On Saturday night, more than 10,000 revellers and 200 floats will descend on Oxford Street to celebrate the 48th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.
This year’s theme, ECSTATICA, promises to be a celebration of euphoric rebellion, a “collision of glamour, grit, and raw joy that burns brighter when we stand together”.
And, for the first time, public transport services will run around the clock for the celebrations.
Here is everything you need to know about navigating Sydney’s night of nights.
When is the 2026 Sydney Mardi Gras?
The Mardi Gras festival is being held from February 13 to March 1, and will culminate in the annual parade that will officially kick off at 7.30pm and wrap up about 10.30pm on Saturday.
What are the Sydney road closures?
Major roads around the CBD and Moore Park will be closed between 4pm on Saturday and 2am on Sunday, with staggered closures throughout the affected period.
Transport for NSW has advised motorists to expect delays, avoid the area and use public transport if possible.
Mardi Gras key road closures
From 4pm to 1am: sections of College Street, Liverpool Street, Wentworth Avenue, Goulburn Street and surrounding local streets.
From 4pm to 2am: Flinders Street northbound lanes from Moore Park Road to Oxford Street.
From 4pm to 4am: sections of Bourke Street, Campbell Street, Short Street and surrounding local streets in Surry Hills.
From 5.30pm to 1am: Anzac Parade northbound from Cleveland Street to Moore Park Road, and local roads in Surry Hills between Elizabeth Street and Campbell Street including Nithsdale Street, Foster Street, and Wentworth Avenue.
From 5.30pm to 2am: Major closures along parade route including Liverpool Street, Oxford Street between College Street and Darlinghurst Road, Flinders Street southbound from Oxford Street to Moore Park Road, sections of Crown Street, sections of South Dowling Street between Oxford Street and Fitzroy Street, and Anzac Parade southbound from Moore Park Road to Lang Road, including the Eastern Distributor Randwick Anzac Parade off-ramp (the Bondi exit remains open).
From 6.30pm to 1am: Moore Park Road westbound from Oatley Road to South Dowling Street, no access to Eastern Distributor and Driver Avenue between Lang Road and Moore Park Road (until 10am Sunday).
A full breakdown and interactive map of the closures can be viewed here.
What public transport can I take?
This year’s Mardi Gras celebrations marks the first time train, light rail, and metro services will run on a 24-hour timetable for a major event other than Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The best stations for accessing the northern side of the route are Town Hall, St James, Martin Place and Kings Cross. For the southern side, Central will be the best option. Museum station will be closed between 5pm on Saturday and 4am on Sunday.
There will be additional train services late at night and early in the morning to help parade-goers get home, but Transport for NSW has urged commuters to plan ahead as, from about 1am on Sunday, not all train lines will run frequent train services.
Metro services will run every five minutes from 5pm until midnight, every 10 minutes until 2am, then every 20 minutes until 5am on Sunday. Light rail services will also run around the clock until 5am on Sunday.
There will be extra daytime and late-night bus services, with a number of routes diverting around the road closures and using different stops. Additional late night 370 and 343 services will also be operating on a 24-hour timetable.
How can I watch the parade?
If you’d rather follow the parade from home, the Herald’s reporters and photographers will be on the ground providing you with live coverage throughout the night.
You can also tune into ABC TV or iview from 7.30pm to watch the broadcast.
Do I need tickets?
The parade is free for spectators, but some events such as the Taylor Square Takeover – also called Magda’s Glitter Club – are reserved for ticket-holders. Tickets for this event, ranging from $138 to $170, have sold out.
What other events are on?
While the Mardi Gras after-party – last year held at the Hordern Pavilion – has been cancelled due to budgetary concerns, tickets are still available for the Mardi Gras First Nations after-party with Blak Joy, which will kick off from 8pm at The Loft in Ultimo.
And the final hurrah of Mardi Gras celebrations – street party Laneway – will take place at The Beresford and Hill Street on Sunday.
Elsewhere in Sydney, more than 40,000 people will flock to the ENGIE stadium at Olympic Park on Saturday to attend the Australian leg of Bad Bunny’s Debi Tirar Mas Fotos world tour. It’s the first time the Puerto Rican singer, who was Spotify’s most-streamed artist worldwide in 2025, will perform in Australia.
The City of Sydney has also extended trading hours for unlicensed premises such as shops, restaurants, cafes, and takeaway outlets, community and entertainment facilities to open until midnight on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It will automatically be applied to eligible venues in the CBD, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Potts Point, Paddington, Camperdown, Newtown and Erskineville.
The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
From our partners
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
