WerQfest, St. Louis‘s premier Black queer arts and culture festival, is back for its seventh year, and the 2026 edition is shaping up to be its biggest yet.
On July 11, the festival returns to The Atomic Pavilion by Jamo with a headlining lineup that brings together some of the most exciting names in music and drag: platinum-selling rapper JT, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 17 winner Onya Nurve, and emerging genre-bending rapper Infinite Coles.
Since launching in 2020, WerQfest has grown from a local gathering into a nationally recognized movement, one built on a clear mission: to uplift and celebrate Black queer creativity on its own terms. Founded by Tre’von Griffith and Shelton Boyd-Griffith, the festival has been named Best Arts and Music Festival by the Riverfront Times, and recognized as a Business of Pride honoree by the St. Louis Business Journal for its impact on the creative economy. Along the way, it’s hosted a remarkable list of talent, including Durand Bernarr, Jaida Essence Hall, Avery Wilson, serpentwithfeet, and Kevin Aviance, while creating career-launching opportunities for emerging artists.
This year’s headliners reflect that range. JT, formerly of the chart-topping duo City Girls, has become one of Hip-Hop’s most influential voices, celebrated for her bold artistry, authenticity, and culture-shifting aesthetics across music and fashion. Onya Nurve arrives fresh off her Season 17 win on RuPaul’s Drag Race, the Cleveland-born performer quickly establishing herself as one of drag’s most magnetic entertainers with powerhouse performances and undeniable charisma. And Infinite Coles brings a sound entirely his own, blending hip-hop, R&B, and alternative influences into work that balances vulnerability, innovation, and cultural impact, marking him as one of the most compelling new artists to watch.
The festival’s all-St. Louis-made supporting lineup celebrates homegrown spirit. DJs Rico Steez, Nyara, Maxa, and a special set by TreHitz will keep the energy high throughout the day, alongside performances from Kristopher Lay, Lala Ahmir, Meadow Grace, and K.Rush. A curated beat battle presented by Volume Speaks and Vanessa Frost’s Frosty Revue, with DJ-in-residence DJ PBNJEFFY on the decks, rounds out a roster that embodies WerQfest’s commitment to uplifting Black queer artistry from St. Louis and beyond.
That commitment extends to the people behind it. Co-founder and CEO Tre’von Griffith is an artist, composer, and director who recently composed original music for We Are Gathered, a queer love story by Tarell Alvin McCraney at Arena Stage. Shelton Boyd-Griffith, co-founder and creative producer, is an arts and culture editor whose work has appeared in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Ebony, and ESSENCE, and previously served as creative director of The Black AIDS Institute. Their dual fluency in art and advocacy is evident throughout the festival’s DNA.
It also shows in the partnerships. This year welcomes the return of sponsors Brandon Blackwood and the Department of Health, as well as MISTR, a telemedicine platform offering free, discreet access to PrEP, STI testing, and sexual health care. The official afterparty, the “Afties,” will be presented in partnership with dance collective Let’s F*cking Dance.
At a time when Black queer spaces are too often treated as seasonal or nonessential, WerQfest offers something steady and necessary: a full day of music, fashion, performance, and community where joy is the whole point. On Saturday, July 11, St. Louis is the place to be.
Tickets are on sale now.
