Sydney WorldPride 2023 kicks off this weekend!
Sydney WorldPride 2023 officially kicked off on Friday, February 17 down in Australia. Event organizers arranged for the iconic Sydney Opera House to be lit up in the Pride Progress Flag colors to signal the festival’s beginning. Scheduled to run until March 5, the festival is expected to attract more than 78 000 visitors to the city.
The Pride event is a multifaceted festival that uses all forms of art and organization to bring awareness to, and advance the struggles of the LGBTQ community around the world. Specific to WorldPride 2023, Sydney will showcase 45 pieces of public art that has been installed in various places across the city. Locations include the iconic Bondi Beach, Coogee Beach, and the Royal Botanical Gardens, as well as pieces placed strategically all the way up in the Blue Mountains.
Many events are taking place over the course of the festival. Perhaps one of the highlights of Sydney WorldPride 2023 is the Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert taking place on Friday, February 24th. Headlining the event is the legendary queer icon Kylie Minogue, accompanied by other Australian favorites such as Casey Donovan and Courtney Act. Charlie XCX and Jessica Mauboy will also take the stage. This event will be broadcast nationally on ABC TV if you want to watch at home, and tickets for the event can be purchased here if you want to attend in person.
Other notable events over the course of the festival include the Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference, taking place on March 1 – 3. This is the largest LGBTQ human rights conference ever held in the Asia-Pacific region throughout history. It goes without saying that the official Sydney Mardi Gras parade is also a highlight event not to be missed, and is taking place on February 25. This year, after taking place at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the last two years, the iconic event is returning to its home on Oxford Street. The parade is expected to showcase over 12 000 marchers and 200 flats this year.
Happy Sydney WorldPride 2023 to all. Be loud and proud, and party safely! If you happen to be attending any of the events this year, drop by our socials and spill the tea!
