A Revival in Rhinestones and Retro Glam

Burlesque, the sultry art form blending vintage glamour, striptease, and theatrical wit, is stepping back into the limelight. Once a major force in 2000s cabaret culture before fading into the fringes, burlesque is now enjoying a global resurgence — led by iconic performers, bold new productions, and growing cultural interest.

As burlesque star Dita Von Teese launches her new London show Diamonds and Dust, the scene is buzzing with fresh energy. “I think it’s having a true renaissance, actually – all over the world,” says performer Tosca Rivola, who stars alongside Von Teese.

From Taylor Swift to the West End

Dita Von Teese’s recent cameo as a fairy godmother in Taylor Swift’s Bejeweled music video brought burlesque back to younger pop audiences. Meanwhile, Burlesque the Musical, based on the glitzy 2010 film starring Christina Aguilera and Cher, is set to hit the West End stage, adding a theatrical flourish to the revival.

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is also embracing the trend with the launch of an International Burlesque Festival, spanning five venues throughout August in response to what organisers call a “major increase in burlesque productions” in recent years.

More Than Striptease: A Cultural Reawakening

“Burlesque emerges when it’s needed,” says Jacki Wilson, associate professor of performance and gender at the University of Leeds. And this resurgence may be speaking to deeper cultural needs — an embrace of body autonomy, camp, and celebration amid more serious times. In an era where drag dominates the cabaret circuit, burlesque offers a different kind of empowerment: glamorous, rebellious, and historically grounded in satire.

A Hot Ticket Again

From underground clubs to major stages — and even elite events like the Met Gala after-party, where artists Teyana Taylor and FKA Twigs performed burlesque-inspired sets — the art form is being reclaimed as high fashion and high performance.

Once dismissed as retro kitsch, burlesque is proving it’s anything but outdated. With its feather fans, wink-and-a-smile sensibility, and unapologetic spectacle, burlesque is back — and ready to seduce a new generation.