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
Dream big, love bigger at Sydney WorldPride with Klook
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
Feast on sumptuous food at Pink Salt. Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
Welcome Mardi Gras season at Fair Day. Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
Don your best swimsuits at Ivy Pool Club. Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
Discover authentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artworks in the First Nations Gathering Space. Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
Bring your own picnic rug to the opening concert! Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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.
9. Mardi Gras Parade
Have a good fun time during the Mardi Gras Parade. Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
Join the largest circuit event in Oz! Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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!
11. Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference
The conference offers a well-rounded program that focuses on community, justice, health, and visibility. Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
Drag stars take the spotlight in the Kaftana Pool Party! Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
The two-hour concert is hosted by Steven “Faboriginal” Oliver. Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
Ultra Violet is for LGBTQIA+ women and allies! Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
Get your tan on as you party on Bondi Beach! Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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.
17. Mardi Gras Sissy Ball
Soak in glam vogue realness at the Sissy Ball. Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
Be one of 50,000 and a part of history when you join the Pride March. Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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
Cheer to a wonderful WorldPride 2023 during Rainbow Republic. Credits to Sydney WorldPride
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?
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.
You’re invited to the biggest Pride celeb to ever happen in the Southern Hemisphere! Credits to Sydney WorldPride
Written by: Elle David
