The 48th Annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras launches today under the 2026 theme ECSTATICA, transforming Sydney into a global stage for queer celebration over the next 20 days. This evening, the Progress Pride Flag will rise above Sydney Town Hall to mark the official start of Australia’s largest LGBTQIA+ festival.
“ECSTATICA is about euphoria as resistance,” said Jesse Matheson, CEO of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.“The idea that our joy is powerful, political, and unstoppable. This year’s Festival celebrates connection in all its forms: from streets to screens, from protest to party, and from one another to the world. It’s a celebration of who we are, what we’ve built, and the future we’re creating together.”
Over 20 days (13 February – 1 March), the city will pulse with queer energy through a dynamic program of more than 120 theatre, music, parties, talks, and community events, culminating in the 48th Annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday 28 February, when Oxford Street once again transforms into the beating heart of LGBTQIA+ pride and visibility.
After Flag Raising, celebrations continue into the evening as Ultra Violet takes over City Recital Hall for an electrifying evening created by long-time collaborators Sveta Gilerman and Jess Hill. A glowing, femme-charged celebration of LGBTQIA+ women and their allies, the event transforms Angel Place’s iconic auditorium and grand foyer into a lush dreamscape of queer sensuality, sound and performance.
Meanwhile, 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, on Saturday 14 February.
On Sunday 15 February, Fair Day returns to Victoria Park this Sunday as Sydney’s largest free, all ages LGBTQIA+ celebration, bringing together headline music acts, drag royalty, community groups and more than 200 stalls in a full day outdoor celebration.
Lesbians are Lovely! takes over Carriageworks on Tuesday 17 February, co-presented with UNSW Centre for Ideas in collaboration with Dr Yves Rees, marking fifty years since the rallying cry first demanded visibility and liberation. Hosted by Mon Schafter and featuring Kate Rowe, Kath Ebbs and Jackie Turner, the event reflects on the evolution of lesbian culture and asks how space can be made for every part of the community.
Kaftana Pool Party returns to the Ivy Pool on Wednesday 18 February, where cocktails, kaftans, and retro beats collide in the city’s most glamorous midweek escape.
The signature Mardi Gras Debate returns to the State Library of NSW on Thursday 19 February with a provocative question at its core: is heterosexuality a cult? Presented in partnership with Sydney Writers’ Festival and adjudicated by Yumi Stynes, the event features Dylin Hardcastle, Jess Hill, Benjamin Law, Maeve Marsden, Jess McGuire and Daniel Nour battling it out in a sharp, fast paced contest of ideas.
Laugh Out Proud, presented by the Sydney Comedy Festival, fills the Enmore Theatre on Friday 20 February, uniting the sharpest and sassiest comics from across the country. Then, on Sunday 22 February, Paradiso Pool Party returns to Jimmy’s Rooftop at the Ivy for another legendary day-to-night celebration under the palms.
This year’s theatre program turns its gaze to defining moments in LGBTQIA+ history, as Perfect Arrangement (4 February – 7 March) at New Theatre, Newtown revisits the Lavender Scare, the 1950s campaign in which the U.S. government targeted and persecuted gay and lesbian employees under the guise of national security, and The Normal Heart (9 February – 14 March), presented by Sydney Theatre Company returns to the Sydney Opera House in a revival of Larry Kramer’s seminal AIDS era play, together tracing the line from persecution to protest and activism.
Mardi Gala Ball, presented by Coles Group on Tuesday 24 February, transforms Walsh Bay Arts Precinct into a feast for every sense, blending couture, cuisine and connection in one unforgettable night.
Queer Art After Hours returns to the Art Gallery of New South Wales on Wednesday 25 February, activating both the gallery with a vibrant program of LGBTQIA+ performance, music and art. Co-produced by the Gallery and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the free ticketed event provides a powerful platform for diverse queer artists and storytellers to shine.
Hot Trans Mardi Gras claims its moment in 2026, placing trans and gender diverse artists front and centre. On Friday 27 February, Sissy Ball returns to Marrickville Town Hall as the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest vogue ball sees Houses walk, categories judged and tens across the board.
Beyond the signature program, Mardi Gras+ showcases a powerful open access lineup of community-led events across Greater Sydney, spanning markets, cabaret, sport, exhibitions and local nightlife.
On Saturday 28 February, the 48th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade will fill Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Moore Park Roadwith light, colour and sound. Thousands of marchers and floats will unite in a dazzling procession of pride, visibility, and solidarity.
Accessible Viewing Areas on Flinders Street will once again ensure the Parade remains a celebration for everyone. At Taylor Square, Glitter Club will offer the most spectacular vantage point to experience the Parade up close, unfiltered and unforgettable.
“Every year, the Parade reminds us that visibility is joy in motion,” Matheson said. “It’s about showing up for ourselves and each other, and doing it with glitter in our veins.”
After Party with Blak Joy takes over The Loft, UTS, bringing Mob and allies together to continue the Parade night energy in a space grounded in culture, with a lineup featuring Bow and Arrow, Gigi Blak and Tiddalicious.
On Sunday 1 March, Laneway returns to transform The Beresford and Hill Street into a vibrant street party filled with music, laughter and joy. It’s the perfect closing chapter to the Festival, a chance to dance, reconnect and celebrate everything that makes Sydney glow.
New safety and connection features within the official Mardi Gras app are now live, designed to support community wellbeing, improve access to help, and make it easier for festivalgoers to stay connected throughout the Festival and beyond. Festival attendees are encouraged to download the app in advance to plan their Festival experience and stay connected throughout the season.
For further information, visit: mardigras.org.au or download the official Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras app for live updates.
EVENT DETAILS
Festival dates: 13 February – 1 March 2026
Festival theme: ECSTATICA
App: Free to download via App Store and Google Play
More info: www.mardigras.org.au
