The Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival will bring back the drag galas this year with the Dragnaval competition, aiming to highlight diversity. The contest is scheduled for February 16, Piñata Friday, and will feature 12 participants. Registration opens on Thursday, coinciding with the release of competition rules on social media.
This announcement was made by Tenerife capital’s Councilor for Security, Equality, and Diversity, Gladys de León, and drag performer Exuberancia Carey, the alter ego of Javier Jiménez.
The contest will take place in Plaza de La Candelaria, with the Festival Councilor, Javier Caraballero, explaining that the date was chosen due to the limited availability of spaces during Tenerife capital’s carnival festivities.
Caraballero pointed out that Piñata Friday coincides with the Awards festival and clarified that the date was decided before the scheduling of the drag gala in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which has been moved up this year.
Exuberancia Carey emphasized that the Dragnaval is not a mere replica of the drag gala in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, highlighting the latter as the “crown jewel.”
Gladys de León asserted that the carnival, being a popular festival, is deemed the “safest” in the world in the case of Santa Cruz de Tenerife and now aims to be “the most inclusive.”
De León indicated that the LGTBIQ+ community has always been an integral part of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival, now opening up to engage those outside the community.
The Fiestas councilor, Javier Caraballero, acknowledged a historical debt to the LGTBIQ+ community and reiterated the primary goal of celebrating diversity in all its forms on an island where cross-dressing has deep roots.
Caraballero also noted that this will not be the first drag gala for the Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival, as similar events were held between 2000 and 2002.
Exuberancia Carey revealed that she had persistently lobbied the two councilors for an extended period, even fearing potential repercussions, emphasizing the importance of raising visibility for the drag collective.
The Dragnaval will feature drag personalities Samantha Ballantines, Pupi Poisson, and Estrella Xtravaganza as hosts, traveling to the island for the event.
The contest is open to the public, with the first 12 applicants granted participation. They are required to stage a three-minute musical performance for the initial round and a follow-up performance lasting a maximum of one and a half minutes for the subsequent phase.
The format will be televised, and contestants must base their musical acts on this year’s carnival theme, “La Televisión.” The winner will be determined by public applause.
