Drag Gala Maspalomas: The Big Night After the Storm — Mónica Naranjo, 12 Contestants, Live on TVE

Three Postponements — One Maspalomas

No Drag Gala in the history of Maspalomas has endured as much disruption. Originally scheduled for Thursday 19 March, it was first moved to Wednesday 25 March when Storm Therese began hitting the island with its first rain bands. When Therese escalated on Tuesday 24 March — Level 2 emergency declared, military deployed, 3,000 people evacuated — the second date was also scrapped. It was only late on Tuesday evening, after organisers confirmed that all participants including Mónica Naranjo could rearrange their schedules, that the third date was set: tonight, 9:20 PM.

Alejandro Marichal, First Deputy Mayor of San Bartolomé de Tirajana, put it plainly: the safety of residents and visitors had always taken priority. The postponement had been difficult but responsible. Now, with the situation stabilised, Maspalomas was ready for its most emblematic night.

What to Expect

The Drag Gala of the Maspalomas Carnival 2026 carries the theme “El Mundo del Circo”. Twelve contestants will take to the Yumbo stage to compete for the title of Drag de Maspalomas 2026 — on platform shoes, with acrobatic choreography and costumes oscillating between circus fantasy and haute couture. Artistic director Josué Quevedo has promised “a dynamic, agile gala focused entirely on the drags — because they are the essence of the show”.

Hosting duties fall to Roberto Herrera — who calls the Yumbo his first major stage — and Borja Casillas as Drag Sethlas, one of the most recognised drag personalities in the Canary Islands. The musical highlights come from Mónica Naranjo, the “Panther of Figueras”, and María Isabel, the former Junior Eurovision winner.

The gala will be broadcast live on La 2 (TVE) — a national platform that positions Maspalomas Carnival as a benchmark for freedom, diversity and quality entertainment. For the south of Gran Canaria, which has just emerged from a week of emergency, this gala is more than an event: it is a statement that life goes on.

The Drag Gala — Born in Maspalomas

What many visitors do not know: the Drag Gala was invented in Maspalomas in 1986, originally as the “Miss Trevestikarnatival Election”. It was one of the first official drag events in Spain. Since then, the gala has evolved into one of the most significant drag competitions in Europe, attracting contestants from across Spain and beyond. Yilenia Vega, Councillor for Festivities, emphasised that the gala is part of the municipality’s identity and has put Maspalomas on the international cultural map.

For tourists in the south of Gran Canaria, the Drag Gala is the most emotional night of the carnival — and after a week in which roads collapsed, dams overflowed and the military moved in, it is also a symbol of the return to normality. Maspalomas celebrates again. Tonight, 9:20 PM, at the Yumbo.

Related articles: Maspalomas Carnival 2026: El Circo · Final Week: Drag Gala & Cabalgata · Storm Therese: Military on Gran Canaria · Maspalomas Carnival Guide

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