Since the year 2000, WorldPride has been a global celebration of LGBTQ+ Pride around the world. It takes place every two years and is hosted in different locations around the world. The festival is an opportunity to come together in celebration of the awareness and visibility of global LGBTQ+ issues and joy.
From February 17th to March 5th, 2023, WorldPride finds its home in Sydney, Australia, the first city in the southern hemisphere to be chosen to host. This year they’re combining Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras with the festival.
Full of events ranging from art exhibitions to dance parties to the Human Rights Conference, WorldPride Sydney is full of opportunities to celebrate and connect with one’s pride. Below are just some of the wonderful events going on during this lively festival.
Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert
Friday, February 24th, Domain Open 3 PM – 11 PM, Concert 7 PM – 9 PM
Kick off WorldPride with an amazing night of music on February 24th at the Live and Proud event. Hosted by Casey Donovan and Courtney Act, this concert features the amazing musicians, Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX, and Jessica Mauboy. The official concert starts at 7 PM, but with tickets, you can enter The Domain starting at 3 PM, and enjoy the food and drink selection as well as pre-show entertainment. You won’t want to miss this night of joy and fun!
Braving Time: Queer Art in Contemporary Australia
Friday, February 3rd – Saturday, March 18th
Curated by Richard Perram, the artists in this exhibition reflect a myriad of voices in the LGBTQ+ community. Their works explore queerness in a variety of ways in historical and contemporary art. The struggles, as well as the triumphs of Australia’s LGBTQ+ communities, are acknowledged throughout the exhibition, focusing on the intersectionality of queerness and hope of change and joy throughout the community.
Unravelling Queerly
Tuesday, February 7th – Wednesday, March 22nd
Textile and fibrecraft are the highlighted medium in this exhibition. Weaving, crocheting, and other such practices allow artists to share an intercultural and intersectional conversation on queerness.
Dylan Mooney: Still Here and Thriving
Wednesday, February 8th – Saturday, March 4th
Dylan Mooney depicts his experience as a queer Indigenous man through five portraits. Focusing on love in queer communities, Mooney’s work encourages discussion of works created by people from groups that are often underrepresented.
Rainbow Golf Tournament
Friday, February 17th – Saturday, February 18th
This two-day golfing tournament, organized by Sydney Rainbow Golfers, is open to people of all experience levels. There will be men’s, women’s, and non-binary tee selections, and both individuals and groups are encouraged to compete. There will be accommodations available to those who need them. Prizes and fun await you in the Rainbow Golf Tournament Event!
Sydney Roller Derby Presents: Pride Fight 2023
Friday, February 17th, 5 PM – 10 PM
Teams Butch and Femme will face off in this fun event that brings together players from around Australia. The event is a continuation of the Sydney Roller Derby League’s celebration of queer skaters. The two main bouts are in the evening, but there are also stalls and displays from the community in the afternoon. This event is a great time for skaters and spectators!
Sydney WorldPride Martial Arts Championships
Saturday, February 18th – Thursday, February 23rd
The Pride Martial Arts Championship encourages martial arts excellence as well as the cultivation of safety and self-defense abilities. The tournament includes Non-Contact sparring, self-defense categories, classes, and more. There will be a free Self Defense Workshop on Thursday, February 23rd.
Pride Amplified
Along with art and sports, there are numerous other prideful events occurring throughout the festival, including a drag king night titled Club King: Legends Edition, a fun five-course meal paired with five gins event known as Pride Gin Dinner, and a fun dance the night away event to celebrate Mardi Gras season and WorldPride, Fairground.
But what’s pride without a march? Marches are an important way to emphasize the achievements that have helped the LGBTQ+ community, as well as our fight for future changes. Read on to hear more about the march at WorldPride Sydney.
Pride March
Sunday, March 5th, 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM
This walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge (north to south) celebrates what has been accomplished for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as acknowledges the work that still needs to be done. The march for equality also celebrates the 5th anniversary of marriage equality in Australia, the 45th anniversary of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and the 50th anniversary of the first Australian Gay Pride Week. Participation in the march is based on a lottery ballot system, with entries being accepted from 10 AM AEDT on Friday, December 9th until 11 PM AEDT on Sunday, January 8th. It’s a fantastic time to connect with the community and make your voice heard.
Rainbow Republic
Sunday, March 5th, 3 PM – 10 PM
The official closing event of WorldPride Sydney is full of performances, music, and DJs! Featuring some of your favorites, including MUNA, G Flip, Keiyanan Lonsdale, Peach PRC, and more, this is an event that’ll let you dance your queer heart out while filling it with joy and celebration! You won’t want to miss it.
Pride events are always a great time to come together and appreciate the progress that has been made, celebrate community, and fight for future progress. Will you be at WorldPride? We hope to see you there. If not, you can always check if there are any pride events happening in a city near you!
