From Mardi Gras to Mardi Blahhhhh. So disappointing, another thing Sydney screws up.
pestoster0ne on
TL;DR: This is the after-party, *not* the parade itself.
> All events except for the parade, Fair Day, Laneway and the Glitter Club have been cancelled.
> The creation of a new event, After Party with Blak Joy, will be held to celebrate the First Nations community.
Nololgoaway on
It’s big news within the Sydney queer community but the Mardi Gras board has actually censured two of its members for being outspoken trans activists, and then misgendered it’s only transgender board member in an internal email discussing the censure twice
Edit:
This has caused large parts of Sydneys transgender community, and Sydneys gay community to boycott Mardi Gras this year.
[deleted] on
[deleted]
Infamous_YoYo on
First it was Sleazeball, now this. 🙁
Maezel on
To be honest the ones after 2020 weren’t good… It has been slowly dying for a while, this is not expected.
Losing one of the 2 main venues ment the music went from 2 distinct atmospheres to one who tried to please everyone. So you end up not enjoying half of the music.
This also resulted in capacity issues, selling more tickets than what hordern pavilion can fit. Leaving people out of the main building and having to attend the other smaller venues or the outdoor forecourt.
The quality of the artists they brought went downhill as well. From Cher, dua lipa and Sam Smith to sugarbabes and other tier C no one ever heard about. Same for the DJs.
It’s probably for the best. Hopefully it can rise from the ashes and become something better in the future.
Significant_Gur_1031 on
Why would anyone bother even doing the parade with nothing to go to after it ? Then why would interstate or overseas visitors bother coming to Sydney ?
(Granted – what’s LEFT on Oxford St these days ? I’ve not gone to anything there for over 20 years….. a short part of my life, going to the various pubs, clubs with my mates)
I went to a few parties in the early 2000’s, it was expensive then, however there were several venues to listen / dance – however it is noted on an article that the largest space – Royal Hall on Industries (the old show bag hall if you are old enough) isn’t available
Looks like the cost (how the frig doesn’t it cost $2m to run ?) and changing audiences will see another part of the culture disappear
The memories of the large dance parties like Sleaze have long gone.
The early 2000s was a good time to get out and enjoy this part of Sydney – I’d hate to be gay now and trying to do anything there….. sad
EDIT : clearly there’s a few people that have some strange issue with my post – if your wish to down vote then post your issues – very strange as I went to these parties a few decades ago
tpapocalypse on
I deleted my other comments because of people only reading the article and then accusing me of not reading the article and downvoting me to oblivion. So I’m back with cold hard data and a hope that this false narrative gets deflected on reddit at least… I believe it’s politically driven in nature but that’s just my opinion. It sure as fuck isn’t finance related unless they were just being greedy and wanted more profits.
These numbers include all profits from all of the official events. Not just any sponsorships or whatever from the parade.
They have been turning a profit every year since 2020… and likely several decades beforehand. 2025 was actually the most profitable year for Mardi Gras in many years apparently.
Definitely won’t be turning a profit this year I guess…
This is not a shitty news article from ABC or NEWS or whatever this is cold hard facts from the SSMGL.
This is the same organisation that is now spinning the narrative via our media outlets that it’s all because of financial losses.
Bullshit I say.
Edit: done a little more digging. Fucking complete and total bullshit I say.
It was gonna be a flop anyway. Plenty of other good parties that will be on that night.
OffParramattaRoad on
Not sure when the party needed headline acts. Wasn’t like that when it started. I thought people went for a sense of community and to dance to great music.
Womb8t on
Meh. It’s been fucked for years. It used to be the case that the big act was a massive secret, and you were surprised and delighted with whoever it was. Hello Tina Arena (most shows ever?) and Dannii.
They screwed the pooch by sucking up to corporate sponsorship and giving away what it stood for.
Here’s Mary Kiani killing it. Big overseas act? No one cared.
11 Comments
From Mardi Gras to Mardi Blahhhhh. So disappointing, another thing Sydney screws up.
TL;DR: This is the after-party, *not* the parade itself.
