Sydney’s 45th Mardi Gras was one of the biggest ever, according to organisers, with tens of thousands of revellers packing Oxford Street on Saturday night, cementing its status as the premier event celebrating the nation’s LGBTQIA+ community.
The festival, labelled by the event boss as “partying with purpose”, featured a 2.4-kilometre dazzling rainbow of colours and passion.
Some spectators were prepared to turn up 12 hours early to secure a spot to witness all the colour and action. But for the rest of you, we’ve sorted through our photographers’ images to bring you a selection of the best moments.
Dykes on Bikes, now a household name in Australia, have kicked off Mardi Gras celebrations for 31 years.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
Craig and Chris say Sydney has a “buzz” during Mardi Gras.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
The crowd was lively and energetic throughout the five-hour spectacle.(ABC News: Harriet Tatham)
Eddie Oba, originally from Nigeria, has been to six Mardi Gras parades since moving to Australia nine years ago.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
Forget the gym, Mardi Gras is the ultimate leg day!(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
The parade was opened with a smoking ceremony and organisers acknowledged the Gadigal, Cammeraygal, Bidigal, Darug and Dharawal people as the traditional custodians of the Sydney Basin.(ABC News: Harriet Tatham)
The festival hopes to bring focus to Australia’s neighbouring countries in the Asia Pacific that don’t offer citizens “the same level of equality and human rights that we do”.(ABC News: Harriet Tatham)
It was always gonna be alright, ’cause skaters gonna skate.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
Lance Mumby and Pete Clare have been married for longer than many in the parade have been alive — 46 years.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
A number of bold, creative outfits were proudly on display with some choosing leather and others choosing feathers. (ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
Some truly spectacular and striking costumes were on display.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the event a “celebration of modern Australia”.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
With tens of thousands of revellers flocking to central Sydney for Mardi Gras, it seemed every man and his dog was there.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
Participants snaked through the streets of inner Sydney for the 45th Mardi Gras parade.(ABC News: Harriet Tatham)
The parade — this year running with “Gather, Dream, Amplify” as its central theme — was never short of colour.(ABC News: Harriet Tatham)
Those lucky enough to have access to balconies along the 2.4-kilometre route were treated to birds-eye views of the parade. (ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
There was true diversity among the 12,000 people involved, including activists and representatives from many schools of thought. (ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
The Mardi Gras was a giant party and everyone was invited.(ABC News: Harriet Tatham)
Some outfits, or lack thereof, stood heads and shoulders above others.(ABC News: Harriet Tatham)
The Sydney Convicts proudly identify themselves as “Australia’s first gay and inclusive rugby union club”.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
Sydney marked the 45th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras with its trademark flair.(ABC News: Harriet Tatham)
Organisers of Sydney’s 45th Mardi Gras worked with First Nations communities to develop the theme for the festival.(ABC News: Harriet Tatham)
Those who marched were being cheered on by a lively crowd that was, at times, 30 deep.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
Sydney’s 45th Mardi Gras parade lasted five hours and featured 208 floats.(ABC News: Kevin Nguyen)
