As we roll into the third month of the year, it is time to start gearing up for Pride! It is the second year that Tokyo Pride is being held in June, to make it in line with when Pride Month is celebrated elsewhere in the world. That means that it’s time to get stretched for marches, dancing, and… anything else that may occur when a lot of extremely hot and cool people gather in one place over a weekend!
Now, can we predict everything that will happen over the Pride Weekend? No. However! We can tell you who the MCs of the 6 June and 7 June weekend will be! As a sneak preview we will debut the divas who will be delivering delightful displays during those divine days of diurnal distractions, delectations, and debauchery, so delve deep as we discern the designs of your devoted and dramatic… hosts. I ran out.
Durian Lollobrigida
One of the most famous drag queens in Japan, Durian Lollobrigada will be celebrating his twentieth anniversary of performing in drag this year, as he takes to the stage to be the first MC of Tokyo Pride 2026. He is a face that will not only be familiar to long-time drag aficionados, but also to viewers of the breakout Netflix hit The Boyfriend, where he served as a host, providing commentary on the events of the episode.
He has been performing drag since 2006, which means that his headlining Pride will be the culmination of 20 years of performance and activism in and for the LGBTQ+ community. Lollobrigida, who has also worked as an actor in 2022’s Egoist, is highly sought after for drag shows, and travels the length and breadth of Japan giving displays that leave audiences astonished, so get ready for a spectacular address!
Thelma Aoyama
A sensational singer with a devoted fandom in the Japanese LGBTQ+ scene, Thelma Aoyama is a Japanese-Trinidadian singer who has been a huge ally to the community for years. Her support for queer people and causes is the reason behind her becoming a headliner for at this year’s Pride.
Born in 1987, she was one the Guinness World Record holder for the best-selling Japanese single with her release ‘Soba ni Iru ne.’ In addition to being an ally to the LGBTQ+ community (including being a host on the second season of The Boyfriend) she is also outspoken about racial discrimination. She is a supporter of Black Lives Matter, and has discussed the racism she has experienced in the US (where she lived for years) and in her native Japan.
Miyu Nakagawa
One of the most notable rising stars in the Japanese LGBTQ+ entertainment industry, Miyu Nakagawa was born in Hyogo in 1995. She suffered gender dysphoria for most of her youth, and transitioned at the age of 21. She has since gone on to not only become something of an ambassador for the transgender community, but has started an acting career.
Last year, she was in The Blue Boy Trial, a theatrical dramatization of a significant and fraught legal action against transgender women and the doctor who helped alleviate their dysphoria. This year, she has the starring role in the upcoming Tonari no Trans Shojo-chan, about a time travelling trans girl who visits her past self to help them through their transition. If you want to see a star in her ascendency, you absolutely cannot miss her speech!
Baby Vaggie
source: THEATREFORALL
A drag queen who has been a performer and entertainer at more Tokyo Rainbow Pride festivals than I can count (but bear in mind mathematics is not my strong suit), Baby Vaggie is the final headliner of this year’s Tokyo Pride!
She is a regular hostess at Bar Conto in Nichome, and is also a YouTube phenomenon. Her vivacious stage presence and incredible dynamism as a performer are a sight to behold — and lucky you, you get to in June!
These incredible MCs are just the tip of the spear when it comes to Tokyo’s 2026 Pride festival. Don’t worry if you can’t wait: we can’t either. Stay tuned for more Tokyo Pride 2026 news!
