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Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade

Oxford St, Flinders St, Anzac Pde - Sydney CBD, Darlinghurst and Moore Park

Pre-parade entertainment 18:45
Parade start 19:30
Parade finish 22:30

Important Event Information

Top tips to plan your night:

  • With major road closures in place between the City and Moore Park from 4pm until 2am, and tens of thousands of people expected, the best way to get to and from the parade is by public transport.
  • Trains, metro, buses and light rail services will run frequently to the city with some additional late-night services to help you get home afterwards. Note that not all transport modes run frequently late into the night, so if you’re leaving the city in the early hours on Sunday, you’ll need to plan ahead.
  • Choose your parade viewing spot in advance! Head towards your preferred viewing side of the parade early to secure a spot. You’ll be able to cross the parade route along Oxford St and Flinders St until 6.30pm only – designated pedestrian crossings will be available at Riley St, Crown St, Short St, Albion St and Anzac Pde.
    • Northern side viewing in Darlinghurst: Use Town Hall, St James, Martin Place or Kings Cross train stations, or Gadigal Metro station.
    • Southern side viewing in Surry Hills: Use Central station. For Parade viewing along Flinders Street, use the Moore Park Light Rail stop. Note, Museum Station will be closed from 5pm due to large crowds 
    • Check out the 2026 Mardi Gras parade route map for more details.
  • Buses will be diverting and using different stops due to road closures so be prepared to walk further than usual to reach the parade route. Additional buses will run to and from the city before and after the parade.
  • Travel on transport isn’t free on Mardi Gras Parade night so remember to tap your Opal card or major debit/credit card on and off when travelling on public transport services.
  • If you’re catching rideshare or taxis be aware that major roads will be closed so you’ll need to get picked up or dropped off outside of the closure area and continue on foot.
  • Plan your trip ahead of time using our Trip Planner or download the FREE Opal Travel app. The Opal Travel app is the official Transport for NSW app where you can plan and save your trips, check your travel activities and fares, top up on the go and more.

Stay connected

Keep informed on the night and get real-time updates on transport services, parade viewing area capacities and road closures:

Travel on public transport is not free on Mardi Gras Parade night, remember you'll need to use an Opal card or contactless payment method when travelling on public transport.

Opal

You can use an Opal card for all modes of public transport in Sydney and surrounding regions, including metro, trains, buses, ferries and light rail.

Remember to top up your Opal card before you travel to avoid waiting in line at top-up machines. You can top up your card online or at an Opal retailer.

Plan your trip ahead of time using our Trip Planner or download the FREE Opal Travel app. The Opal Travel app is the official Transport for NSW app where you can plan and save your trips, check your travel activities and fares, top up on the go and more.

More ways to pay

If you have a contactless-enabled American Express, Mastercard or Visa debit or credit card, or a linked device, you can use it to pay for your travel by tapping on and tapping off at Opal card readers. Available on all public transport services including metro, trains, buses ferries and light rail, contactless payments are another way to pay on the Opal network. Adult Opal fare pricing applies and you will receive Opal benefits, including daily and weekly fare caps.

 

 

There's plenty of places to see the parade as it travels from Whitlam Square in the Sydney CBD (at Hyde Park intersection of College St and Wentworth Ave) through Darlinghurst and Surry Hills via Oxford Street and Flinders Street. 

There are ticketed viewings areas and designated accessible viewing areas on Flinders Street and Oxford Street.  Everywhere else along the parade route is free and open to the general public, but remember space does fill quickly so arrive early to secure a spot on your preferred side of the parade route.

Note there is no viewing along Anzac Parade for this years event.

Pedestrian crossing

Pedestrian crossing of the parade route will be managed from 5pm until 6:30pm . 

Dedicated crossing points will be located on:

  • Oxford St at Riley St
  • Oxford St at Crown St
  • Flinders St at Short St
  • Flinders St at Albion St
  • Flinders St at Anzac Parade

After 6:30pm, the parade route will be locked down and there will be no crossing until the parade has finished. You will need to walk around the parade route to get to the other side of Oxford or Flinders Streets. Crossing on Anzac Parade in Moore Park remains open via the pedestrian bridges.

Check out the 2026 Mardi Gras parade route map for more details.

Parade viewing areas & transport

  • Northern side in Darlinghurst: arrive at Town Hall, St James or Martin Place stations, or Metro Gadigal station and continue on foot via Park St, WIlliam St and Yurong St. You can also use Kings Cross Station and walk via Darlinghurst Rd.
  • Southern side in Surry Hills: arrive at Central Station and continue on foot via Albion St, Campbell St or Goulburn St.

Check out the 2026 Mardi Gras parade route map for more details.

Sydney Metro services are high-frequency, driverless trains running between Sydney’s north-west and south-west via the city. 

The M1 Line operates turn up-and-go Metro services running from early morning until late at night.

