Drag Avalon achieved victory with the fantasy entitled “And then I blossomed when no one else was watching me”
The gala included an award recognizing the emergency services who worked tirelessly to resolve the weather incidents of the past few days.
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After two forced postponements due to Storm Therese, the heart of the Maspalomas International Carnival vibrated with the Drag Queen Gala at the Yumbo Shopping Centre. The magnificent opening gave way to a moving tribute to the emergency services, who worked tirelessly to address the weather-related incidents of the past few days. Hosted by Roberto Herrera and Drag Sethlas, the show brought back the glitz and glamour of the platforms on a night marked, among other things, by the spectacle, the voice of Mónica Naranjo, and the social activism of some of the contestants.
The big winner of the day was Drag Ávalon, who took the victory with the fantasy titled “And then I blossomed when no one else was watching me.” This design by Osvaldo Cabrera Rocha was sponsored by Juventud Canaria, Clínica Dental Claramunt, and Full Cargo. Ávalon's performance captivated the jury in an edition that stood out for its extremely high level of competition. Drag Armek topped the list of winners with the fantasy “I wasn't born to reign, I was born to be eternal,” designed by Nancy Henríquez González and sponsored by Divinity and Cheyennes Club. Drag Ígnea followed in second place with the creation “Give me a grrr, a what?” by Néstor Santana, supported by Carrozas José Halcón and Ferretería Encinoso.
Third place went to Drag Acrux with “Nothing ventured, nothing gained… and you bet on me?”, a design by Nefalí Betancor for Connecting Bingo, while fourth place was awarded to Drag Sequins with Josep López Martí’s creation, “What the scalpel took away… I’m more stretched than chewing gum,” sponsored by the Arucas City Council, Vervia Asesores, and Carrozas José Halcón. The gala also featured two major music stars, María Isabel and the iconic Mónica Naranjo, as well as a farewell performance by Drag Elektra, winner of the 2025 edition.
The awards were presented by the mayor, Marco Aurelio Pérez; the first deputy mayor, Alejandro Marichal; the councilor for Events and Festivities, Yilenia Vega; and the Gran Canaria Tourism Councilor, Carlos Álamo. With the official crowning and the strains of the Carnival Anthem, Maspalomas closed one of its most emblematic nights, demonstrating that the spirit of the Drag Queen Gala can overcome any adversity. Attendees celebrated not only Drag Ávalon's victory but also the return to normalcy during the Carnival festivities after Storm Therese. Tomorrow will be the Tourist Gala and the massive crowds; Saturday will feature the Grand Parade; and Sunday will bring the Burial of the Sardine. These will be the final three days of this spectacle, which has reaffirmed, once again, Maspalomas's position as an international benchmark for freedom and transgression.
