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Best Drag Kings in NYC (2026 Guide)

By River Cade
Nightlife Researcher • NYC Drag Culture Analyst
Published: October 11, 2025
Updated: April 3, 2026

Based on NYC nightlife presence, Thotyssey interviews, and current performer activity.

New York City’s drag king scene is one of the most layered and fast-evolving parts of nightlife.

It’s less centralized than the drag queen scene—but often more experimental, more self-produced, and more intentional.

This list highlights five NYC drag kings who are actively shaping the scene right now—through performance, production, and presence.

1. Cunning Stunt

A high-energy king with theatrical roots and a clear point of view.

Cunning Stunt brings a performance style built from years of theater training, combined with a drag origin that began internationally in Taipei before landing in NYC. His work leans into high-energy numbers and physicality, often incorporating increasingly ambitious stunts that align with his name.

He describes his persona as fluid and referential—“sometimes Humphrey Bogart, sometimes Joe Exotic”—anchored somewhere between ’80s glam rock and leather bar masculinity.

Beyond performance, he is also a producer and host of “Throne”, a Brooklyn-based king and thing showcase designed to center underrepresented talent in the scene.

Why he stands out:
He combines theatrical training, international perspective, and active show production—making him both a performer and a builder of space.  Check Cunning out on WOW Presents PLUS:  Club Cumming!

2. ShowPonii

A chaotic, high-impact performer redefining what a Brooklyn drag king can be.

ShowPonii has quickly built momentum in the Brooklyn scene, co-winning a season of BitchFest—one of the more creatively demanding nightlife competitions—alongside Miss Ma’amShe.

His drag thrives on unpredictability. He describes his performance style as ranging from playful, prancing showmanship to something much darker and more unhinged—often incorporating blood, physicality, and unexpected reveals.

He also has a strong visual foundation—rooted in drawing and art—which translates directly into his makeup and face work.

He’s not just performing in Brooklyn—he’s part of the engine that makes it move.

Why he stands out:
He delivers unpredictability, physicality, and raw Brooklyn energy—without ever feeling controlled or safe.

3. Maxxx Pleasure

A Brooklyn-rooted king who blends classic masculinity with modern drag expression.

Maxxx Pleasure’s performance style has evolved from character-based concepts into something more personal—reflecting how he wants masculinity to exist in real life: confident, flamboyant, fashionable, and emotionally open.

With a background in dance and theater, and experience performing in spaces like Sasha Velour’s Nightgowns, he represents a generation of kings pushing beyond parody into fully realized performance identities.

His work also engages directly with gender theory—challenging the idea that masculinity is less performative than femininity, and instead building a version of masculinity that can exist on stage.

Why he stands out:
He bridges classic rock-inspired aesthetics with a modern, self-aware approach to masculinity in drag.

4. Mx LeStrange

A producer-performer shaping the Astoria drag ecosystem from the ground up.

Mx LeStrange is as much a community builder as he is a performer. Since emerging post-lockdown, he has been producing, hosting, and performing across Astoria, helping expand visibility for kings and gender-diverse performers.

His drag is intentionally unpredictable—what he calls “camp chaos”—ranging from themed character work (pirates, Willy Wonka, Pokémon trainers) to musical theatre-driven numbers.

Importantly, his work is rooted in creating space. Shows like “Astoria’s Kingdom” and “Mx. Cabaret” focus on giving platforms to trans, nonbinary, and underrepresented performers in a scene where those opportunities are still limited.

Why he stands out:
He isn’t just participating in the scene—he’s actively building infrastructure for it.

5. Sly Saturn

A newer presence with a clear performance identity built around energy and physicality.

While not yet widely documented in editorial coverage, Sly Saturn’s visible performance style centers on movement, physical charisma, and crowd engagement. Based on live performance imagery and show presence, his work leans into:

• body-forward performance

• expressive, high-energy movement

• intimate audience interaction

He represents a newer wave of kings entering the scene through performance-first visibility rather than traditional editorial pathways.

Why he stands out:
He reflects where the scene is heading—less defined by media coverage, more by live impact and audience response.

What Defines the NYC Drag King Scene

Across these performers, a few patterns emerge:

• many kings are also producers or hosts

• performance styles are highly individualized

• the scene is still partially self-built rather than institutionally supported

• there is a strong overlap with theater, dance, and burlesque

This creates a scene that is less standardized—but often more intentional.

Common Misconception

“Drag kings are just the reverse of drag queens”

They’re not.

Many NYC kings are:

• exploring masculinity rather than imitating it

• building original characters rather than archetypes

• prioritizing storytelling over spectacle

It’s a different framework entirely.

Where to See Drag Kings in NYC

You’re most likely to find kings in:

• Brooklyn and Astoria-based shows

• curated drag/variety lineups

• independently produced showcases

• mixed drag and performance spaces

They are less centralized—but often more curated.

Related Articles

• NYC Drag Culture

• Drag Scene by Neighborhood

• Types of Drag Performances

• Best LGBTQ+ Nightlife NYC

Final Take

Drag kings in NYC are not a side category—they are a driving force of innovation in the scene.

Less visible, but often more intentional.
Less commercial, but more experimental.

And increasingly, impossible to ignore.