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Heading to the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade Tomorrow? Essential Tips for a Spectacular Night!

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Tens of thousands will flock to the streets across the heart of Sydney tomorrow night to celebrate the 48th annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Partygoers from across the nation will rush to the city to watch more than 9000 marchers and 170 floats take to the street in the iconic parade.

Spanning from February 13 to March 1, the festival embraces the theme “Ecstatica” for this year’s celebration.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2025
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade in full force. (Getty)
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2025, Jesse Matheson, Kathy Pavlich, Jarrod Lomas, Stonewall Hotel
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Interim CEO Jesse Matheson at the 2026 Festival Launch. (Nine)
“Ecstatica is about euphoria as resistance, a reminder that our collective queer joy is on a break from the battle,” Mardi Gras interim chief executive Jesse Matheson told 9news.com.au at the launch in November last year.

This theme marries the festival’s roots in protest and visibility with a vibrant expression of joy.

So, what should attendees anticipate for tomorrow evening?

The centerpiece parade begins at 7:30 PM, winding its way along Oxford Street, Flinders Street, and Anzac Parade, and passing the iconic Taylor Square “Glitter Club” viewing area. The festivities are expected to conclude by 10:30 PM.

Though the event is free and open to all, spectators can purchase tickets for additional perks, such as prime parade views and access to exclusive party locations for the night.

While the event is free and unticketed for spectators, some tickets can be bought to secure extra benefits such as prime viewing of the parade and a reservation at a party spot for the night.

Celebrations are expected to go well into the night after the parade.

The state government has extended business hours for shops, bars, clubs, restaurants, breweries and live music venues in Sydney, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Potts Point, Paddington, Camperdown, Newtown and Erskineville until midnight this weekend.

The Sunday Laneway party is set to wrap up the marathon of festivities, with music acts starting at 2pm and running until 1am, transforming the Beresford and Hill Street into a street celebration to close out the parade.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade
Participants move along Oxford Street during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade last year. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade
Participants move along Oxford Street during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on March 01, 2025 in Sydney (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)

What will the weather be like?

Unfortunately, weather conditions this weekend are not looking great, however, that will not deter revellers.

Showers are expected in the early morning, before clearing up by the early afternoon.

Wet weather is expected to return at about 8pm, shortly after the start of the parade, and the damp conditions are expected to persist all night and into the following morning.

Luckily, conditions will clear up at 5pm on Sunday, not long after the start of the street party on Hill Street. 

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival 2025.
This is the first time the iconic festival has had around-the-clock metro and rail services running to get partygoers home safely. (Dion Georgopoulos / The Sydney Morning Herald)
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 2025
Crowds at the 2025 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras event. (Supplied)

Road closures and public transport

Major roads across Sydney’s CBD extending to Moore Park will be shut from 4pm on Saturday and will not reopen until 2am on Sunday.

Motorists are being urged to avoid unnecessary travel to the city and instead utilise the metro and train services that are set to run for 24 hours.

This is the first time the iconic festival has had around-the-clock metro and rail services running to get partygoers home safely.

NSW Transport is advising people to take advantage of the rare opportunity.
”Leave the car at home,” Transport for NSW Coordinator-General Howard Collins said.

“Check signs carefully because your vehicle will be towed.”

Light rail services will also run for 24 hours on the L1 Dulwich Hill, L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines.

Light rails will arrive every 15 to 20 minutes until normal services resume on Sunday morning.

On Sunday, bus routes 370 and 343 will also run around-the-clock with added hourly services.

About 300 extra bus services are also set to run to the city from Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and North Shore suburbs throughout the afternoon, along with NightRide bus services.

Standard ticketing still applies, however, with commuters being reminded to tap on and off when using public transport this weekend.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival 2025.
In 1980, a post-parade party was introduced.  (Dion Georgopoulos / The Sydney Morning Herald)

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