Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, SydneyCredit: Jeffrey Feng
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade along Oxford Street in Darlinghurst.
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Drawing thousands of LGBTQI visitors to Sydney each year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival is a queer celebration like no other. Across three weeks, rainbow flags fly throughout the city as LGBTQI folk and their friends bounce between cultural performances, social gatherings, dance parties and more. It all leads up to Parade Day, when parts of central Sydney become a giant pedestrian zone and upwards of half a million people join in the fun. Here’s how to make the most of Mardi Gras.
Highlights:
- Soaking up the buzz in the city’s queer neighbourhoods
- Partying at Mardi Gras-themed club nights
- Being there on the night for the legendary Mardi Gras parade
The basics
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival officially kicks off in mid-February and concludes with Parade Day on the first Saturday in March. However, some unofficial Mardi Gras events, such as themed dance parties at LGBTQI venues, take place before or after the festival proper.
Two of the biggest festival events, the parade and Fair Day, are free to attend, but most of the program is ticketed, including the epic post-parade Mardi Gras Party (see below). Festival tickets often sell out weeks or months in advance, so keep an eye out for Mardi Gras program details, which are usually released in November.
If you’re attending the festival from interstate or overseas, consider basing yourself in one of Sydney’s rainbow neighbourhoods, such as Surry Hills or Darlinghurst. These suburbs on the fringe of the city centre feel particularly festive during Mardi Gras season and are often the scene of impromptu LGBTQI gatherings. In Surry Hills, book into Adina Apartment Hotel for generously sized rooms, or check in to a boutique hotel like the disco-themed 57 Hotel or the pet-friendly Little Albion. And for views of the buzzy Darlinghurst end of Oxford Street, which usually hosts the Mardi Gras parade, go all-out and secure a room at the five-star Pullman Sydney Hyde Park.
The festival program
Whatever your interests, you’ll find something appealing on the Mardi Gras festival program, which ranges from big-budget theatre and dance performances to panel conversations about issues affecting LGBTQI Australians. Some of the most engaging events take place on the fringes of the festival in emerging queer neighbourhoods such as Marrickville in the Inner West.
Everyone is welcome to attend Mardi Gras Fair Day, including rainbow parents with kids and non-LGBTQI folk. The all-day event usually takes place in picturesque Victoria Park, bordering Sydney University in Broadway, and combines live entertainment, market stalls, discussion panels and plenty of promenading. From mid-afternoon onwards, the crowd begins to migrate from the park along City Road to the Inner West hub of Newtown, where the celebrations continue at queer-friendly venues on King Street.
Another annual highlight is the Mardi Gras Film Festival by Queer Screen, which in recent years has gained a reputation as one of the most significant LGBTQI cinema events in the world, showcasing scores of features, documentaries and short films each season.
Coca-Cola Sign, Kings Cross Credit: Destination NSW
The Coca-Cola sign also known as 'The Coke Sign' lit up for the Mardi Gras weekend in Kings Cross, Sydney.
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Coca-Cola Sign, Kings Cross Credit: Destination NSW
The Coca-Cola sign also known as 'The Coke Sign' lit up for the Mardi Gras weekend in Kings Cross, Sydney.
The parade
The Mardi Gras parade usually makes its way up Oxford Street to Taylor Square before turning onto Flinders Street and heading towards Moore Park, where the official after-party is held. While the atmosphere on Oxford Street is fantastic, the strip can become crowded and visibility can be limited. If you’d rather have more space, consider a vantage point along Flinders Street.
Another option for viewing the parade is to purchase a VIP ticket for the seating area at Taylor Square. This is the spot where the floats pause to be filmed by television crews — it’s unbeatable if you want to take in all the colour and detail. Alternatively, check the websites of Oxford Street venues such at The Oxford Hotel and The Colombian Hotel, which hold ticketed events on Parade Day.
It can be difficult to gain access to venues and shops along the route while the parade is underway, so brings essentials such as water with you.
The after-party
Afterwards, many revellers continue on to the Mardi Gras Party, which is usually held at a concert hall in Moore Park. This ticketed event is the largest dance party on Sydney’s LGBTQI calendar and usually features a performance from an iconic pop star, such as Cher or Kylie Minogue. To reach Moore Park after the parade, you’ll probably need to walk: some roads are temporarily closed for the parade and taxis and share rides can be hard to find. But it’s a pleasant stroll and a great opportunity to strike up conversations with friendly locals.
