Sydney’s LGBTQ+ community to shine in parade featuring 160 floats of Pride and protest

Sydney is gearing up for one of its most vibrant nights of the year as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade returns on Saturday, 28 February, featuring more than 10,000 marchers and over 160 floats set to illuminate the city with colour, pride and unapologetic queer joy. 

The parade will once again weave its way along Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Moore Park Road, continuing a legacy that stretches back to 1978. As always, the event will be led by the iconic Dykes on Bikes, followed by First Nations marchers and the original 78ers, whose activism laid the foundation for today’s celebrations. The route and leadership remain central to honouring the community’s history while showcasing the breadth and diversity of LGBTQ+ life in Sydney. 

This year’s theme, ECSTATICA, captures the shared euphoria and emotional release created when queer communities gather in public space. The theme underlines the idea that joy itself can be a form of resistance. Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Jesse Matheson described the parade as the festival’s defining moment, where “thousands of queer lives move through the city together, visible, connected and completely unapologetic.” Matheson emphasised that ECSTATICA becomes real in the collective energy of people reclaiming public streets through celebration and solidarity.

The NSW Government has reaffirmed its support for the event, with Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper calling Mardi Gras “the pride of our major events calendar” and highlighting its significant cultural and economic contribution to Sydney. Each year, the parade draws tens of thousands of visitors into the city, supporting local businesses while reinforcing Sydney’s global reputation as a centre of LGBTQ+ culture. Kamper praised the parade as a powerful expression of inclusion, creativity and community that continues to shape Sydney’s cultural vibrancy. 

Float designs remain at the heart of the spectacle, offering a rich tapestry of activism, creativity and community storytelling. Among the standout entries announced for 2026 is Yamurrah: Mother Earth; YOU Better Werk, a float centred on Black queer voices and exploring the intersections of pride, protest, Country and climate responsibility.

Another key float, Trans Pride Australia: Trans Joy – A Decade of Light, marks ten years of trans representation in the parade and reflects on the journey from struggle to visibility, celebrating the resilience and strength of the trans community. Fruits from Brazil: The Mouse’s Rapture brings political allegory to the streets with a creative exploration of resistance against the rise of far‑right extremism. Each float aims to capture both the celebratory and political essence of Mardi Gras, blending artistic expression with messages of solidarity and strength. 

This year’s parade sits at the heart of the broader Mardi Gras Festival, running from 13 February - 1 March 2026, which features more than 120 community events including theatre, film, music, dance parties and cultural programmes across the city. The festival continues to be a highlight of Sydney’s summer calendar and further amplifies the message of ECSTATICA, shaping spaces where LGBTQ+ people and allies can gather, celebrate and connect.