Grindr’s Pleasure Ball made its grand return to New York City last night, taking over Iron23 and turning it into The Garden of Otherworldly Delights, a lush, surreal playground where fantasy and flirtation collided.
Now in its second year, the Pleasure Ball has quickly become one of the city’s most anticipated queer gatherings, a celebration that embodies the spirit of transformation and self-expression at the heart of LGBTQ+ nightlife.
Where Fantasy Blossomed
This year’s theme, a toxic, Eden-like dreamscape, filled the venue with overgrown flora, glowing serpents, and ethereal lighting. Guests wandered through an atmosphere that felt part runway, part fever dream, and entirely Grindr.
Music legends and nightlife icons came out to play. Slayyyter delivered a sultry set just before the midnight drop of her new single, “Crank,” while Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters fame turned the room electric with hits like “Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” and “Filthy/Gorgeous.”
“Halloween has always been the gay high holiday,” Shears said. “It’s about transformation, creativity, and chaos. Performing at the Pleasure Ball feels like diving right back into that downtown magic I love.”
A Celebration of Queer Excess
The evening drew a magnetic mix of celebrities and scene-stealers, including Aquaria, Dawn, Ashnikko, and designer Edvin Thompson. Produced by Kind, the event pulsed with energy, equal parts fashion show and performance art.
For Grindr, the event reflects more than nightlife; it’s a manifestation of its identity. “Halloween’s never just been about one night for our community,” said Tristan Pineiro, Grindr’s Senior Vice President of Brand Marketing and Communications. “It’s about transformation and showing off, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.”
Style Meets Seduction
The night also marked the debut of the limited-edition Grindr x CHRISHABANA capsule collection. Designed as wearable art, the three-piece set, The Heavy Metal Jock, The Adam Harness, and the Prick and Thorn Grip Chain, melds kink and couture.
Modeled by Terrence, Amir Morris, and Luxx Noir London, the collection brought industrial edge to the dance floor. Each piece fuses punk-inspired detailing with sculptural eroticism, embodying the unapologetic confidence that defines LGBTQ+ fashion today.
Available exclusively through Grindr’s website and app, the capsule captures the spirit of the Pleasure Ball itself: bold, sensual, and a little dangerous.
