The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival returns from 13 February to 1 March 2026, promising another unforgettable season of pride, celebration and protest. At the heart of the Festival is the new theme, ECSTATICA, a rallying call to gather, connect, and transform individual joy into a powerful collective movement.
Now in its 48th year, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras remains one of the world’s most iconic LGBTQIA+ festivals and a stage for visibility, inclusion and radical self-expression. ECSTATICA speaks to the collective spirit that emerges when individuals connect across generations, cultures and identities, turning personal joy into a powerful communal force.
“For almost half a century, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has been a place where our communities gather, celebrate, and be seen,” said Co-Chairs Kathy Pavlich and Mits Delisle. “ECSTATICA carries that legacy forward by reminding us that joy is not only a feeling, but also an act of resistance and renewal. We look forward to seeing our communities bring this theme to life through floats, performances, and moments that capture both our history and our future as we march towards the 50th anniversary in 2028!”
“ECSTATICA is what happens when you find your people, community and family,” said Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Interim CEO, Jesse Matheson. “In 2026, we’re inviting everyone to shape their Parade floats, events, and gatherings around this shared frequency. By tying into the theme, these community creations become part of a bigger story: a living, breathing manifestation of our community’s power, resilience, and joy.”
ECSTATICA is what happens when you find your people.
ECSTATICA can be seen. And heard. And touched. And tasted.
ECSTATICA is a movement.
It’s all of us, together. Feeling joy in all its power. So come join us. And come feel it.
Rob is the founder of GTG. Launching the GTG-Sydney brand in 1995, it has gone from a VHS tourist guide for Sydney to a global phenomenon, partnering with Pride events and special events and charities all over the world, raising millions of dollars for the LGBTQIA+ communities and showcasing our big gay world to anyone who wants to join in the fun.
Rob is a trained marketer and journalist. An Emmy award winner, a NIDA-trained TV Presenter who has been on digital channels, cable and terrestrial broadcast television globally as a presenter, producer and creative.
He is currently editor-in-chief and producer of GTG and the co-host of The Unfashionably Late Podcast.