Doll Invasion 2026 photographs: a shot of queer joy

This story originally appeared on Them.

Protect the dolls!

Now in its fourth year, Doll Invasion at Fire Island Pines celebrated everything that makes the transgender and nonbinary community so beautiful. With iconic performances from rising stars and plenty of parties where queer people could simply let their hair down, this staple Fire Island event, now in its fourth year, embodied queer joy at a time it’s needed more than ever.

The entire island was filled with every color of the rainbow as everyone loved on each other and raises crucial funds for organizations like Queer|Art and Advocates for Trans Equality. After all, Doll Invasion isn’t just a party; it’s also a fundraiser powered by a collective of artists, nightlife veterans, corporate gays, and nonprofit baddies.

The full three-day, trans-led weekend dominated the scene at The Waterfront at the Pines. As an ambassador for MISTR, Kim Petras made her Fire Island debut by hosting her own party at Pavilion to a sold-out crowd. Fans new and old chanted her empowering songs going all the way back to her humble beginnings to her latest independent work on her new record Detour.

Petras wasn’t the only doll that performed in front of a passionate mob of fans. A star-studded lineup of DJs and artists such as Goth Jafar, Jasmine Infiniti, Amarji King, human plushie, DJ SEXINCHURCH, and many more brought their unapologetic queer energy to stages all throughout the Pines. The talent wasn’t just on stage, either, celebrities like Dylan Mulvaney and Adam Lambert were spotted joining in on the queer celebration all weekend long.

There’s no denying that the LGBTQ+ community has faced a slew of hardships in 2026 alone, and that the trans community is under intensifying attacks, so Doll Invasion is proving once again to be a deeply necessary safe space. Nothing fills my heart more than seeing queer people living their lives out loud and proud. The amount of smiles, laughs, and heartfelt exchanges I witnessed all weekend long truly fed my soul for months to come. Although there’s no denying all of the challenges that have gained momentum under the current political administration, queer people have proven time and time again that resilience will always shine through.

Trans people are the backbone of the LGBTQ+ community, so if you’d like to join in on the fun next year or simply learn more about Doll Invasion, visit the official website here. And see all of our stunning original photography of the event from Brady Pappas below.