Sydney’s getting ready for a jam-packed lineup to celebrate our LGBTQI+ community. Take your pick from these comedy galas, dance parties, live music events and so much more!
It’s that time of year again! The annual Mardi Gras Festival is back to celebrate its 25th anniversary and it’s set to be more glitter loaded and fabulous than ever before. The parade marks the main event for the festival but there’s so much more happening around Sydney. From concerts headlining Kylie Minogue, a Pride March along the Harbour Bridge and the official Mardi Gras party kicking on until 8am, here’s your ultimate guide to this iconic LGBTQI+ festival.
All Out Comedy (Saturday 18th February)
Start your Mardi Gras celebrations off with a laugh at All Out Comedy, an event hosted within Seymour Centre by drag superstar Coco Jumbo. The set will highlight extraordinary talent from LGBTQI+ artists including Australian comedy favourites Geraldine Hickey who took out the Most Outstanding Comedy Show at the 2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Nath Valvo. Tickets are just $45!
Mardi Gras Fair Day (Sunday 19th February)
The all-day rainbow extravaganza in Victoria Park brings over 200 retail and food stores, entertainment, giveaways, information centres and a family-friendly space to enjoy it all.
Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert (Friday 24th February)
The official opening concert of WorldPride 2023 is set to be bigger and better than ever with headliners Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX and Jessica Mauboy. The concert starts at 7pm but your ticket gets you entry to The Domain from 3pm so you can enjoy a drink and bite to eat pre-show. Working on Friday? The show will be broadcast live around the nation on ABC TV.
Mardi Gras Parade (Saturday 25th February)
The world-renowned Mardi Gras Parade will return to Oxford Street to celebrate its 45th anniversary. Expect to see a dazzling display of the LGBTQIA+ community representing beauty, strength and a flight for equality. All the usual suspects will be there including the famous rumble of the Dykes on Bikes to the quintessentially Australian Lifesavers With Pride.
Mardi Gras Party (Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th February)
After you’ve enjoyed the parade the official party will begin spanning the Hordern Pavilion, Liberty Hall, Watson’s and the Entertainment Quarter. Enter an adult playground of music and performance with over 10,000 people which makes it the biggest and longest-running LGBTQIA+ party in the Southern Hemisphere. The full line-up is coming soon but you can expect acclaimed DJs and surprise performances featuring house, pop, electronic, disco and techno music.
Pride March (Sunday 5th March)
Thousands of people will unite to march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of global equality. Around 50,000 bright-coloured people will take in the stunning Sydney morning on this iconic landmark. It’s a true celebration of all that has been achieved and a conscious reminder of the work that’s still to be done to support this community.
Bondi Beach Party (Saturday 4th March)
For one day only, Bondi Beach will become the city’s hottest club, hosting up to 12,000 people. The event will star pop sensation Nicole Scherzinger, as well as an all-Australian DJ line-up including dameeeela, Jarred Baker, Jacqui Cunningham, DJ Charlie Villas and DJ Dan Murphy.
Closing Concert: Rainbow Republic (Sunday 5th March)
17 days of WorldPride might be coming to an end but the party doesn’t stop here. There will be a closing concert at The Domain featuring 7 hours of live music, DJs and performances by Kim Petras, MUNA, Keiynan Lonsdale, G Flip, Peach PRC, Alter Boy, BVT, Vetta Borne and more. There will be food outlets and bars on site so you can dance from day to night.