Theme has been announced for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival 2025

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival will return from 14 February – 2 March 2025, ready to bedazzle Sydney in a celebration of pride and diversity. The theme this year is an easy one to remember; in fact, one we should all remember: ‘Free To Be’.

Sydney Mardi Gras continues to stand strong as a pillar of strength and unity and a monument for creativity and self-expression within LGBTQIA+ communities, and this year the festival promises to bring unforgettable moments, radiant performances, and vibrant events that honour the past, celebrate the present, and inspire a future of inclusivity and acceptance.

“Free To Be is a manifesto of what our community has desired and fought for dozens of decades, and the reason why we will continue to be here, fighting, celebrating and being fiercely visible for the generations to come,” said Gil Beckwith, CEO of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. “Our theme is about making a statement to embrace and rejoice in our unique individuality as well as our collective identity. It is about the bravery to rise for each other in the darkest of times and protect the progress we’ve made, using it as a springboard toward the progress we deserve.”

The full Festival calendar and ticket sales will be revealed later this year but for now we can tell you about the:

• Mardi Gras Parade: Applications to march in the 2025 Parade are now open, with up to 200 floats anticipated to take the streets. Eligible groups can apply as part of the application process.
• Fair Day: Applications to host a stall at Fair Day 2025 are also now open, with limited spaces available following over 90% of 2024 stallholders rolling over to 2025.
• Volunteer: Applications to volunteer at the 2025 Festival open in September 2024.
• Mardi Gras+: Entries to host your event as part of the open-access Festival program ‘Mardi Gras+’ open today.

For more information visit www.mardigras.org.au.

Antonino Tati