Every fall, the city that never sleeps gets even brighter. Rhinestones sparkle, feathers fly, and the stage becomes a playground of glitter and wit. The New York Burlesque Festival has returned, and in 2025 it celebrates its 23rd year as one of the most dazzling traditions in the city’s October calendar. For four days from October 9th to 12th across Manhattan and Brooklyn, this festival transforms nightlife into high art; blending comedy, dance, theater, music, and fashion into performances that are as bold as they are beautiful.
If you’ve ever wanted to step inside a world of sequins and satire, this is the festival to experience. Whether you’re a longtime fan of burlesque or just curious, here’s how the stages of the New York Burlesque Festival 2025 offer memorable nights filled with laughter, glamour, and empowerment.
The history of the New York Burlesque Festival begins in 2003 when producers Jen Gapay and Angie Pontani decided the city needed a stage that celebrated modern burlesque’s artistry. Over two decades later, it’s become one of the largest and most respected burlesque gatherings in the world.
What makes this festival different is its blend of old and new. It honors the legacy of burlesque pioneers like Gypsy Rose Lee while celebrating contemporary stars who push boundaries with humor, storytelling, and spectacle. From cheeky satire to sultry striptease, the shows showcase burlesque as more than entertainment; it’s a form of cultural expression that reflects creativity, body positivity, and joy.
The festival’s longevity proves that burlesque is not just alive; it’s thriving in New York. Every year, hundreds of performers and thousands of fans come together to keep the sparkle alive.
The New York Burlesque Festival lineup is spread over four themed nights, each with its own energy. Together, they form a glittering journey through burlesque’s many styles.
The Teaser Party (October 9, 2025 – Brooklyn): Held at 3 Dollar Bill, this opening night is electric. Hosted by legends The Maine Attraction and Fancy Feast, it’s a chance to meet breakout stars and see playful performances that set the tone for the weekend.
The Premiere Party (October 10, 2025 – Manhattan): At Racket NYC, the excitement builds with international performers showing off daring acts. This night often includes aerialists, comedians, and dazzling group numbers.
The Saturday Spectacular (October 11, 2025 – Sony Hall): This is the centerpiece event, an extravaganza of world-class acts, massive costumes, and choreography that fills the stage with spectacle. If you see one show, make it this one.
The Golden Pastie Awards (October 12, 2025 – Le Poisson Rouge): The festival closes with a night of tongue-in-cheek awards. It’s as much comedy roast as it is show, honoring performers with categories like “Hottest in Heels” or “Most Glamorous Gluteus.”
Each night brings its own mix of NYC burlesque shows in October that can’t rival anywhere else.
The New York Burlesque Festival 2025 is one of the few NYC fall activities that attracts talent from across the globe. Names like Artina Darkly, Broody Valentino, and Gigi Holiday bring local New York flair, while international stars like Ferri Maya from Australia and Velvet Jones from London add global sparkle.
Each performance is unique; some acts are funny while others mix storytelling with satire. From dancers and drag artists to acrobats and singers, the festival embraces diversity on every level. Performers often bring costumes that look like walking works of art, turning the stage into a living runway.
For first-timers, it’s impossible not to be swept up in the variety. You may walk in expecting glitter and feathers but leave thinking about how burlesque is also sharp, witty, and deeply creative.
One of the festival’s biggest draws is the fashion. Burlesque fashion and costumes in NYC are works of art in themselves; hand-sewn gowns dripping with sequins, corsets laced with precision, and headpieces that defy gravity.
This year’s festival also includes a pop-up boutique burlesque accessories shop, where fans can browse everything from feather boas to custom corsets. It’s a chance to take home a piece of the glamour. Even offstage, many attendees arrive dressed to impress, turning the audience into a catwalk of vintage glamour, modern creativity, and unapologetic self-expression.
Costume culture is at the heart of burlesque, and in New York, it thrives. Fashion here doesn’t just decorate; it tells a story.
The beauty of the New York Burlesque Festival lineup is how it stretches across boroughs. The burlesque festival venues Manhattan and Brooklyn highlight the city’s nightlife scene. Sony Hall and Le Poisson Rouge offer sleek Manhattan glamour, while Brooklyn’s 3 Dollar Bill brings a grittier, more underground vibe.
Outside the festival, you can also find burlesque in cabaret clubs and variety shows throughout the year. Venues like The Slipper Room or House of Yes host regular performances, keeping the art form alive all twelve months.
Knowing where to see burlesque in NYC 2025 helps fans extend the festival spirit long after October ends.
Part of the festival’s magic is the burlesque festival audience experience. Audiences aren’t passive; they clap, cheer, and holler in delight. Burlesque thrives on this energy, creating a bond between performers and crowd.
Whether you’re sitting in the front row or the balcony, the performers make you feel part of the spectacle. Many acts break the fourth wall with comedy or clever asides. Others surprise with audience participation, inviting the room into the story.
The joy of the audience is as important as the show itself, creating an electric atmosphere that keeps fans coming back year after year.
What sets this festival apart is how it spills beyond the theater. Workshops, after-parties, and meet-and-greets give fans the chance to connect with performers directly. Pop-up shops and vendors sell art, vintage clothing, and accessories inspired by burlesque’s glittering world.
For some, the workshops are a highlight; learning the art of movement, costume design, or stage presence from professionals. Others love the after-parties, where the line between performer and audience disappears in a shared celebration.
The NYC burlesque shows October calendar may be packed, but nothing compares to the multi-day immersion this festival creates.
The New York Burlesque Festival 2025 is more than a weekend of shows; it’s a tradition that shines as bright as the city itself and as one of best things to do in NYC. With performances across Manhattan and Brooklyn, dazzling costumes, and an atmosphere of joy, it continues to be one of the must-see NYC burlesque shows October offers.
From the burlesque festival audience experience to the burlesque fashion and costumes in NYC, every detail of this festival celebrates artistry, empowerment, and fun. Whether you attend one night or all four, you’ll leave with memories that sparkle long after the curtain closes.
