Gay Events in Twin Cities This Weekend: May 1-3, 2026

The Twin Cities' LGBTQ+ scene runs from Northeast Minneapolis' drag theaters to St. Paul's lone gay bar to Eagle|MPLS' leather-friendly cowboy nights. This weekend brings 18 events across five queer venues — Roxy's Cabaret pays tribute to Bette Midler Friday, Black Hart's monthly Jumpsuit dance party donates to Trans Mutual Aid, and LUSH celebrates 5 years with $10 brunches. Here's what's happening May 1–3, 2026.

This post is updated weekly. For the full event list with details, times, and venue info, visit the Out x Out Twin Cities events page.

This week's edition is brought to you by Dollar Flight Club — travel deals so good you'll catch yourself attending three, four, maybe more prides this summer.

This Week in Gay Twin Cities

• Federal court backs Minnesota trans athletes. The 8th Circuit denied the challenge to Minnesota's inclusive sports policy on April 16, ruling Title IX doesn't give private plaintiffs a right to sue over disparate-impact claims — keeping trans student athletes on the teams that match their gender identity. AG Keith Ellison's second trans-rights win this month. [The Advocate]
• Minnesota gets its first LGBTQ+ marker on the state historical registry. Pine City — about an hour north of the Twin Cities — is dedicating a monument in Voyageur Park honoring East Central Minnesota Pride, recognized as the first rural Pride organization in the U.S. (founded 2005). Marker dedication is May 28. [The Advocate]
• RuPaul drops the All Stars 11 cast and it's stacked. Joey Jay, Crystal Methyd, Kennedy Davenport, Salina EsTitties — 18 returning queens are back for a Tournament of All Stars bracket battle, premiering on Paramount+ May 8. [PinkNews]
• Lady Gaga and Doechii drop the gayest video of the year. "Runway" — directed by Parris Goebel for The Devil Wears Prada 2 — landed Tuesday with high-fashion choreography that already sent the song to No. 1 on Billboard's Dance Digital chart. [The Source]
• The Frost throw a Pride Unity Game. Minnesota's PWHL team hosted Pride Night at Grand Casino Arena April 11 — Sen. Erin Maye Quade dropped the ceremonial puck, the Twin Cities Queer Country Dancers two-stepped through intermission, and the team raised proceeds for Twin Cities Pride's Rainbow Wardrobe initiative. [Minnesota News Network]

Friday, May 1 — 6 Events

Out x Out Pick: Bette Midler and Friends at Roxy’s Cabaret

Friday's Spotlight at Roxy's goes Bette. The Divas — featuring Kinley Preston and Joan Jullian — serve looks, lip syncs, and a tribute to the most iconic divas of all time. Roxy's is Minneapolis' most dedicated drag room, and Friday Spotlight is where they swing the biggest. Reservations strongly recommended.

Also on Friday

• 3-4-1 Drinks — 4:00 PM at Eagle|MPLS
• Happy Hour BINGO benefiting Aliveness Project — 6:00 PM at Black Hart of Saint Paul
• Stampede — 9:00 PM at Eagle|MPLS
• Karaoke in the Lounge — 9:00 PM at Black Hart of Saint Paul
• Latin Night with DJ K-Yes — 10:00 PM at The Saloon

Saturday, May 2 — 6 Events

Out x Out Pick: Jumpsuit Funk & Disco Dance Party at Black Hart of Saint Paul

Black Hart's monthly funk and disco dance party turns the St. Paul lounge into the Twin Cities' best community dance floor. A rotating cast of local and regional DJs spins house and funk; the door is $8 (21+), and a portion of every cover goes to Trans Mutual Aid. The most charity-good Saturday night you'll have all weekend.

Also on Saturday

• Saturday A Brunch of Drag — 11:00 AM at LUSH Lounge & Theater
• Saturday Drag Bingo — 2:00 PM at LUSH Lounge & Theater
• The Goddess Experience Show — 7:00 PM at Roxy’s Cabaret
• Hot Pink — 8:00 PM at The Saloon
• Kings! Drag After Dark — 9:00 PM at LUSH Lounge & Theater

Sunday, May 3 — 6 Events

Out x Out Pick: Sunday A Brunch of Drag at LUSH Lounge & Theater

LUSH's Sunday brunch is the friendliest way to ease into the week. Doors at 11, show at 11:30 — bottomless mimosas, drag in the spacious theater, and tickets dropped to $10 for all of 2026 as a 5-year anniversary thank-you. The cheapest brunch-of-drag in town.

Also on Sunday

• Bottomless Drag Brunch at Roxy's Cabaret — 12:00 PM at Roxy’s Cabaret
• Day Camp the Tea Dance with DJ Naughty Boyy — 1:00 PM at Roxy’s Cabaret
• Show Tunes Sunday — 4:00 PM at Eagle|MPLS
• Drag Discovery — 6:30 PM at LUSH Lounge & Theater
• Shower Contest — 9:00 PM at The Saloon

Featured Read: 3-Day Gay Weekend in Las Vegas

Planning a Vegas trip this spring? Our Friday-to-Sunday gay Vegas itinerary covers where to stay, the Fruit Loop bar crawl, RuPaul's Drag Race Live, Temptation Sundays pool party, and everything in between.

Read the full guide on Out x Out

Travel Deals from Minneapolis

Looking to get out of town? Here are this week's best flight deals from MSP.

• Denver, CO — $77 roundtrip on Frontier (May 19-23) | Book on Expedia
• Las Vegas, NV — $98 roundtrip on Sun Country (May 19-23) | Book on Expedia
• New Orleans, LA — $129 roundtrip on Spirit (May 12-16) | Book on Expedia
• Fort Lauderdale, FL — $138 roundtrip on Sun Country (Jun 3-7) | Book on Expedia
• Los Angeles, CA — $148 roundtrip on Delta (May 27-31) | Book on Expedia
• Cancún, Mexico — $239 roundtrip on Sun Country (Jun 11-18) | Book on Expedia