Your Mardi Gras 2026 Playbook: Parades, Fair Days, Pool Parties And More
Eloise Luke
Contributor | Urban List
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The 48th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival is set to electrify Sydney from 13 February to 1 March 2026, inviting everyone to step into ECSTATICA—a world where joy becomes movement and celebration becomes power.
Over 20 days, the city will pulse with queer energy through a dynamic program of theatre, music, parties, talks, and community events, all leading up to the 48th Annual Parade on Saturday 28 February, when Oxford Street once again transforms into the glittering heart of LGBTQIA+ pride and visibility.
This year’s theme, ECSTATICA, celebrates euphoria as resistance—joy as both powerful and political. Across two vibrant weeks, the festival will celebrate connection in all its forms, from streets to screens, from protest to party, and from one another to the world.
These are the best events on the Mardi Gras lineup for 2026.
Mardi Gras Parade
Oxford Street | Saturday 28 February, from 6pm
Image credit: Destination NSW | Alexandra Adoncello
Sydney’s biggest celebration of the year, the Mardi Gras Parade will storm down Oxford Street for the 47th year in a row. Spanning Flinders Street and Anzac Parade, snag a spot to see 200 floats representing this year’s theme, ECSTATICA.
You can snag a spot for free—or upgrade your experience to a ticketed viewing area at Taylor Square or various locations on Flinders Street, where you’ll have access to bars, entertainment, food trucks, amenities and more while avoiding the crowds along the main parade.
Ultra Violet
City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney CBD | Saturday 22 February 3pm–11.30pm
Image Credit: Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras | Supplied
The opening night of Mardi Gras 2026 ignites with Ultra Violet, an electrifying, femme-charged celebration created by long-time collaborators Sveta Gilerman and Jess Hill. Taking over City Recital Hall, this glowing event transforms Angel Place’s iconic auditorium and grand foyer into a lush dreamscape of queer sensuality, sound and performance.
Expect an unforgettable evening honouring LGBTQIA+ women and their allies, where music, movement, and artistry collide in a euphoric celebration of connection and empowerment—setting the tone for two weeks of unstoppable queer joy.
Mardi Gras Fair Day
Victoria Park, Broadway | Sunday 15 February, 10am–9pm
Image credit: Sydney Mardi Gras | Supplied
Sydney’s most iconic outdoor celebration, Fair Day, returns to Victoria Park for another free, fun-filled day of community, colour, and connection. Expect the First Nations Circle opening ceremony, the chaos of the Drag King Games, and the sparkle of the Queer Fashion Runway, alongside the ever-popular Doggywood pooch parade, picnic rugs, and the Karaoke Cave: Disco Divas.
With more than 70,000 visitors expected, Fair Day is the ultimate summer Sunday—packed with live music, performances, food stalls, community organisations, and endless opportunities to celebrate LGBTQIA+ pride under the Sydney sun.
Black Cherry
National Art School, 156 Forbes St, Darlinghurst | Saturday 14 February, 5pm–11pm
Image credit: Sydney Mardi Gras | Instagram
Across town at the National Art School, the trans and gender-diverse community takes centre stage with Black Cherry—a night of heat, heart and artistry in full bloom inside the historic Cell Block Theatre.
Rooted in themes of redemption, transformation and rebirth, Black Cherry reclaims moments missed and milestones never lived. It’s a celebration of becoming—an invitation to rediscover the freedom of youth, to make mistakes, to feel joy, and to live boldly as your true self.
Inspired by the experiences of those who had to cocoon to survive, this immersive evening offers a space to bloom again.
Kaftana Pool Party
Jimmy’s Rooftop, Ivy Complex | Wednesday 18 February, 4pm–11pm
Image credit: Sydney Mardi Gras | Supplied
Slip into something fabulous and make a splash—Kaftana Pool Party is back, taking over Jimmy’s Rooftop at the Ivy Complex for another sun-soaked, high-camp afternoon of cocktails, kaftans, and retro beats.
Presented by DJ Dan Murphy, this glittering midweek escape promises a full day of poolside glamour, disco anthems, and dazzling performances from singers, dancers, and drag artists. Expect all your favourite camp classics on the decks, a crowd dressed to impress, and the return of the Best Dressed Awards, hotly contested as always.
Paradiso Pool Party
Jimmy’s Rooftop, Ivy Complex | Sunday 22 February, from 2pm
Image credit: Sydney Mardi Gras | Supplied
End your Mardi Gras weekend on a high at the Paradiso Pool Party, the city’s ultimate poolside celebration that’s been going strong for over 15 years. Taking over the Ivy Complex rooftop, this glittering event brings together thousands of partygoers for a full day of sunshine, house music, and shimmering summer energy.
Expect the best vocal house beats from Sydney’s hottest DJs, plenty of cocktails, and a crowd dressed to impress (or undress).
Mardi Gala Ball: Taste the Love
Ivy Ballroom, Ivy Complex, Sydney CBD | Tuesday 24 February, from 7pm
A dazzling new addition to the Mardi Gras calendar, the Mardi Gala Ball: Taste the Love, presented by Coles Group, transforms Merivale’s Ivy Ballrooms into a multi-sensory celebration where food, art, and connection unite.
Expect a night that blends couture, cuisine, and cabaret, as performance, storytelling, and fine dining intertwine in a glowing feast of flavour and feeling. Guided by a beloved queer host, the evening celebrates the idea that everyone is welcome at our table, with a menu that honours inclusivity, creativity, and local producers.
Laneway
The Beresford & Hill Street, Surry Hills | Sunday 1 March
Image credit: Sydney Mardi Gras | Supplied
But the celebration doesn’t end there. When the glitter settles (and your heels start to wobble), it’s time for Laneway—the ultimate after-after-party that takes over The Beresford and Hill Street on Sunday 1 March.
What began as a few milk crates has grown into a glitter-slicked street party of epic proportions. Expect a cocktail of house, disco, and pure chaos, powered by thousands of joyous, sleep-deprived legends who refuse to say goodbye until Monday.
Secure your spot early or level up with VIP access for early entry, upstairs exclusivity, and faster queues.
Laugh Out Proud
Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown | Friday 20 February, from 8pm
Image credit: Sydney Mardi Gras | Supplied
Laugh Out Proud, presented by the Sydney Comedy Festival, takes over the Enmore Theatre on Friday 20 February. Bringing together some of Australia’s sharpest and sassiest comedians, this iconic night of queer comedy promises razor-sharp wit, outrageous punchlines, and the kind of belly laughs that only Mardi Gras can deliver.
Expect a stellar lineup of LGBTQIA+ comics and allies serving humour that’s bold, unapologetic, and brilliantly camp.
Mardi Gras+
Various Locations | 13 February–1 March 2026
Image credit: Sydney Mardi Gras | Supplied
Running throughout the Festival, Mardi Gras+ shines a spotlight on queer creativity across art, culture, sport, and community. The 2026 open-access program unites LGBTQIA+ artists, collectives, and venues from across Sydney, celebrating new voices.
Highlights include Rainbow Beaches by Lifesavers with Pride, transforming surf clubs from Bondi to beyond into dazzling displays of the Progress Flag, celebrating inclusion and safety on our shores. On stage, God’s Cowboy explores young gay love, memory, and courage, while international comedy star Nurse Blake returns with his signature wit in a new show honouring healthcare heroes.
Main image credit: The Beresford | Supplied
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