The Climate

Sydney WorldPride takes place in February and early March, when Sydney is at its absolute best: the end of our warm, sunny summer.

In February, the average high is 26.8 degrees Celsius (that’s 80.2 degrees Fahrenheit, for our American friends). The days are long, and nights are perfect for spending outdoors, with the average low just 19.9 degrees Celsius (67.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

New South Wales – the state where Sydney is the capital – is the heaven in between the hot tropics of Queensland, and the dry heat of Victoria. And yes, you’ll no doubt be treated to one of our spectacular nighttime summer electrical storms while you’re here.

LGBTQIA+ friendly

Sydney is considered one of the most LGBTQIA+ friendly places in the world. Although it took us until 2017 to achieve marriage equality, we have a long history of activism and queer culture and are considered the LGBTQIA+ capital of Australasia and the Pacific.

Since 1978, we have hosted the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The event is now an enormous pride festival, but it began as a protest march to call for an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians. Many participants were arrested at the first protest, but the event now goes ahead with the enthusiastic support of the whole city. Visitors join us from all over the world, and hundreds of thousands of people participate each year. Sydney WorldPride will incorporate Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras events in 2023.

The City

Sydney WorldPride takes place on the lands of the Gadigal, Cammeraygal, Bidjigal, Darug, Dharawal people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the Sydney Basin.

More than 5 million Sydneysiders call our city home, making it one of the most multicultural places in the world. Almost half of our residents were born overseas, and the city’s geography is as diverse as its people.

The Central Business District is built on the edge of Sydney Harbour, an expansive body of water full of headlands, coves and islands to discover. On the south-east corner of the CBD, you’ll find Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Kings Cross: a residential area with a thriving restaurant and bar scene, and the city’s traditional home for LGBTQIA+ communities.

The city’s inner-west is another hub for LGBTQIA+ people: Newtown, Marrickville, Erskineville and Enmore all have fabulous small bars and friendly neighbourhood pubs. Head further west to enjoy even more of Sydney’s cultural and culinary scene (Lakemba, Cabramatta, Canley Vale and Harris Park are all dining hubs), or keep going until you reach the gorgeous Blue Mountains National Park, at the western edge of the city. And remember, there are beaches all along Sydney’s coastline: from Palm Beach in the North (known as ‘Summer Bay’ to fans of the Aussie soap opera Home & Away), down to Cronulla in the South.