> All events except for the parade, Fair Day, Laneway and the Glitter Club have been cancelled.
> The creation of a new event, After Party with Blak Joy, will be held to celebrate the First Nations community.
It’s big news within the Sydney queer community but the Mardi Gras board has actually censured two of its members for being outspoken trans activists, and then misgendered it’s only transgender board member in an internal email discussing the censure twice
Edit:
This has caused large parts of Sydneys transgender community, and Sydneys gay community to boycott Mardi Gras this year.
[deleted]
First it was Sleazeball, now this. 🙁
To be honest the ones after 2020 weren’t good… It has been slowly dying for a while, this is not expected.
Losing one of the 2 main venues ment the music went from 2 distinct atmospheres to one who tried to please everyone. So you end up not enjoying half of the music.
This also resulted in capacity issues, selling more tickets than what hordern pavilion can fit. Leaving people out of the main building and having to attend the other smaller venues or the outdoor forecourt.
The quality of the artists they brought went downhill as well. From Cher, dua lipa and Sam Smith to sugarbabes and other tier C no one ever heard about. Same for the DJs.
It’s probably for the best. Hopefully it can rise from the ashes and become something better in the future.
Why would anyone bother even doing the parade with nothing to go to after it ? Then why would interstate or overseas visitors bother coming to Sydney ?
(Granted – what’s LEFT on Oxford St these days ? I’ve not gone to anything there for over 20 years….. a short part of my life, going to the various pubs, clubs with my mates)
I went to a few parties in the early 2000’s, it was expensive then, however there were several venues to listen / dance – however it is noted on an article that the largest space – Royal Hall on Industries (the old show bag hall if you are old enough) isn’t available
Looks like the cost (how the frig doesn’t it cost $2m to run ?) and changing audiences will see another part of the culture disappear
The memories of the large dance parties like Sleaze have long gone.
The early 2000s was a good time to get out and enjoy this part of Sydney – I’d hate to be gay now and trying to do anything there….. sad
EDIT : clearly there’s a few people that have some strange issue with my post – if your wish to down vote then post your issues – very strange as I went to these parties a few decades ago
I deleted my other comments because of people only reading the article and then accusing me of not reading the article and downvoting me to oblivion. So I’m back with cold hard data and a hope that this false narrative gets deflected on reddit at least… I believe it’s politically driven in nature but that’s just my opinion. It sure as fuck isn’t finance related unless they were just being greedy and wanted more profits.
https://www.mardigras.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MG25AnnualReportFINAL.pdf
Check out page 16 for the data and fancy charts.
These numbers include all profits from all of the official events. Not just any sponsorships or whatever from the parade.
They have been turning a profit every year since 2020… and likely several decades beforehand. 2025 was actually the most profitable year for Mardi Gras in many years apparently.
Definitely won’t be turning a profit this year I guess…
This is not a shitty news article from ABC or NEWS or whatever this is cold hard facts from the SSMGL.
This is the same organisation that is now spinning the narrative via our media outlets that it’s all because of financial losses.
Bullshit I say.
Edit: done a little more digging. Fucking complete and total bullshit I say.
Edit: more digging more bullshit…
https://mardigras.11.efront.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MG21_AR-_compressed.pdf (in the green with similar numbers going back to 2016) and then we move on to (2014-2015) where things were in a far more precarious position financially and yet no events were cancelled – https://mardigras.11.efront.dev/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MG_2015_Annual_Report.pdf
It was gonna be a flop anyway. Plenty of other good parties that will be on that night.
Not sure when the party needed headline acts. Wasn’t like that when it started. I thought people went for a sense of community and to dance to great music.
Meh. It’s been fucked for years. It used to be the case that the big act was a massive secret, and you were surprised and delighted with whoever it was. Hello Tina Arena (most shows ever?) and Dannii.
They screwed the pooch by sucking up to corporate sponsorship and giving away what it stood for.
Here’s Mary Kiani killing it. Big overseas act? No one cared.
https://youtu.be/OQEM-M-iEBA?si=YTVMBDso_zkK2rnZ