LGBTQIA+ dance festival RAYDIA will return in 2026 following its debut last weekend.
Held at The Domain in Sydney last Saturday, the inaugural event was headlined by Cascada, alongside Filipino drag performer Marina Summers and DJs Dan Slater, Manuel Coby, Bryant and Ana Julieta.
A host of other drag artists and performers rounded out the 2025 festival, which police said was attended by 4120 people.
"We were completely overwhelmed by how our community showed up for us," said founder Alex Daoust. "For a first-year festival, the support, the energy, and the love were beyond anything we imagined."
Daoust, who was the executive producer of the 2023 Sydney WorldPride Domain Dance Party – the highest-selling event of that pride season, with more than 21,000 attendees – told Gay Sydney Daily the festival's top priority was to create a space where everyone felt welcome, seen and celebrated.
"It meant so much to us to bring back a little of the magic we all felt in The Domain during Sydney WorldPride," he said. "That shared joy is something we've carried with us, and it was incredible to feel that spark again."
The event faced a rocky start when a storm swept through the city, forcing organisers to close the front gate and pause proceedings for almost half an hour. Daoust said it was an incredibly frustrating situation for patrons and for staff working behind the scenes.
"We're so grateful for everyone's patience and understanding that while we can plan for almost everything, we can't control lightning."
Despite the interruption, Daoust said Cascada delivered a show-stopping performance.
Tickets are already on sale for the 2026 event, which will again be held in The Domain in November.
Daoust said RAYDIA wanted to hear from attendees as planning begins for next year's festival.
"Your feedback will help us shape an even bigger and better RAYDIA in 2026."
This article has been syndicated with permission from Gay Sydney Daily, run by journalist Eliot Hastie.
Eliot Hastie is a senior news producer at Channel Ten, reporting on a range of general stories, specialising in foreign affairs and LGBTQ+ stories. He’s also a reporter for Gay Sydney News, where he covers LGBTQIA+ culture, politics and nightlife. He previously helped to build and launch ausbiz, Australia's only live streaming finance news channel, where he was also an executive producer and host. He has previously worked as a finance and business journalist for publications including Fintech Business, Real Estate Business and other Momentum Media titles. Eliot holds a journalism degree from the University of Westminster and brings experience in both broadcast and digital reporting. Contact Eliot: [email protected]
