Last night, Saturday 1 March 2025, Sydney did what it does best—turned the volume up, took over the streets, and celebrated every shade of the rainbow. The 47th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade transformed Oxford Street, Flinders Street, and Anzac Parade into a dazzling display of community, resilience, and unapologetic self-expression.
With an estimated 200,000 spectators cheering from the sidelines, more than 10,000 marchers across 180 floats took to the streets, serving up sequins, solidarity, and serious energy in a powerful display of LGBTQIA+ pride and progress. Under this year’s theme, FREE TO BE, the Parade was both a celebration of self-expression and a reminder that while much has been achieved, the fight for equality continues.
Leading the Parade, Dykes on Bikes roared down Oxford Street, setting the stage for a night of pride and protest. They were followed by the First Nations and 78ers floats, honouring the movement’s history and ongoing fight for equality, alongside a vibrant mix of creative and satirical floats that brought powerful messages and spectacular visuals to life.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith said, “Mardi Gras is a celebration, a protest, and a love letter to our community all at once. The 2025 festival embodied ‘FREE TO BE’—a statement that we are here, we are proud, and we are shaping the future with every step we take.”
As the last shimmering float made its way to the end of the Parade route, thousands of revellers kept the Mardi Gras spirit alive at The Party, which transformed multiple venues in Moore Park into an electrifying celebration until 6am.
The night featured an incredible line-up of artists, including international headliners Honey Dijon (US), Romy (UK), and HAYLA (UK). But the ultimate show-stopping moment came when sensational DJ and producer LELAND (US) ‘surprised’ the crowd by bringing out Aussie pop icon Troye Sivan, sending the energy through the roof in a moment that will go down in Mardi Gras history, even though the surprised was ruined for many party goers by social media accounts filming rehearsals the day before during sound check.
The organisation have already locked in dates for the 48th LGBTQIA+ celebration down under to return next year – with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras making its glittering returns 13 February – 1 March 2026. So mark it in your travel calendars and keep your eyes peeled on Guidetogay.com for all the updates.
Photos: Georgia Jane Griffiths / SGLMG
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.