Big Gay Day

The Wickham's queer street festival is turning 25 with Peach PRC and The Presets leading the lineup.
Sarah Ward
Published on February 27, 2025

Overview

For a quarter of a century, one of the biggest parties in Brisbane has taken over The Wickham each year, as well as the road outside. That shindig: LGBTQIA+ festival Big Gay Day. Over the years, everyone from Mel C to Boy George and The Veronicas have hit the stage at the annual excuse to shut down a Fortitude Valley street, bringing big names the fest's way. In 2025, the just-announced headlining honours go to Peach PRC and The Presets.

The two Australian favourites will help mark Big Gay Day's 25th birthday on Sunday, May 4, aka one of the best ways to make the most of the Labour Day long weekend. Alongside the pair — with The Presets doing a DJ set — this year's event will also feature Harry K unleashing his Outrage.us Block Party on The Wickham's beer garden, Paul Wheeler returning to MC, and everyone from Jimi The Kween to Kayty Banks.

To match its big birthday, 2025's festival also has a fitting theme: Y2K. So, as well as commemorating an event that harks back to the turn of the 21st century and is clearly still going strong, you can soak in the 00s-era vibe. If you want to dress to fit the part, that's up to you.

Rainbow Republic

Big Gay Day 2025 remains in May, where it largely has taken place of late — even if it moved to October in 2023 "due to scheduling conflicts with neighbouring stakeholders", swapping places with The Wickham's also-annual Little Gay Day.

The event also spans multiple performance spaces, food trucks, themed pop-up bars and plenty of partying people — and, for the third year in a row, Big Gay Day gets to enjoy The Wickham's $3.1-million revamp, which added a weather-proofed beer garden to the venue.

Raising money for LGBTQIA+ charities is also on the lineup, with Open Doors Youth Service — Queensland's only dedicated LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy youth service, catering to 12–24 year olds, which is also turning 25 this year — 2025's recipient.

Ben Sullivan

Big Gay Day 2025 Lineup

Peach PRC
The Presets (DJ set)
Jimi The Kween
Gogo Bumhole
The David
Kayty Banks
Lazy Susan
Vybe
Mandy Moobs
Freya Armani
Reef vs Beef
Femme Follies
Poof Doof
Mega Drag
Harry K presents Outrage.us Block Party
MC: Paul Wheeler

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