A global pride celebration.
WorldPride aims to promote and advocate for LGBTQIA+ human rights around the world
What is worldpride?
interpride and worldpride
InterPride was founded by Marsha H Levine and the National Association of Lesbian and Gay Pride Coordinators (USA) in 1982, and has grown into a global network of over 400 LGBTQIA+ member organisations from over 70 counties.
WorldPride is global event licensed by InterPride, which is awarded to a different host city every 2-3 years. The first WorldPride took place in Rome in July 2000, followed by Jerusalem (2006), London (2012), Toronto (2014), Madrid (2017), New York (2019) and Copenhagen + Malmo (2021).
In 2019, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras was successful in winning the bid to host WorldPride in Sydney in 2023, having competed against Houston, USA and Montreal, Canada.
Sydney worldpride 2023
Sydney WorldPride will incorporate all the beloved Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras experiences like the Parade, Party, Fair Day and Sissy Ball, but supersized into 200+ event festival.
Although the traditional Pride month in the northern hemisphere is June, Sydney WorldPride 2023 will be staged Friday 17 February – Sunday 5 March 2023 which is the traditional timing of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and of course, in the heart of the Australian summer!
Not only does Sydney WorldPride represent the first time the event will be staged in the southern hemisphere, but the 2023 festival coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first Australian Gay Pride Week, the 45th anniversary of the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and the fifth anniversary of Marriage Equality in Australia.
Sydney WorldPride Official events are being jointly curated by Festival Creative Director Daniel Clarke and Festival Creative Director – First Nations Ben Graetz, and include:
- The Opening and Closing Concerts at The Domain
- A Human Rights Conference
- Pride March across the Sydney Harbour Bridge
- Bondi Beach Party
- First Nations Gala Concert
- Pride Villages, closing streets in the heartland of LGBTQIA+ Sydney – Oxford Street – for street stalls, art and community parties.
- A full arts and culture program
- WorldPride Sports
The Festival will be completed with a suite of Pride Amplified culture, community, party and experience events staged by third-party producers throughout Greater Sydney.
In total, it is expected over 200 events will be staged as part of the broader Sydney WorldPride Festival, to be enjoyed by over 500,000 people.
Delivering WorldPride
Sydney WorldPride is a not-for-profit entity, led by an Australian team headquartered in Surry Hills.
The organisation has an independent board, plus Pride and First Nations Advisory Committees and Curatorial Associates.
For 2023, Sydney WorldPride and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras will effectively operate as one event. Mardi Gras will return as normal in 2024.
Like Mardi Gras, Sydney WorldPride will be staged through a combination of government, corporate sponsor and ticketing income.
Destination NSW is leading the government investor (Strategic Partner) in Sydney WorldPride for the NSW Government. American Express is the Principal Partner. For our full partner list, click here.
