The Best Events Bringing Sydney to Life Across WorldPride's Packed Program
From massive gigs and experimental film festivals to multi-day party programs, these are our picks from the 300-plus events taking over Sydney for WorldPride.
The first WorldPride to ever be held in the southern hemisphere is upon us, boasting more than 300 shows, gigs, exhibitions and parties taking over Sydney over 17 days. You can expect everything during the program from art exhibitions and film festivals to dance parties and big-name international headlines.
We've pulled together a list of more than 20 events popping up throughout the festival, each bringing its own celebration of queer joy, and its love for the LGBTQIA+ community, to the festivities. The Mardi Gras parade returns to Oxford Street, Fair Day is back with a stacked lineup and a huge afterparty at The Abercrombie, and vibrant events are popping up at beloved Sydney spaces from Darlinghurst Theatre Company to the Skyline Drive-In in Blacktown.
Explore our picks for the best WorldPride events this massive program has to offer and get ready for a jam-packed festival.
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Event
Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert
Friday, February 24, 2023
The Domain, Sydney
WorldPride is coming to the Southern Hemisphere for the first time — and who else but Kylie Minogue could open it?
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Event
Mardi Gras Parade 2023
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Oxford Street and surrounding areas, Darlinghurst
Australia's biggest LGBTQIA+ celebration returns to Oxford Street for a special WorldPride edition.
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Event
Domain Dance Party
Sunday, February 26, 2023
The Domain, Sydney
Kelly Rowland headlines this mid-fest Sydney WorldPride party alongside a lineup of DJs curated by DJ Dan Slater.
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Event
Rainbow Republic: Sydney WorldPride Closing Concert
Sunday, March 5, 2023
The Domain, Sydney
Farewell Sydney WorldPride in The Domain with Kim Petras, MUNA, G Flip, Keiynan Lonsdale, Peach PRC, Alter Boy, BVT and Vetta Borne.
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Event
Mardi Gras Fair Day 2023
Sunday, February 19, 2023
Victoria Park, Camperdown
Dance your way into Sydney WorldPride at this community picnic in the park.
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Event
Day For Night: The Pleasure Arc
Saturday, February 18 - Sunday, February 19, 2023
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
This 24-hour party filled with showstopping queer performances is taking over Carriageworks.
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Event
Marri Madung Butbut
Thursday, February 23 - Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
This six-day WorldPride arts program is celebrating LGBTQIA+ First Nations culture and communities.
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Event
Queer Art After Hours 2023
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney
Celebrate the beauty of queer artistry and put the art in 'party' at this free after-dark WorldPride event at the Art Gallery of NSW.
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Event
All The Sex I've Ever Had — The Darlinghurst Production Company and Mammalian Diving
Tuesday, February 21 and Sunday, February 26, 2023
Eternity Playhouse Theatre, Darlinghurst
Your local sex-pert may be closer — and older — than you think.
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Event
Choir Boy — Riverside's National Theatre of Parramatta
Tuesday, February 14 - Saturday, March 11, 2023
Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
This Tony-winning play from the writer of 'Moonlight' is finally hitting Australia.
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Event
Dylan Mooney: Still Thriving
Wednesday, February 22 - Saturday, March 25, 2023
N.Smith Gallery, Paddington
This free exhibition explores queer identity and love from a First Nations perspective by the celebrated young artist.
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Event
Don't Cha Wish You Yum Cha?
Friday, February 24 - Sunday, February 26, 2023
The Red Rattler, Marrickville
This celebration of queer Asian creativity is bringing blockbuster performances and a plant-based feast to The Red Rattler.
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Event
Queer Mart: A Darlo Makers Market
Sunday, February 26, 2023
Palmer Street, Darlinghurst
This makers market will showcase handmade goods from a talented crew of queer creatives.
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Event
Shady Pines Saloon Presents: Browneye's
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 and Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Shady Pines Saloon, Darlinghurst
Don your best cowboy hat and unearth your leather chaps and head to Shady Pines for a rootin'-tootin' WorldPride party.
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Event
The Abercrombie WorldPride Program
Friday, February 17 - Sunday, March 5, 2023
The Abercrombie, Sydney
The Abercrombie has pulled together a massive three-week program of all-inclusive community-led dance parties for WorldPride.
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Event
Mardi Gras Film Festival 2023
Wednesday, February 15 - Thursday, March 2, 2023
Select cinemas in Sydney, Various locations
Celebrating the latest and greatest in LGBTQIA+-focused cinema, this year's MGFF turns 30 with 166 films on its lineup.
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Event
Mardi Gras Film Festival Online 2023
Wednesday, February 15 - Thursday, March 2, 2023
Online
Stream along with this year's 30th-anniversary MGFF at home, with 21 movies screening digitally nationwide.
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Event
Sydney WorldPride with Archie Rose
Thursday, February 16 - Sunday, March 5, 2023
Various Sydney venues, Sydney
Enjoy specialist Archie Rose cocktails at drag brunch and bingo in Bondi, or 245 metres above ground at Bar 83 with tunes from House of Mince.
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Event
The Huxleys: Bloodlines
Saturday, January 14 - Sunday, March 5, 2023
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
This new exhibition from The Huxleys is dedicated to the legendary queer artists lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
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Event
Sydney WorldPride with Absolut Vodka
Friday, February 17 - Sunday, March 5, 2023
Various Sydney venues, Sydney
Rainbow bus tours, queer history museums and all the vodka cocktails you can handle are coming in hot (and cold) for Sydney WorldPride.
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Event
Paul Yore: WORD MADE FLESH
Thursday, January 5 - Sunday, February 26, 2023
Carriageworks, Eveleigh
Paul Yore imagines a colourful queer alternative reality in this immersive exhibition.
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Event
Jurassic Lounge: Pride Edition
Saturday, February 18, 2023
Australian Museum, Darlinghurst
The iconic after-dark extravaganza returns for one night only during Sydney WorldPride, and this time it's more fabulous than ever.
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Event
Hubris & Humiliation — Sydney Theatre Company
Friday, January 20 - Saturday, March 4, 2023
Wharf 1 Theatre, Wharf 4/5, Dawes Point
The world of Jane Austen meets Sydney's gay scene in what deserves to be the feel-good hit of the summer — and a future classic of contemporary Australian theatre.
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Event
Uber Pride Ride
Friday, February 17, 2023, Saturday, February 18, 2023, Sunday, February 19, 2023 and Friday, February 24, 2023
Various locations across Sydney
Uber is running a free hop-on-hop-off party bus for Sydney WorldPride hosted by drag queen stars.
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Event
Solotel x Sydney WorldPride
Friday, February 17 - Sunday, March 5, 2023
Various Sydney venues, Sydney
In case you're not sure what to do this Sydney WorldPride, consider one of the 100+ events being held at Solotel venues across town.