Drag Academy Brings the Art of Drag to TEDTalks Conference: A Celebration of Bravery, Beauty, and Bold Expression

In a moment that spotlighted the transformative power of performance and identity, Drag Academy was honoured to host a Discovery Session with an interactive session that explored the art and artistry of drag. The session, titled The Drag of Art, was part of the TEDTalks Conference under this year’s inspiring theme: The Brave and Brilliant.

Held in front of an international audience of changemakers, thinkers, and creatives, the 60-minute session brought drag out of the nightlife and into the spotlight of global thought leadership. The experience was part performance, part education, and part community dialogue—true to Drag Academy’s mission of celebrating drag as both an artistic and political force.

“We were thrilled to be invited,” said Daven Seebarran, founder of Drag Academy. “Drag is often seen as entertainment—and it is—but it’s also storytelling, resistance, and deeply personal transformation. To bring that message to TEDTalks, among some of the world’s leading minds, was a profound opportunity to showcase drag as the brave and brilliant art that it is.”

To reflect the diversity within drag and its intersections with gender, culture, and performance, Drag Academy curated a powerful lineup of performers and artists for the session, including: Dahlia Doll, Justin Abit, Addi Pose and Isabelle.

The session invited attendees to experience live drag transformations, hear stories of identity and self-expression, and reflect on the broader meaning of drag in society. Drag Academy facilitated an open discussion with the artists, who shared candid insights into what it means to create and embody drag in a world that often misunderstands or marginalizes it.

From bold costumes to quiet moments of truth-telling, the session dismantled stereotypes and invited participants to witness drag as a legitimate, interdisciplinary art form—one that encompasses design, theatre, dance, makeup artistry, social critique, and lived experience.

“The theme of 2024’s conference, The Brave and Brilliant, couldn’t have been more fitting,” said Seebarran. “Drag artists are some of the bravest storytellers I know—standing on stage in full regalia, telling their truth, demanding to be seen. It’s brilliant in every sense of the word.”

Audience members described the session as "electrifying," "unexpectedly emotional," and "a masterclass in art and authenticity." For many, it was their first real introduction to the complexities and creativity of drag beyond pop culture.

As Drag Academy continues to break new ground in education and representation, its presence at TEDTalks was a significant step in furthering conversations about identity, inclusion, and the power of queer artistry on a global stage.