Where to party in Sydney this Mardi Gras

With drag shows happening just about non-stop in the bar downstairs and the superclub upstairs, you could argue it’s always Mardi Gras at Universal, but the festive flair is amped right up at the moment. On Saturday you can pre-game for the parade with a sparkly-as-anything party from 5pm ($20 tickets on the door), and later on Déjávu is kicking on the party upstairs with international club DJs and kick-ass queens (pre-sale now sold out, door sales only now). There’s loads more inclusive fun happening throughout the week at Universal, see here.

The Pavlovabar (or “Pavs”) closing party is known as one of the best on the Mardi Gras line-up, and for good reason – on Sunday night, levels one and two of Kinselas will come alive with a perfectly unfettered party courtesy of the good people behind House of Mince to close out this year’s festivities. If you can’t make it on Sunday, stop by anytime throughout the weekend – it’s on the corner of Taylor Square, and the energy over MG weekend will be electric. The Kinselas multi-pass will set you back just $15 – giving you multiple entry from 12pm on the big day. You’ll find tickets for the parade day here, and tickets to the Sunday celebrations over here.

That multi-level good-times pub that guards the entrance to Oxford Street, The Burdekin is boasting multiple levels of festive party antics all throughout the Mardi Gras Festival and unmatched views of the parade route down the Pink Mile. On Saturday night, those views will be the star of the Parade Viewing Party alongside DJs, drag queens, roaming canapes and flowing drinks. Tickets are $295 (you can snap ‘em up here) which also guarantees you entry to the Dirty Disco parade night party (third release tix on sale for $74.50) that'll be pumping five floors of queer debauchery until the early hours of the morning, with vibes ranging from emo to techno and R'n'B! Need a recovery sesh? Pull up a chair for Spritz or Swallow, the Burdy’s bottomless drag brunch party, which takes over the rooftop every Sunday arvo.

The Inner West’s historic drag palace, The Impy is turning up the queer party paradise vibes to eleven in honour of Sydney Mardi Gras – with everything from supersized drag brunches to  drag ‘n dine extravaganzas. The celebrations will peak on parade night with Impy Gras Queerdo Paradiso – three levels of drag, DJs and dancing. The VIP Parade Screening Party kicks off the night upstairs from 5-10pm – followed by an all-night party in the Main Bar and Basement until the early hours of the morning. Tickets have officially sold out for this night, so good luck. But, there’s still room at the Mardi Gras Warm Up party on Friday, February 28, with WTF! Friday resident queens – Amyl, Space Horse, and Sour! – and DJs playing into the night. You can also rock up to kick on with the Luv’d Up Mardi Gras Recovery – with fresh-as pizza from The Pizza Bros, $18 jugs of cocktails and drag from 6pm. 

Ace Hotel’s glittering gay-Christmas program culminates with the return of Mince x Ace Hotel Sydney OpenAir laneway party, which will bring House of Mince’s signature sexy energy to the Ace’s Foy Lane from 3pm until 10pm on Sunday, March 2. Prior to the finale day, Ace lobby will be serving up gorgeous vibes and excellent Martinis all MG long – with Heaps Gay taking over the lobby on Friday, February 21 and Friday, February 28, and Angels only DJs on the decks from 6pm on parade day. Learn more and book over here.

The towering Taylor Square is teaming up with sexy event specialists Red Heaven for what they’ve dubbed the Ultimate Mardi Gras VIP Dance Party. A $70 ticket will score you access to prime views of the parade, plus non-stop music, free-flowing drinks and snacks and multiple entries. Find out more and book here.

If the thought of leaving the Inner West to party goes against everything you stand for, the Vic on the Park is here to help. Vic On The Pardi Gras 2025 is a Gays Gone Fishin-themed affair hosted by much-loved local queer performer, DJ and multi-hyphenate talent Aunty Jonny. Performers include Big Wett, The Inner West Voices, The Queer Baits and a personal favourite: DJ Hot Rod. No tickets needed, but this will definitely pack out.

Get your sky-high sunshine fix at Harper Rooftop Bar’s Kylie Re-Covery Pool Party on the Sunday after the big night. A $25 ticket will score you two spiked slushies and access to the pool area – with Hollywould Star (of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame) and DJ Brett Riesling spinning Kylie classics. Pack your swimmers and settle in for the perfect MG send-off (or warm-up if you’re heading to see Kylie perform live). Book here.

For the third year running, Homo House will be taking over this  Surry Hills establishment for five days of partying with queer performances, DJs and drag artists bringing drag bingo, comedy, cabaret (or “caba rave") and an epic parade afterparty to two glitter-clad levels. The line-up has been curated in partnership with Poof Doof, and all events are free to attend – you’ll want to get in early. On Saturday the party is going all day, with epic entertainers lined up for pre-parade and post-parade shindigs. Find out more over here.

Perfectly placed between Oxford Street and Flinders, there are few better spots to settle in for a few hours of pre-parade drinks and snacks. This year, the beloved Darlinghurst drinking den is serving up a spectacular bottomless feast all week long – with $99 scoring you two hours of free-flowing drinks and Cantonese delights (including dumplings, salt and pepper chicken and egg noodles with mushroom XO). Find out more here.

The Mardi Gras line-up at Sydney’s consistently popping late-night destination Club 77 is as strong as we’d expect – with MG weekend kicking off with a Thursday night set from Deepchild, and closing out with a high-energy night from ealing and Rydeen. Entry is free on parade night if you arrive before 12am and join the guest list over here, or snap up a $10 ticket via Resident Advisor if you’re planning on rocking up late.

Swing by Palms on any given Saturday night and you’ll be met with the loving, Abba-soundtracked energy that Oxford Street is known for – and never more uproariously than on the big weekend. Tickets are on sale over here from $32. This year’s post-parade theme is Masquerade Ball, with the first 200 guests receiving a free mask for a night of mystery.

The Heaps Gay Mardi Gras party is an institution. From 9pm on parade day, the University of Sydney's Manning Bar transforms into a colourful mega-venue, with multiple stages and an consistently exceptional line-up. Tickets for this year's events are sold out, but you can keep an eye out for resales here. 

The Abercrombie’s loved-up Mardi Gras program kicks off on Thursday, February 20, with a special Show Us Ya Tips event raising money for the Australian sex worker community . On the big weekend, strap in for the city’s longest Mardi Gras After-Party – with DJs playing until 10am on Sunday and a 24-hour licence. Find out more over here.

Woolloomooloo's wharf hotel is serving up a sparkly-as-anything brunch on the big day, soundtracked by DJ Victoria and with gloriously outrageous entertainment from Thin Lizzi and Drag Race Down Under season 4 finalist Freya Armani. Brought to life in partnership with Virgin Australia (whose "pride flight" sky-high parties will be bringing partyogoers to the Harbour City from Brisbane and Melbourne on Friday, February 28), this delightfully indulgent event is an excellent party-starter. A $106 ticket will score you a delicious brunch, two hours of drinks and goodies from the likes of Absolut, Papa Salt Gin, Heaps Normal and NYX. Book here.

Right on the gateway to Oxford Street, Pullman Sydney Hyde Park is in the prime position for a pre-parade party. Tickets to the hotel’s pre-Mardi Gras party will score you front-row parade access, free-flowing drinks, a hot line-up of drag entertainers led by Samantha Jade, roaming snacks and DJs providing a high-energy soundtrack to keep you soaring. Snap up tickets over here.

MG Saturday at Darlo Bar will be a gloriously colourful occasion – with drag performances, DJs and face painting all within walking distance of Oxford Street. Entry is free, so you’ll want to get in early. Find out more at the website.