Port Douglas's beloved LGBTQIA+ celebration finds a new home in Melbourne this January.
Hot and Steamy Festival is making the move to Melbourne next January. After years of building a devoted following in Port Douglas, the tropical queer celebration is heading south to transform The Timber Yard into a nine-hour party blending beach energy with urban grit.
Originally founded in Far North Queensland, Hot and Steamy has earned its reputation for delivering high-energy days filled with colour, community and chaos. Melbourne’s edition brings that tropical DNA to the city; Drag Race royalty, Australian and international DJs across two stages, food trucks and the Gay Stuff Market taking over the venue.
Hot and Steamy – Melbourne
- When: Sunday, 25 January 2026, 2pm–11pm
- Where: The Timber Yard, Melbourne
- Tickets: here
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Festival founder Jason Penrose sees Melbourne as a natural fit; a city where diversity already thrives and creativity dominates the calendar. Moving Hot and Steamy into the urban landscape may mean swapping palm trees for industrial architecture, but it’s keeping the same energy that made Port Douglas editions so popular.
The focus remains on amplifying queer joy, whether through performances, social media or packed dance floors. Bold costumes are encouraged, connections are inevitable, and confidence tends to multiply throughout the day.
Part of Midsumma Festival’s broader summer program, Hot and Steamy opens its doors to anyone 18+ looking for a full-day celebration. Two stages mean musical variety throughout the afternoon and evening, while Gay Stuff Market brings a variety of LGBTQIA+ artists and their creations; art, fashion, accessories, vintage finds, homewares, books and more.
Port Douglas gave Hot and Steamy Festival its tropical foundation, but Melbourne offers something different: a thriving queer scene, established infrastructure and a summer calendar already packed with cultural events. Adding a day-long tropical party to The Timber Yard in late January slots neatly into Midsumma’s January-February takeover of the city.
First release tickets drop on 5 November 2025, giving early access to what’s shaping up as a significant addition to Melbourne’s LGBTQIA+ calendar. From 2pm through to 11pm, expect DJs, drag, dancing and enough glitter to coat the entire venue.
For more information, head here.
