10 Reasons to Go to Sydney WorldPride 2023

Dec. 07 2022

by Lachlan

WorldPride is going Down Under in 2023, and we cannot wait. This will be WorldPride’s first foray in the Southern Hemisphere, and we’re excited about everything Sydney has planned for the event’s 8th edition. Running from February 15 to March 5, Sydney WorldPride will coincide with the city’s annual Mardi Gras, meaning there’ll be double the dancing, double the pride, and double the fun! While we have countless reasons why you should be penciling in your place at Sydney WorldPride 2023, we’ve compiled 10 reasons in case you need that extra push to attend.   

1) Cross the harbor bridge with pride 

The Sydney Harbor Bridge is one of the most recognizable icons of Australia, if not the world. Combine this with a global pride march and you’ve got a once-in-a-lifetime experience - and one you should be at! Taking place on Sunday March 5 from 7am to 10am, LGBTQ+ people from all corners of the globe will convene on Sydney Harbor Bridge, and march across it, hand-in-hand with solidarity and pride. The significant moment will be a global display of unity and love, and you’d be mad not to miss it.   

2) See Kylie Minogue live

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Love her or adore her, Australia’s pop princess is an international LGBTQ+ icon whose fame has come about through iconic club anthems including Can’t Get You Outta My Head, Magic, All the Lovers and more. Catch Kylie live at Sydney WorldPride’s official opening party, Live and Loud, which will kick off in Sydney’s Domain Park on February 24 from 7pm to 9pm. Hosted by local entertainers Courtney Act and Casey Donovan, the concert will be the perfect way to get into the WorldPride groove - and you’ll see Kylie live, enough said.  

3) Dance for 7 hours at Rainbow Republic 

Every Pride is about celebrating, and nothing quite beats celebrating than dancing with loved ones and new friends in solidarity. If you want to conclude the WorldPride 2023 festivities with a bang, lock in a spot at Rainbow Republic - the official closing party. For 7 hours, enjoy DJs, live entertainment, dancing and more, for a queer megamix of international and local acts. Rainbow Republic will be pumping the Domain Park, and while tickets come in at $129, we can assure you it’ll be worth it. It’s also the last salute to Sydney WorldPride 2023, so how could you say no? You can purchase your ticket via the offical Sydney WorldPride 2023 website.  

4) Explore the city’s Pride Villages 

Sydney is very LGBTQ+ friendly as a whole, but during WorldPride 2023, things will reach new heights. For 10 days from February 24, dedicated Pride Villages will be set up to celebrate and recognize the LGBTQ+ community. Parts of Crown Street and Riley Street in Surrey Hills will be sectioned off to create pedestrianized villages where you can enjoy everything from performances, dining options, and information stalls on relevant LGBTQ+ topics. Fun for everyone, why not make a day out of it and settle in with some great food and live entertainment?   

5) Flaunt your summer bod at IVY’s Paradiso Pool Party

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One of the great aspects of Sydney WorldPride 2023 is that you’ll be traveling into summer. If you’re from the Northern Hemisphere and have disliked covering up your summer bod for another year, you’ll have the chance to flaunt it once again in Sydney, at IVY’s Paradiso Pool Party. Each year during Mardi Gras, the iconic hotel hosts its popular rooftop pool party, where loads of LGBTQ+ folk come to play in the water. Enjoy beats from some of the county’s best DJs and experience your pride on a Sydney rooftop - perfection. 

6) Attend the Mardi Gras parade 

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Mardi Gras is one of Australia’s most iconic celebrations, and is the country’s largest Pride event. Taking place every year, Mardi Gras bathes Sydney in rainbow light, offering a full program of parties, cultural events, and one epic parade - and attending it in 2023 is a must!  Taking place on February 25 from 6pm, the Mardi Gras Parade will work its way down Oxford Street and surrounding streets in one giant celebration of floats, music, and pride. This will be the biggest event of Sydney WorldPride, welcoming 12,500 marchers and over 200 floats. It will also be its first time returning to Oxford Street since 2020, and we cannot wait!  

7) Explore beautiful Sydney 

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Sure Sydney WorldPride 2023 is going to steal the show, but Sydney is a fab LGBTQ+ destination in its own right. Aside from its world-famous harbor and opera house, the city is home to Australia’s largest LGBTQ+ community. Most LGBTQ+ life happens around Oxford Street, however, parts of the city’s inner west including Newtown are beginning to attract a more alternative LGBTQ+ crowd. Connect with LGBTQ+ locals via Weere, and enjoy everything Sydney has to offer, including its great gay beaches and international cuisine.

8) Go inland to the Blue Mountains

If you’re looking to catch up on a little downtime after all the festivities of Sydney WorldPride 2023, pencil in a weekend to the dreamy Blue Mountains. 50 kilometers inland from Sydney, the picturesque mountain range region offers spectacular landscapes, hiking trails, and great restaurants serving first-class local food. Book gorgeous LGBTQ+ accommodation with misterb&b, and give yourself a change of pace from Sydney WorldPride 2023 with a stay here. The region is seriously insta-worthy!  

9) Make a pitstop down in Melbourne

Melbourne and Sydney are Australia’s two largest cities, and locals from each will tell you there’s a rivalry over which reigns top. Call us diplomatic, but we love both. If you’re making the trip to Australia, a visit to Melbourne should absolutely be on your itinerary - and even for its food alone! Melbourne has steadfastly built a reputation for being one of the globe’s most culinary cities, and we can see why, restaurants are everywhere! Enjoy tapas downtown, pizza in Brunswick, cocktails in South Yarra, the options are endless. Melbourne is also pretty LGBTQ+ friendly, particularly in Collingwood and Prahran. Connect with LGBTQ+ locals through Weere and have a night on the town.  

10) Stay with a Sydney misterb&b host 

Anyone visiting Australia knows that two weeks should be a minimum stay - it’s such a long way after all. So if you’re spending all that time Down Under, why not settle into the city like an LGBTQ+ local and lock in a stay with a Sydney-based misterb&b host? Connect with LGBTQ+ locals, get insider tips on the city’s LGBTQ+ scene, and make new friends through Weere while you’re there. After all, an experience is all the better when shared, and Sydney WorldPride 2023 is absolutely an experience to be shared with people just like you.

For more info on Sydney WorldPride 2023, including some key events, the history of WorldPride, and the special Qantas WorldPride Flight, check out our official Sydney WorldPride 2023 page now. Let's experience our pride Down Under for 2023! Event tickets can also be purchased on the official Sydney WorldPride 2023 website. 

Cover Image: ©IG/Daniel.Boud