Dua Lipa surprises fans with electrifying performance for National PrEP Day in LA

10 October 2025

Aquaria, Plastique Tiara, Dua Lipa, Trinity the Tuck and Symone in West Hollywood on Oct. 9, 2025. Credit : Michael Kovac/Getty

On October 9, British pop icon Dua Lipa turned a star-studded evening into an impromptu musical rally when she made a surprise appearance at The Abbey in West Hollywood for the first National PrEP Day celebration, performing hits for fans gathered in support of HIV prevention. The event, hosted by MISTR, aimed to raise awareness and enrollment in PrEP programs and drew a mix of musical energy and community activism as Lipa announced “Let’s have a party!” before launching into her set that included “New Rules,” “Don’t Start Now,” and “Houdini.”

The venue brimmed with excitement. Celebrities, supporters, and LGBTQ advocates filled the halls names like Cardi B, Demi Lovato, Kim Petras, Matt Bomer, NeNe Leakes, and more joined in the celebration. Drag artists Aquaria, Plastique Tiara, Trinity the Tuck, Symone, and Shea Couleé opened the night with performances paying homage to Lipa’s artistry before she took the stage. DJs Diplo, SG Lewis, and Joey With the Mustache kept the energy high, mixing beats through the night.

This was not simply a concert but a statement. The National PrEP Day event was held months before the November 10 nationwide deadline for the initiative to enroll 10,000 new people. MISTR’s CEO Tristan Schukraft addressed the crowd, urging attendees to take control of their sexual health by adopting preventive measures. The campaign reflects the notion that access to PrEP is a key tool in ending HIV transmission, akin to how birth control transformed reproductive health.

Lipa’s participation deepened the event’s resonance. Before the show she had just wrapped the Los Angeles leg of her Radical Optimism Tour, and she brought that momentum into this surprise appearance. According to People, she slipped into the crowd organically and then took command of the stage as though she had rehearsed it all along. Her performance was electrifying and substantive not just about star power, but about amplifying voices and health justice.

Guests spoke of the emotional charge. Fans, some in drag, sang along, cheered, and danced in solidarity. Some volunteers and advocates expressed gratitude for Lipa’s visibility and willingness to anchor musical performance in health activism. For many, the night underscored how artists can use platforms to educate, uplift, and mobilize.

Behind the spectacle lies a deeper alignment: Lipa’s public image as an artist who engages with social issues, community, and visibility. Her willingness to appear unannounced in such a context signals that her engagement with her audience goes beyond commercial performance it is a participatory act of solidarity. In the context of HIV awareness, her name draws media attention, but her voice and presence lend trust and invitation.

As the event wound down, guests lingered in reflection, conversation, and communal aftershocks. Some exchanged contact info, shared stories of activism, or connected over next steps in outreach. The Abbey’s iconic walls echoed more than music that night they held messages of hope, bodily sovereignty, and collective action.

Dua Lipa’s surprise performance at National PrEP Day reminded audiences that the intersection of art and activism remains potent. It wasn’t just a concert it was a gathering with purpose. Her songs echoed beyond entertainment, resonating with lives, health, and the movement to make prevention visible and available to all.