The Jinkx and Dela Holiday Show Returns for Its Ninth Year Bringing Festive Joy and Queer Resilience to Stages Nationwide

The intersection of holiday traditions and contemporary socio-political commentary finds a unique home on the stage as acclaimed drag artists Jinkx Monsoon and BenDelaCreme embark on their ninth annual holiday tour. The Jinkx and Dela Holiday Show has established itself over nearly a decade as a staple of winter entertainment, offering audiences a blend of high-concept comedy, musical numbers, and pointed cultural observations. As the duo kicks off the current tour with stops spanning Atlanta, Cincinnati, New York, Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco, and a traditional four-night residency in Seattle, they do so against a backdrop of shifting national politics and an evolving landscape for live performance artists.

A Legacy of Laughter and Resilience in Uncertain Times

The launch of the ninth annual tour coincides with a notable political and cultural moment following recent electoral shifts. Reflecting on the emotional contrast between the current tour and their previous iterations, the performers note the psychological weight carried by queer and trans communities in recent years. Jinkx Monsoon draws a sharp distinction between the grim atmosphere surrounding their 2022 tour—which opened on the evening of Donald Trump’s reelection—and the renewed sense of communal solidarity felt during the current run.

This year’s production arrives while the duo plays venues such as The Eastern Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. Far from being merely a seasonal distraction, the show serves as a gathering space for marginalized communities seeking affirmation and shared joy. Monsoon emphasizes that packing houses across the country reinforces the reality of a resilient, interconnected global queer community. This perspective reframes the theatrical experience not just as entertainment, but as a vital anchor during turbulent political climates.

BenDelaCreme expands on this thematic foundation, explaining that the 2022 production directly addressed the anxiety of navigating an uncertain future. The current tour tackles the concept of inevitability in political and social rhetoric, encouraging audiences to recognize that the future remains unwritten and subject to collective action. By balancing political awareness with absurdist humor, the creators manage to deliver a message of hope without shying away from the realities facing the LGBTQ+ community.

The Evolution and Chronology of a Collaborative Tradition

The partnership between Jinkx Monsoon and BenDelaCreme originated in Seattle, a city that holds a permanent place in their touring schedule with a year-end residency running from December 21 through December 24. Over the past nine years, the collaboration has evolved from a regional holiday staging into a major national touring property that draws high-demand ticket sales in major metropolitan markets.

The creative process behind each annual production follows a distinct chronology. The collaborators traditionally begin their writing sessions with a completely blank slate. While they operate largely without preconceived notions, BenDelaCreme routinely brings specific cultural touchstones, top-40 musical trends, or cinematic references to the table. These elements are evaluated to determine which cultural moments demand satirical engagement.

For the current production, the creators integrated homages to multigenerational queer icons, specifically incorporating musical nods to Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. According to the creators, these tributes were woven into the script through unconventional narrative devices tailored exclusively to the distinct aesthetic of The Jinkx and Dela Holiday Show, ensuring that the icons are honored within the zeitgeist rather than treated as mere nostalgia.

Satire, Capitalism, and the State of Live Entertainment

A central narrative thread of the current show revolves around a satirical premise: a billionaire, personified through the lens of Ebenezer Scrooge, buys out the holiday production. This narrative choice allows the creators to address pressing economic realities facing contemporary artists.

Monsoon highlights the ongoing professional dilemma faced by creative workers: balancing artistic integrity with the fundamental need for financial survival. In an era where funding and public support for the arts face regular legislative and economic challenges, artists are increasingly pressured to prioritize profitability over innovative expression. Monsoon points out that while filmed media often feels constrained by corporate capitalism, live entertainment has proven remarkably resilient.

BenDelaCreme reinforces this sentiment by analyzing the unique psychological value of live performance in a digitized world. In an environment dominated by deepfakes, synthetic media, and screen fatigue, audiences are learning a healthy skepticism toward digital information. Consequently, the physical presence of a performer on stage offers a tangible, trustworthy exchange of energy that cannot be replicated through a screen. This visceral connection explains why live theatrical performance continues to thrive despite broader economic pressures on the entertainment industry.

Broader Impact and Implications for the Performing Arts

The longevity and expanding reach of The Jinkx and Dela Holiday Show offer broader insights into the current state of independent and queer performance art. As mainstream entertainment conglomerates increasingly rely on risk-averse intellectual property and algorithmic content creation, independent touring productions driven by distinct artistic voices are carving out sustainable, highly lucrative niches.

Furthermore, the success of the tour underscores the economic viability of politically engaged art. Rather than alienating audiences, the show’s willingness to address systemic inequalities, corporate greed, and political anxiety acts as a powerful draw for ticket buyers seeking authentic cultural spaces. By maintaining a balance between high camp and serious socio-political discourse, Jinkx Monsoon and BenDelaCreme have demonstrated that audiences are eager for holiday programming that acknowledges the complexities of modern life rather than retreating into sanitized nostalgia.

As the tour continues through major cultural hubs toward its traditional climax in Seattle, it stands as a testament to the endurance of live performance, the strength of community-building through art, and the capacity of comedy to address profound existential concerns.