- Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2026 is set to launch its star-studded lineup on October 30.
- The theme is ECSTATICA – which captures, according to the organisers, a surge of joy.
- It will run from February 13 to March 1, 2026.
Sydney is about to shimmer even brighter. The city’s most dazzling festival — the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2026 — has officially set the mood for 2026, unveiling a theme that sounds like a spell, feels like a rhythm, and invites everyone to dance in technicolour: ECSTATICA.
Yes, say it out loud — it buzzes like champagne bubbles, it twirls like a disco ball. According to organisers, ECSTATICA captures the euphoria that happens when you find your people — that surge of joy, belonging, and collective heartbeat that Mardi Gras has been radiating for nearly half a century.
From February 13 to March 1, 2026, Sydney will transform into a carnival of connection, culminating in the world-famous Mardi Gras Parade on 28 February and the beloved Fair Day on 15 February. Parade float applications and Fair Day stall registrations are open now, with entries closing 21 October — so dust off the sequins and charge up the glue gun, darlings!
A Festival of Joy (and Resistance)
The Mardi Gras team describes ECSTATICA as more than a mood; it’s a movement. Co-chairs Kathy Pavlich and Mits Delisle put it beautifully: “Joy is not only a feeling, but an act of resistance and renewal.”
In a world that can still be unkind to difference, the idea of collective ecstasy feels powerfully defiant. Expect to see it expressed in floats that gleam like galaxies, drag queens dressed as daydreams, and dancers turning joy into choreography. The organisers are calling for entries that make ECSTATICA come alive — as art, activism and unfiltered fabulousness.
And yes, the lineup is coming — but not quite yet. The full program of artists, performers, parties and pop-up events will be revealed on 30 October, and if history’s any guide, it’ll be an eclectic explosion of queer brilliance.
There’s an App for That (and it glitters)
In another first, Mardi Gras has unveiled a brand-new official app — and it’s about to become your festival bestie. Think of it as your digital parade marshal: guiding you through events, safety info, and secret glitter pockets of Sydney.
Free to download now on iOS and Android, the app offers detailed event listings (from signature spectacles to community-run happenings), offline maps, “near me” filters, and updates on street closures and public transport.
But here’s where it really shines — it’s smart, safe and inclusive. There’s a Safety Circle for trusted contacts, direct emergency access, a built-in torch, and a lost-and-found hub. Accessibility features include dyslexia-friendly fonts, adjustable text sizes, high-contrast mode, and reduced motion settings.
Best of all, the app champions queer-friendly spaces year-round. You can browse LGBTQIA+ and ally-owned venues across Oxford Street, Surry Hills, Newtown and beyond — complete with exclusive offers and events.
CEO Jesse Matheson summed it up perfectly: “The app meets people where they already are — in the palm of their hands.”
A Celebration That Never Sleeps
Mardi Gras has always been about more than a parade. It’s a movement, a love letter, a lifeline. And 2026 promises to build on that legacy — turning Sydney into a city-sized stage for self-expression, resilience and rainbow-fuelled joy.
The Mardi Gras+ program, which opens community events to the official calendar, is back and bigger than ever. To make sure the Festival remains as inclusive as it is iconic, fees are being waived for First Nations, transgender, and gender-diverse producers.
Organisers are urging participants to “create from the heart” and explore what ecstasy means — from the quiet, personal kind to the wild, collective surge of Pride night on Oxford Street.
Countdown to Glitter
If you’re a local, now’s the time to start planning your itinerary (and your outfit). If you’re travelling in, book early — hotels fill faster than a drag queen’s wig closet on parade day.
And of course, keep your eyes glued for that grand lineup announcement. Expect DJs that turn your heart rate into a beat, performers that defy gravity, and art that makes you believe in glitter as a renewable energy source.
Because when Sydney does ECSTATICA, it doesn’t whisper. It sings.
