The Progress Pride Flag was proudly raised above Sydney Town Hall tonight, officially marking the beginning of over two weeks of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras celebrations.
The flag-raising ceremony was attended by key members of the LGBTQIA+ community, including Mardi Gras organisers, representatives from Sydney’s LGBTQIA+ groups, 78ers—the original participants of the first Mardi Gras protest in 1978—and other supporters of the festival.
This symbolic event kicks off a vibrant programme of more than 80 events, including the iconic Mardi Gras Parade and Party, Fair Day, Blak & Deadly: The First Nations Gala Concert, Paradiso Pool Party, Laugh Out Proud comedy show, and Ultra Violet, the premier LGBTQIA+ women’s event.
With a strong focus on equality and human rights, the theme for the 2025 Mardi Gras festival is ‘Free to Be’, encouraging everyone to embrace their individuality and celebrate with pride.
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO, highlighted the continued significance of the festival, now in its fifth decade.
“The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival is one of the most anticipated events on the city’s calendar, and we celebrate it with immense pride,” the Lord Mayor said.
Last year’s event drew more than 300,000 attendees and contributed approximately $38 million to the NSW economy.
“Raising the Progress Pride Flag above this important civic landmark sends a clear and powerful message—everyone is welcome in Sydney,” the Lord Mayor added.
Sydney has a longstanding history of supporting the Mardi Gras festival, and in 2025, the City of Sydney will participate in the Parade for the 20th consecutive year. This year’s float, themed ‘Not a Fan of a Book Ban’, will feature 80 participants dressed in vibrant costumes sourced from Oxford Street stores.
The float will showcase a choreographed routine set to a mash-up of Armand van Helden’s You Don’t Know Me, Taylor Swift’s You Need to Calm Down, and Troye Sivan and Pnau’s You Know What I Need. The theme takes a stand against the banning of books featuring same-sex families in public libraries.
“Our theme was developed through workshops with our Pride employee network last year. It reflects our employees’ passion for inclusion and their commitment to standing up for equality,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We are proud to showcase Sydney’s commitment to diversity and celebrate the power of individuality.”
Throughout the festival, the City of Sydney will display 90 Mardi Gras banners and 350 Pride flag banners across the city. These will complement permanent Pride symbols such as the Pride flag and Pride crossing at Taylor Square, as well as a newly inaugurated Pride intersection at the QTOPIA museum, officially opened today by the Lord Mayor.
Since 2014, the City of Sydney has provided $4.1 million in funding and in-kind support for the festival, reinforcing its commitment to fostering an inclusive and vibrant community.
For full festival details, visit whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.
