Australia’s most vibrant and inclusive celebration, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, is set to return from 16 February to 3 March 2024 with a spectacular program. The festival will charge into our future with its biggest and boldest program yet, featuring over 100 electrifying community events, dance parties, and performances.
The 2024 festival aims to connect the past, present, and future, celebrating 45 years of Sydney Mardi Gras history, while illuminating the path to a dazzling future. The festival will echo the voices of our communities, champion progress, and instigate impactful change.
The theme for 2024, ’Our Future,’ is brought to life through a creative campaign that reimagines tarot cards as celebrations of local LGBTQIA+ trailblazers, from HIV+ campaigners to trans and gender-diverse icons. The campaign is a testament to an unwavering commitment to representation and a call to imagine a bright future for all.
A few new and major events of 2024 include the Bondi Beach Party, the Ultra Violet party for LGBTQIA+ women, Festival First Light, a city-wide Welcome to Country ceremony, Hot Trans Summer, a total trans and gender-diverse takeover of Glass Island, and many more.
Sydney Mardi Gras celebrates not only the LGBTQIA+ community but the diversity and vibrancy that Sydney represents as Australia’s only truly global city. Visitors can also explore renowned galleries, museums and theatres, and the city’s thriving arts, music, and culture scene.
Tickets for the 2024 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras go on sale at 10am on Monday 20 November. Visit www.mardigras.org.au to browse all the events. The festival is proudly supported by the City of Sydney, and the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
This year’s program features a range of new and major events:
- Bondi Beach Party, a grand beachside celebration that captured hearts at Sydney WorldPride returns. Bringing together 15,000 revellers as the iconic Bondi Beach is the backdrop to international DJs and performances for that distinct Sydney Mardi Gras flair.
- Ultra Violet,another WorldPride favourite, this invigorating day-to-night party is tailored for LGBTQIA+ women, set within the artistic walls of the National Art School, and curated by luminaries Sveta Gilerman and Jess Hill;
- Festival First Light, a city-wide Welcome to Country ceremony led by Elders from across the Sydney Basin;
- Hot Trans Summer, a total trans and gender-diverse takeover of floating luxury venue Glass Island. It is set to be a celebration dedicated to the trans and gender diverse communities, boasting an all-trans line up.
- Queer Futures, a series of talks and ideas, with conversations ranging from sport to the arts, politics and education.
- Diamond Dance, presented by Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Pollys Club, and Dykes on Bikes, is a party celebrating Pollys Club’s 60th year through nostalgic rhythms and standout acts.
- Oxtravaganza and Darlo Big Drag Brunch, presented by the Darlinghurst Business Partnership, is an eclectic two-week fringe festival pulsating with nightly performances, art showcases, a dedicated family zone and more. Also returning from 2023 is Darlo Big Drag Brunch, where the glittering Oxford Street and surrounds will be taken over by simultaneous Drag Brunches to kick off the Bondi Beach Party day.
- Marks Park Dawn Sunrise Service of Reflection, in collaboration with the Bronte Surf Club, ACON and Waverley Council is a poignant dawn service to remember and honour victims of homophobic and transphobic violence in the 1970’s and 1990’s.
- & JULIET, presented by Michael Cassel Group in association with MTM/LeyLine, a one-night-only Mardi Gras special performance of the smash hit musical starring Lorinda May Merrypor, Rob Mills, Casey Donovan and Amy Lehpamer.