Sydney WorldPride Program: 19 Most Vibrant Events in 2023

Klook ANZ

Last updated 22 Aug 2022

Image credits to Sydney WorldPride

Feeling hyped for Sydney WorldPride 2023? There's only six months to go and so much to expect for the most significant and grandest Pride celebration to ever happen in the Southern Hemisphere. Wanna know what’s down in the pipeline? They’ve got the usual Mardi Gras celebrations, a Bondi Beach party, a Human Rights conference, and the first-ever First Nations Gathering Space!

Mark your calendars; here are 23 colourful WorldPride events you should know about Sydney WorldPride 2023:

WorldPride Arts
Pink Salt
Mardi Gras Fair Day, Presented by American Express
WorldPride Sports
Mardi Gras Paradiso Pool Party
First Nations Gathering Space
Pride Villages
Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, Presented by American Express
Mardi Gras Parade
Domain Dance Party
Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference
Mardi Gras Kaftana Pool Party
Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert
Ultra Violet
Mardi Gras Laugh Out Proud
Bondi Beach Party, Presented by Optus
Mardi Gras Sissy Ball
Pride March
Rainbow Republic, Presented by Optus

Get your Sydney WorldPride tickets and join the party!

1. WorldPride Arts

February 17 to March 5 | Multiple locations

Soak in Sydney’s arts culture with WorldPride Arts featuring theatre, contemporary performance, dance, talks and ideas, visual art and cabaret. Found in multiple locations across Greater Sydney, these works are curated for both locals and tourists and will showcase over 60 individual experiences showing Sydney culture as you’ve never seen it before.

2. Pink Salt

February 18 @ 18:00 - 22:00 | The Station

Before settling in Sydney for WorldPride 2023, head to The Station, Newcastle for Pink Salt first. Enjoy an outdoor long-table dinner like no other—prepared by a queer chef guest, decorated with outrageous table decors, and peppered with fabulous performances.

3. Mardi Gras Fair Day, Presented by American Express

February 19 @ 10:00 - 21:00 | Victoria Park

Kick off your Sydney WorldPride experience in true Mardi Gras style with Fair Day, an all-day rainbow bonanza in Victoria Park. Everyone is welcome to join, even pets, and participate in over 200 food, beverages, and entertainment stalls that will fill the park from day to night. There’s even a mini Vogue Ball for the fashionistas out there.

4. WorldPride Sports

February 20 - Feb 24 | Multiple locations

Have a knack for playing football, running, kickball, water polo, and other sports? February 20 marks the start of WorldPride Sports. With over 20 different sports providing free or cheap games to play in or watch, this is community sport on a rainbow scale go get ready to kick goals, score points, and win!

5. Mardi Gras Paradiso Pool Party

February 20 @ 14:00 - 23:00 | Ivy Pool Club

Turn up the heat when you take a dip during Paradiso Pool Party. Gather under the swaying palm trees on the iconic Ivy Pool and prepare to make a splash to jams of the country’s best DJs.

6. First Nations Gathering Space

February 23 - Feb 28 | Carriageworks

Sydney WorldPride doesn’t only celebrate LGBTQIA+ identities but also the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures that live on in Australia. At the First Nations Gathering Space, watch striking visual art exhibits in the stunningly converted train sheds of Carriageworks for six days.

7. Pride Villages

February 24 - Mar 5 | Oxford Street and Sounds

On weekends and weekday afternoons of Sydney WorldPride, the beloved Oxford Street will be closed to traffic to make way for Pride Villages. Fabulous, festive, and free, Pride Villages will be a hub of stalls and performances to connect with family and friends in between major WorldPride events.

8. Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, Presented by American Express

February 24 @ 15:00 - 21:00 | The Domain Phillip Precinct

Mark your first Sydney WorldPride 2023 weekend with a fantastic Opening Concert at The Domain. Marvel at live performances of Australia’s best singers and musicians on picnic rugs in the general admission area or your reserved seating area. This WorldPride event will be hosted by Casey Donovan and Courtney Act and broadcast live around the nation on ABC TV.

Join the festive fun at Live and Proud Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert

9. Mardi Gras Parade

February 25 @ 18:00-23:00 | Oxford Street and Sounds

Time to get out into the streets for this much-anticipated WorldPride event - the Mardi Gras Parade! In celebration of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras’ 45th anniversary, all eyes will be on the 200+ floats that will decorate Oxford Street with messages of pride and self-expression.

