PLAN YOUR 2024 FESTIVAL experience
Want to dial up your 2024 Sydney Mardi Gras season experience? No matter how you choose to celebrate, we have your schedule sorted.
The Ultimate Marathon
Sydney Mardi Gras only comes but once a year so if you’re in the mood to go all the way we have just the schedule to keep you going non-stop!
Ease into the festival with our award-winning Fair Day program at Victoria Park and explore Queer vendors, live music and more while sipping on a Pinot Grigio in the sun.
Next, it’s no Sydney Mardi Gras without a pool party, so take your pick at Paradiso or Kaftana both at the renowned ivy Pool Bar, or, why not choose both? You deserve it!
Keep the cozies on for our newly iconic Bondi Beach Party and party with your best judys on the worlds most iconic beach.
You of course HAVE to experience the official Mardi Gras Parade and why not do it in style at one of our many Official Viewing Areas, it’s the perfect pre-drinks before heading to Mardi Gras Party.
Thought we were done? No, this is the ultimate marathon, remember? Kick-ons are sorted at The Beresford for Laneway, as the perfect end to the epicness that was your 2024 Mardi Gras ultimate marathon.
Fair Day 18-Feb-2024, Victoria Park
Kaftana Pool Party 21-Feb-2024, ivy Pool Bar
Bondi Beach Party 24-Feb-2024, Bondi Beach
Paradiso Pool Party 26-Feb-2024, ivy Pool Bar
Mardi Gras Parade 02-March-2024, Oxford Street
Mardi Gras Party 02-March-2024, Moore Park
Laneway 03-March-2024, The Beresford
Weekend Warriors
So, you think because you work Mon-Fri 9-5 you can’t get the full Mardi Gras experience? Don’t worry we have carefully curated the best events to keep you weekend warriors entertained.
WEEKEND ONE: 16-18 February
POV: it’s 5:01pm and you’re officially clocked off. You run home, pour yourself a G&T and press play on your favourite playlist, because it’s time to get ready and join us for an incredible Friday night celebration of LGBTQIA+ women and allies at Ultra Violet at the National Art School. Now there’s no time for rest because you’re visiting the vibrant Fair Day at Victoria Park where you will enjoy food trucks, drinks, live performances and dancing all day long, and see why it took out the award for “Best Live Event in NSW, 2023.”
WEEKEND TWO: 23-25 February
What better way to start round two than a Laugh Out Proud? Gather the gaggle and find out why queer comedy’s night-of-nights has sold out every single year. Now comes the tough decision- Bondi Beach Party, or Sissy Ball? Weekend two is double stacked with choices, will you pick to party for hours in the Aussie sun with non-stop live entertainment at Bondi Beach Party, or let world-renowned vogue artists deathdrop their way into your heart at Sissy Ball? Either way it’s bound to be a weekend of pure pride.
WEEKEND THREE: 1-3 March
No matter how you choose to celebrate Our Future, the annual Parade is not to be missed. Experience a sea of bio-glitter, feathers and pride as hundreds of floats dazzle down Oxford St. You can join the crowd or watch from an exclusive viewing area, either way, it’s bound to be a fantastic night. Keep the party going by joining us at our official After Party at Moore Park for 10 hours of non-stop excitement from dusk to dawn, across 6 venues. As the 2024 Festival comes to an end there’s no need to fret, because it’s time to muster up any remaining energy and join your mates for a final hurrah at Laneway, at The Beresford.
Fam Friendly
Whether this is your first festival with the little ones, or you’re an experienced family of ravers, we have a fun-filled lineup for your celebrations:
Immerse your family in Indigenous culture and begin the 2024 season with Festival First Light. Held across various locations witness Aboriginal elders welcome you to the land, as a beautiful tradition.
Definitely not to be missed, Sydney Mardi Gras is partnering with Minus18 to bring our youth a spectacular night of Queer celebration, at Queer Formal. Anyone from the ages of 12-19 are welcome at this alcohol-free event, led by qualified, Queer leaders to ensure a safe and supportive environment. (If an attendee requires one-on-one support from a personal carer, please contact platforms@minus18.org.au for coordination.)
Ask anyone and they will tell you that Fair Day is not to be missed! Featuring drag story time, Doggywood pageant, a karaoke rave, junior drag pageant and much more – it’s an event for everyone. We recommend packing a picnic, arriving early, and enjoying all the free activities that Fair Day has to offer.
Our 2024 Festival will also include face-to-face cultural experiences, including a Living History Walk or intimate exploration through Taronga Zoo with our Zoo Walk, presented by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
Want to experience the Parade with the whole fam? Ruby Road Viewing Area is our top pick for families to enjoy the Parade and boasts food trucks, roving performers, relay screens and plenty of space for the little ones to run wild. Family ticket packages are available for two adults and two children to enjoy the festivities.