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Art Gallery of New South Wales, SydneyCredit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoying a visit the the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.
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Come alive with the possibilities as you delve into Sydney’s dynamic arts scene and cultural institutions. Feel moved as you immerse in striking contemporary artworks at public and private galleries, and take in cutting-edge performances and exhibitions across the city.
Be moved by must-see cultural landmarks
Marvel at the ‘sails’ of the Sydney Opera House as you approach this iconic performing arts venue, then join one of several fascinating tours on offer here. Discover the building’s unique history and construction on an Architectural Tour, or go behind the scenes on a Backstage Tour. See a show from an ever-changing program of theatre, dance and music in one of the venue’s many impressive performance spaces, then head to the Opera Bar to take in the front-of-house harbour view as you enjoy seasonal fare and a refreshing drink.
Appreciate the striking art deco façade and waterfront location of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), across the water from the Sydney Opera House at Explore the diversity of Australian modern art as you view highlights of a collection of more than 4,000 works, including a significant body of works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Take time out and digest the wonderful works you’ve just seen as you enjoy panoramic views across Sydney Harbour from the museum’s rooftop café.
Feel far away from the bustle of the city centre as you enter the Domain parklands next to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and make your way to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the leading museum of art in the state. Step back in time to view colonial and 19th-century Australian works and European masters, as well as a dedicated gallery of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Then explore Sydney Modern, the AGNSW’s dynamic new addition, to discover site-specific works by leading Australian and international artists.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoy a tour in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
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Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Friends enjoy a tour in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends arriving outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks, Sydney...Artwork: Moon in a Dew Drop.Artist: Lindy Lee
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Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks Credit: Destination NSW
Friends arriving outside the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia in The Rocks, Sydney...Artwork: Moon in a Dew Drop.Artist: Lindy Lee
Immerse in art in cutting-edge galleries
Lose track of time as you explore a myriad of inner-Sydney art galleries. Delight in a dip into one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art at the White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale, on the fringe of the city centre. Be intrigued by the selection from philanthropist Judith Neilson’s collection of almost 3,000 works created in China since 2000 by around 750 artists, before taking in the tranquil vibe at the gallery’s Teahouse as you snack on handmade dumplings and fine Chinese and Taiwanese tea. (You can also plan ahead and enter the ballot for tickets to cutting-edge performances at Phoenix Central Park, Judith Neilson’s risk-taking cultural centre a short walk from White Rabbit Gallery.)
Lean into the grand scale of Carriageworks, a multi-arts centre housed in expansive former railway workshops in Eveleigh, a five-minute drive or around a 15-minute walk from White Rabbit Gallery. Keep an eye on Carriageworks’ events page for visual arts exhibitions and new performance works.
Take your time exploring the many art galleries dotted around the hip inner-city suburb of Surry Hills. Enter the fascinating world of significant Australian artist Brett Whiteley at Brett Whiteley Studio, tucked away in a side street off Crown Street, one of the main streets running through Surry Hills. Take in the singular atmosphere of the late artist’s former home and workplace, with its unfinished paintings, art equipment, books and graffiti wall of quotes and images, and view one of the changing exhibitions of the artist’s works.
Find yourself challenged and stimulated by the conceptual and design-driven art at independent Surry Hills gallery China Heights, then take the short walk under the train tracks to 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art in Haymarket. Learn about the Asian diaspora in Australia via contemporary art at this fascinating gallery run by the non-profit Asian Australian Artists’ Association Inc.
Thrill to a sense of discovery as you find leading commercial art galleries tucked away in the leafy streets of Paddington in Sydney’s inner east. Roam the side streets of this fashionable suburb to find the likes of Saint Cloche, where gallery director Kitty Clark fosters the city’s emerging artistic talents; Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, one of the most influential commercial art galleries in Australia; and Olsen, founded by Tim Olsen to represent the late John Olsen, one of the country’s greatest painters, and showcase contemporary Australian artists.
White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Women walking through an exhibition at the White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale.
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White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale Credit: Destination NSW
Women walking through an exhibition at the White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale.
Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills
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Brett Whiteley Studio, Surry Hills Credit: James Horan; Destination NSW
Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills