Ecstatica Takes Centre Stage

Fair Day returns to Victoria Park for 2026—bigger, bolder, and bursting with community pride. It’s the day Sydney stops, gathers, and glows together in full colour: a celebration of culture, community, and creativity at the beating heart of Mardi Gras.

Start your day at the First Nations Circle, where a powerful Smoking Ceremony and the mesmerising Buuja Buuja Butterfly Dancers honour Country and set the spirit for the day. Then follow the sounds of laughter to Doggywood—the oldest and most adored Fair Day tradition—where pups strut, preen, and paw their way through the campest canine pageant in the country.

Wander further and you’ll find Trans Camp, returning for its second year—a proudly trans-run zone filled with community organisations, market stalls, and creatives turning visibility into celebration. Nearby, the Karaoke Cave: Disco Divas! is back by popular demand, serving decades of pride anthems and unapologetic vocal chaos.

On the main stage, the Drag King Games bring back their mix of muscle, mischief, and mayhem—quickly becoming a Fair Day legend. And as the sun dips low, the Queer Fashion Runway takes over, showcasing the brilliance of local designers redefining queer style for the next generation.

From first light to golden hour, Fair Day 2026 is a living portrait of our community—playful, powerful, and free. This is where Mardi Gras truly begins: in the open air, surrounded by love, and alive with Ecstatica energy.

Please note: due to the uneven terrain of some parts of Victoria Park, some areas may not be accessible to all patrons.

PICNICS, POP AND PRIDE: FAIR DAY RETURNS FOR 2026
Janice Robinson, Blusher and Courtney Act headline Sydney’s biggest
all-ages LGBTQIA+ celebration

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day returns to Victoria Park on Sunday 15 February 2026, bringing together music, performance, community and pure daytime euphoria as the Festival’s largest free, all-ages event under the 2026 theme ECSTATICA.

Music Line-up

Leading the celebrations is international house music icon Janice Robinson of Livin’ Joy (Miami, USA), making her Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras debut with an exclusive Fair Day performance. A defining voice of 90s house, Robinson will deliver sun-soaked dancefloor energy with iconic anthems including Dreamer, Don’t Stop Moving and There Must Be Love featuring David Morales, tracks woven deep into queer dance culture and collective joy.

“I am super excited to be coming to Australia to perform for Mardi Gras,” said Robinson. “I am a dreamer who continues to live her dreams, and Australia is a country I love deeply. This moment means more to me than words can express.”

Joining Robinson is Blusher (VIC), one of Australia’s most exciting pop acts to watch, arriving fresh from supporting Rebecca Black and performing at Laneway Festival the week prior. They are joined by genre-blurring pop artist Go-Jo, bringing bold, feel-good energy, and drag icon Courtney Act delivering unmistakable star power and Mardi Gras flair.

Also appearing across the day are dance music icon Zoe Badwi (VIC) serving up classic house vocals, DJ James Alexandr taking the stage with Nada Leigh for a club-ready set, Kath Ebbs bringing queer country tunes for a boot-stomping round of line dancing, and IVANA (VIC) in her Mardi Gras debut live show, will electrify the Main Stage with her euro-dance hits including ‘Liar Liar‘, ‘Need Your Love‘ and ‘Burning’.

Beyond the Main Stage, international acts Mila Jam (Los Angeles, USA) and Arisce (New York City, USA) join local stars Felicia Foxx, Aunty Tamara, Atomic Kiss, Jackel Doll, Tiddalicious, DJ Nate and more across Fair Day stages and activations, rounding up a full day of pop, dance, drag and party from first light through to golden hour.

Across the Park

Fair Day transforms Victoria Park into a vibrant playground of culture, creativity and connection. The day begins at the First Nations Circle with a Smoking Ceremony and performances by the Buuja Buuja Butterfly Dancers, honouring Country and grounding the celebrations.

Beloved Fair Day favourites return, including Doggywood, the country’s most adored canine pageant, Trans Camp, back for its second year as a proudly trans-run community zone, Karaoke Cave: Disco and Divas hosted by Vybe, serving unapologetic sing-along chaos and the Drag King Games with their signature mix of muscle, mischief and mayhem.

Also strutting back on stage is the Queer Fashion Runway, showcasing works from 10 local designers in a fast, fabulous 50-minute show. EOIs are open until Friday, 30 January 2026 via fairday@mardigrasarts.org.au

More than 200 community stalls, food trucks, pop-up bars and picnic spots fill the park, creating a relaxed, joy-fuelled day of wandering, grazing and gathering with friends, family and chosen family.