10. Domain Dance Party

February 26 @ 15:00-22:00 | The Domain - Phillip Precinct

We hope you’ve warmed up because dancing never ends during Sydney WorldPride! Brace yourself for seven hours of dancing as Domain Dance Party opens the second week of Sydney WorldPride 2023. It’s the biggest LGBTQIA+ circuit event Australia has ever seen and is expected to be visited by 10,000 party people!

Dance the night away at Domain Dance Party

11. Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference

March 1 - Mar 3 | ICC Sydney

Celebrating Pride wouldn’t be complete without addressing significant issues the LGBTQIA+ communities face. The Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference builds a powerful global movement as it highlights human rights, tackles systemic barriers, and celebrates the diverse rainbow community. Everyone is invited to join this three-day event with over 60 local and international speakers committed to diversity and inclusion.

12. Mardi Gras Kaftana Pool Party

March 1 @ 16:00-23:00 | Ivy Pool Club

Unleash your inner diva and let it shine through the iconic Ivy Pool Club during the Mardi Gras Kaftana Pool Party! Dance to disco tunes while wearing your best frock on the campest soiree of the Festival. It’s an afternoon of sipping cocktails while waiting for the pink sunset of Sydney.

13. Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert

March 2 @ 19:00-21:00 | Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

Made by and for First Nations people, everyone is welcome at Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert, a once-in-a-lifetime blak carpet event. Set your sights on authentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+ artistry, ranging from traditional songs, ballroom dances, and comedy performances across a two-hour concert. It’s gonna be a deadly event!

14. Ultra Violet

March 3 @ 17:00 - Mar 4 @ 1:00 | Sydney Town Hall

This one’s for the gals—Ultra Violet is the premier event for LGBTQIA+ women during Sydney WorldPride. It features Sydney Town Hall as a safe space for ladies to showcase their creativity in burlesque, performance art, visual art, and cabaret. Ultra Violet is curated by DJs and Producers Sveta Gilerman and Jess Hill.

15. Mardi Gras Laugh Out Proud

March 3 @ 19:30-21:30 | Enmore Theatre

On March 3, Sydney will be filled with LOLs and ROFLs, thanks to the Mardi Gras Laugh Out Proud. This unique queer comedy gala comes back after three sold-out years and will serve the crème de la crème of the nation’s comedy scene. It’s one of the most sought-after events on the festival calendar, so get your tickets as early as you can!

16. Bondi Beach Party, Presented by Optus

March 4 @ 15:00-22:00 | Bondi Beach

Oh, so you wanted an icon? This is the ultimate Sydney experience.

For one day only, the jewel of Sydney will become the city’s hottest club for 12,000 people. Set at the edge of Bondi Beach, you’ll need a lifesaver to recover from seven hours of fabulous partying with the global queer community.

As you dance from dusk to dawn, feel the sea breeze on your face as the beach stage transforms from camp pop fun, to fire and house through to heaving electro unity.

All colours of the rainbow are welcome at the beach.

Book your Bondi Beach Party tickets on Klook

17. Mardi Gras Sissy Ball

March 4 @ 18:00-23:00 | Sydney Town Hall

Celebrate self-expression and finesse at the Mardi Gras Sissy Ball, Australia’s biggest vogue ball. Witness legendary fashion houses battle it out at one of the most ravishing and revolutionary glam vogue throwdowns the planet has ever seen. Make sure to dress to the nines and bring your 10-point attitude to the runway!

18. Pride March

March 5 @ 7:00-10:00 | Sydney Harbour Bridge

Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Homophobia’s got to go! Watch the brightest colours unveil as you become part of history at the unforgettable Pride March on Sydney Harbour Bridge. Join hands with 50,000 brothers and sisters and walk across the iconic bridge for global equality. Let the world know we're here, we're queer, get used to it!

19. Rainbow Republic, Presented by Optus

March 5 @ 15:00-21:00 | The Domain - Phillip Precinct

As 17 days of Sydney WorldPride come to an end, there'll be one last hurrah at Rainbow Republic, a music event made for the young and the young-at-heart. Get ready for six hours of partying to a queer megamix of international and local acts for one last time including MUNA, G Flip, Peach PRC, Alter Boy, BVT and Vetta Borne. Dance the day into night as we come together for one last time before handing the baton to the next WorldPride hosts!

#KlookHint: don't hold us to this, but Harry Styles is in Sydney that week for his world tour sooo could he be the special guest performing at Rainbow Republic?

Party it out at Rainbow Republic, presented by Optus

Sign up to the Sydney WorldPride newsletter to be the first to know when the DJ line-up is revealed later this year, along with a very special guest for this WorldPride event.

WorldPride is licensed by InterPride.