Drake celebrated his 40th birthday at a private party at Casa Cipriani in New York City on Friday, October 23, 2026, the night before his actual birthday. About 400 guests attended, according to Complex, which first reported the details of the event.
The Backstreet Boys performed their 1999 hit "I Want It That Way" during the party, and Drake joined the group onstage for the performance, Complex reported. No official statement describing the night has been published by Drake’s team.
For fans who grew up on the Backstreet Boys or have followed Drake’s career for two decades, the pairing is a snapshot of how far both acts’ audiences now overlap. The rapper has built a reputation for marking milestones with guest performances and surprise appearances, and Friday’s party continued that pattern at a venue known for hosting high-profile private events in Manhattan.
Complex’s report is currently the primary account of what happened inside the party, including the guest count and the choice of song. No video or photo from the Backstreet Boys’ own official Instagram account or Drake’s own account has independently confirmed the performance at the time of publication, so readers should treat the specifics as reported by Complex rather than officially announced.
Drake’s career milestones have often doubled as cultural moments, a pattern readers can trace through CruxBuzz’s coverage of this year’s Grammy nominations, where hip hop acts dominated several categories. Friday’s party adds another chapter to that run, even without a new music announcement attached to it.
No new music or project was tied to the birthday celebration in the reporting reviewed for this story. Drake turned 40 with a private party and a Backstreet Boys performance, and Complex reported that he joined the group onstage for one song before the night wound down.
