Queer Met Gala of Massachusetts brings stars to Worcester for a night of drag, fashion, art, and joy. The Queer Met Gala of Massachusetts returns on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Mechanics Hall in Downtown Worcester. Doors: 7PM Show: 8PM The Queer Met Gala of Massachusetts is back! Queer AF, the Art+Fashion show fundraiser benefitting Love Your Labels, returns to Mechanics Hall in Worcester on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, and invites you to be Queer AF in Denim. Denim is more than just a fabric. It is a record of labor, resistance, reinvention, and style. This textile’s history begins with exploitation and enslaved labor. Rugged and transcendent, the garment became a symbol of resistance, solidarity with the working class, and youthful rebellion. From patchwork to embellishments, from indigo to acid wash, this textile embodies our uniqueness and authenticity. Queer AF uplifts LGBTQIA+ artists with a dazzling display of fashion, drag, dance, and music. Our 2026 show will be a multitude of textures. At Queer AF in Denim, designers will imagine new tales to tell with this storied fabric, and shades of blue will pop on the runway. Drag and performance artists will shine on stage. Our home-grown runway features dozens of local models strutting in bespoke looks. Join us and let your imagination and creativity drive — we encourage you to take a well-loved, worn-in pair of jeans to the sewing machine for an evolution. What is your story, and how can you weave it into one of the world’s most beloved fabrics? If you need a starting point for inspiration, consider the four denim archetypes Queer AF is exploring this summer: The Renegade: This punk-rocker or outsider doesn’t play by the rules The Throwback: This character is all about vintage charm, reinventing storied looks The Shapeshifter: A style chameleon, this persona knows fashion transcends norms and binaries The Truthteller: This…