Guinness World Records officially confirmed on Tuesday that the "Drag Me to Cowboys" event at Calgary's Cowboys Music Festival set a new world record for the largest attendance at a drag performance, with 7,423 fans and performers participating in Alberta, Canada.
The massive gathering at Cowboys Park arena featured legendary drag performer RuPaul as headliner, alongside Drag Race stars Sasha Velour, Sasha Colby, Roxxxy Andrews, and Coco Montrese, as well as Canadian drag artists.
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Organizers said they aimed to establish a benchmark that would elevate drag events globally.
"Our goal with this record is to make this a title worth fighting for in the future, by expanding the size and impact of drag performances worldwide," they told Guinness World Records.
Local performers highlighted the broader cultural significance of the historic turnout.
"On the biggest stages and in the biggest celebrations in Canada and Alberta, queerness is absolutely a vibrant part of our communities," said Karla Marx, a Calgary drag performer.
After the official head count, Guinness representatives took the stage to confirm the record, prompting RuPaul to perform Queen's "We Are the Champions" for the crowd.
The event was hosted by Calgary drag artist Farrah Nuff, who noted that logistics were impacted by anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment shortly before the performance.
A ride-share driver refused service to three performers based on their outfits just hours before the show started.
"The driver pulled up to pick us up, took one look at us, and then sped off," said West, one of the performers.