Festival First Light 16-Feb-2024, Various Locations
Minus18 Queer Formal 17-Feb-2024, Roundhouse Kensington
Fair Day 18-Feb-2024, Victoria Park
Living History Walk 25-Feb-2024, Hyde Park
Zoo Walk 29-Feb-2024, Taronga Zoo
Ruby Road 2-March-2024, Anzac Parade
Fierce & Free
Experience the biggest events of the Festival without dropping a dime on tickets. Here’s your guide to all the free events in Mardi Gras 2024:
Festival First Light will have you experience the sun peaking over the horizon on the first day of the Festival, with simultaneous welcome to countries by elders of the land you stand on.
Every year we see over 70,000 people walk through the rainbow Fair Day arches thanks to its non-stop free live entertainment, and with over 300 vendors, stalls and performances, we’re confident that you will be entertained all day, for free!
Explore Australian LGBTQIA+ culture as Queer Art After Hours turns the Art Gallery of New South Wales into the epicenter of queer artistry. Fellow community members will be bringing you a kaleidoscope of expression throughout the evening.
Our Mardi Gras+ program offers a range of free events with everything from Parade screening parties to art classes, and a night at The Imperial dedicated to the icon and legend, Madonna.
The iconic annual Sydney Mardi Gras Parade is not to be missed and is truly the most immersive event that the season has to offer. Choose to stand with the roaring crowd on Oxford Street or enjoy the free ABC live-stream from the comfort of your home.
Festival First Light 16-Feb-2024, Various Locations
Fair Day 18-Feb-2024, Victoria Park
Queer Art After Hours 28-Feb-2024, Art Gallery of NSW
Mardi Gras Parade 2-March-2024, Oxford Street
Culture Kid
Explore the cultural and educational side to Sydney Mardi Gras with a range of events designed to make you think, feel and appreciate.
Festival First Light will have you experience the sun peaking over the horizon on the first day of the festival, with simultaneous welcome to countries by elders of the land you stand on.
Experience a night that is both hilarious and intellectual with Laugh Out Proud. The comedy classic is back for the 5th year with a lineup of hilarious Queer comedians to tickle your funny bone.
Hosted within the renowned National Art School, Queer Futures will be a two-day long collection of panel discussions and talks presented by community leaders with different perspectives, designed to make you think. Immerse yourself in a range of cultural-based LGBTQIA+SB events.
Queer Art After Hours will see the Art Gallery of NSW turn into the epicenter of Queer culture and expression, with a range of artists, performers and community co-creators sharing their art.
Festival First Light 16-Feb-2024, Various locations
Laugh Out Proud 23-Feb-2024
Queer Futures 24&25 Feb-2024, National Art School
Queer Art After Hours 28-Feb-2024, Art Gallery of NSW
Pocket Sized Razzle Dazzle
You know what they say… great things come in small packages, so we’ve wrapped up all the pocket rocket events to give you a diamond sized dose of Mardi Gras magic.
First up, make the most of the first morning of the Festival and come along to Festival First Light. Take your pick of locations across the city as simultaneous Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies start the annual celebration.
Next up, tickle your funny bone with a dose of Queer comedy spectacular, at Laugh Out Proud. Hosted in the heart of the Inner West, at Enmore Theatre, you’ll be in stitches thanks to our thought provokingly hilarious comedians, but it’s okay, because a laugh a day keeps the doctor away.
Diamond Dance is the perfect solution if you’re looking for a pride filled celebration without the hustle and bustle of a major party. Join Polly’s Club and Dykes on Bikes as we celebrate pride by dancing to classic bangers from the 80’s, 90’s, and early 00’s. Entertainment will also include a raffle, best dressed competition, and lucky door prize!
Making its Sydney Mardi Gras debut, Hot Trans Summer is set to be the most sickening boat party that ever existed. Experience a trans, and gender-fluid wonderland on Glass Island as you cruise around Sydney Harbour with some of Australia’s finest trans and gender-fluid artistry.
Hosted within the renowned National Art School, Queer Futures will be a two-day long collection of panel discussions and talks presented by community leaders with different perspectives, designed to make you think. Immerse yourself in a range of cultural-based LGBTQIA+SB events.
Festival First Light 16-Feb-2024, Various locations
Hot Trans Summer 22-Feb-24, Sydney Harbour
Laugh Out Proud 23-Feb-24, Enmore Theatre
Queer Futures 24&25 Feb-2024, National Art School
Diamond Dance 29-Feb-24, Paddington Town Hall
