Sydney Mardi Gras 2023

Live stream, TV coverage, mardi gras parade route and start time

Originally started in 1978 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the Sydney Gay, Lesbian and Transgender (commonly abbreviated to LGBTQIA+ Mardi Gras is now one of the most well known in the world, and can certainly lay claim to being one of the most colourful.

I actually attended this event when visiting Australia and it was most certainly a unique experience. You need to get there very early as the streets get unbelievably crowded pretty much as soon as there's some daylight and the party atmosphere really is something special. And don't worry that you need to actually be gay to attend, the vast majority of attendees aren't, they just show up in their numbers to show support for the equal rights of the community.

Mardi Gras Dates

Mardi Gras itself will run from 17th February to 5th March with the main Mardi Gras Parade due to take place on Saturday 25th February from 6pm and will be returning to its home ground of Oxford Street. With over 12,500 marchers and over 200 floats, this year's theme will be Gather, Dream, Amplify.

Here are just some of the highlights for 2023:

Wednesday 15th February - 2nd March - Mardi Gras Film Festival (full schedule here)
Sunday 19th February - Fair Day at Victoria Park
Monday 20th February - Mardi Gras Paradiso Pool Party at Ivy Pool, George Street
Wednesday 22nd February - Queer After Hours ar Art Gallery of NSW
Thursday 23rd - 27th February - Klub Village at Carriageworks
Friday 24th February - Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concerty at The Domain - Phillip Precinct...featuring Kylie Minogue!
Saturday 25th February - Mardi Gras Parade Sideshow at Flinders Street from 6pm
Saturday 25th February - Mardi Gras Party at Hordern Pavilion, Liberty Hall, Watson's, Mary EQ and The Entertainment Quarter from 10pm to 8am
Sunday 26th - 28th February - Miss First Nation: Supreme Queen at Carriageworks
Wednesday 1st March - Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference at the International Convention Centre
Wednesday 1st March - Mardi Gras Kaftana Pool Party at Icy Pool club from 4pm
Thursday 2nd March - Blak and Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert at Sydney Opera House from 7pm
Saturday 4th March - Bondi Beach Party from 3pm
Sunday 5th March - Pride March at Sydney Harbour Bridge from 7am
Sunday 5th March - Closing Concert: Rainbow Republic at The Domain - Phillip Precinct

Full schedule of events can be found here

Parade Route

The parade route is normally down Oxford and Flinders Streets in the Darlinghurst area

TV & Live Streaming

This year the Mardi Gras parade is being broadcast live by The ABC. ABC iview from 6.30pm (AEDT), ABC TV from 7.30pm and it will also be on ABC Local Radio Evenings from 7 - 10pm

You can also follow on Youtube

Hotels and Accommodation

If you're planning on visiting Sydney for Mardi Gras and looking for somewhere to stay to attend the parades or other events you can check out availability and make reservations for local hotels here.

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