On Mardi Gras Parade night, Metro services will run every 10 minutes until 5pm then every 5 minutes until midnight, every 10 minutes until 2am then every 20 minutes til 4am. Services will resume a regular 10minute frequency from first service Sunday 

Parade viewing areas:

  • Oxford Street - Northern side in Darlinghurst: catch metro to Gadigal and exit via Park St to continue on foot via Park St, William St and Yurong St, or alight at Martin Place.
  • Oxford and Flinders Streets - Southern side in Surry Hills, catch metro to Gadigal and exit via Bathurst St or Central Station and continue on foot via Albion St, Campbell St or Goulburn St.

For Metro service disruption information, check trackwork and travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Getting there

Trains will run to a Saturday timetable, with additional services to get you to the city. Trains to the city run approximately every 8 minutes on the T1 North Shore Line and City Circle, and every 10 to 15 minutes on all other lines.

The closest stations to the start of the parade are Central, Town Hall, Martin Place, St James and Kings Cross, depending on which side of the parade you want to be on.

Closest stations to parade viewing areas

Pedestrian crossing of the parade route will be available until 6:30pm only and won't reopen until after the parade finishes, so plan ahead and use the following stations to access your preferred viewing area on the northern or southern side of the parade:

  • For access to the northern side of the parade route in Darlinghurst, use Town Hall, St James, Martin Place or Kings Cross stations.
  • For access to the southern side of the parade route in Surry Hills use Central Station.

Note: Museum Station will be closed and trains will not stop from 5pm on Saturday until 4am Sunday due to large crowds and road closures in the area for the parade.

All patrons who register to the Accessible Viewing Area must alight the train at Central Train Station. From Central Station you will then be able to transfer to alternate public transport services or the free Mardi Gras accessible shuttle bus service.

For information on using the train network with a wheelchair or other accessibility needs, including using help points at stations and onboard trains to contact staff, see our trains accessibility page.

Getting home

Additional late night / early morning services will run this year to help you get home from Central, Town Hall and Martin Place stations.

  • For T1 North Shore Line services go to Town Hall Station:
    • Services run every 10 minutes until 1:36am, then additional services leaving at 2:36am and 3:36am.
       
  • For T1 Western, T2 Inner West and T9 Northern lines go to Central Station:
    • T1 Western Line services towards Penrith will run every 15 minutes until 1am, then  additional services leaving at 1:40am, 2:39am and 3:39am. Change at Parramatta for Richmond line services, leaving every 15 minutes until 1.06am.
    • T2 Inner West Line services will run every 15 minutes until 1:14am, then additional services departing 2:05 and 3:19am, stopping all stations to Homebush.
    • T9 Northern Line services towards Hornsby via Strathfield will run every 15 minutes until 1:03am then additional services departing 2:03am and 3:03am.
  • T3 Liverpool / T6 Bankstown Lines
    • Trackwork - Buses replace trains between Liverpool and Lidcombe, and between Bankstown and Lidcombe. Buses will run til normal timetable last service at around 1.30am
       
  • For T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra services go to Central or Martin Place Station
    • Trains to Bondi Junction will leave Central every 15 minutes from 11:30pm until 2:51am.
    • Trains to Cronulla leave every 30 minutes until 1:27am and to Waterfall every 30 minutes until 12.57am.
    • Additional late-night trains to Hurstville will leave Martin Place at 11:05pm, 1:47am, 1:59am and 3:28am.
      ​​​
  • T5 Cumberland Line
    • Trackwork - Buses replace trains between Glenfield and Fairfield. Saturday evening, buses replace trains between Leppington and Fairfield. Buses will run til normal timetable last service at around 1.30am
       
  • For T8 Airport & South Line services go to St James Station:
    • T8 Airport & South service to East Hills leave every 15 minutes until 1am.
    • Trackwork - Buses replace trains between Macarthur and Glenfield. Saturday evening, buses replace trains between Macarthur and East Hills. Buses will run til normal timetable last service at around 1.30am.
       
  • For NSW TrainLink services go to Central Station:
    • South Coast Line: An additional train to Wollongong will leave Central at 11:59pm stopping at Redfern, Wolli Creek, Hurstville, Sutherland, Waterfall then all stations to Wollongong.
    • Trains arriving and departing Central between 5pm and 1am on Blue Mountains, South Coast and Central Coast & Newcastle Lines will be built up to 8 or 10-car services.
    • There will be no late night/early morning services beyond usual last service times.

Trackwork

Planned weekend trackwork is taking place on Saturday 28 February and Sunday 1 March and may affect how you travel to and from the event. Plan ahead using the Trip Planner.

More information will be available closer to the event date. 

Trackwork is carried out on an ongoing basis to maintain the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the Sydney Trains network. For train service disruption information, check trackwork and travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Plenty of buses run regularly to the city with extra services on key routes to help you get to the parade and additional late-night services to help you get home. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

The closest major bus terminals are at Central and QVB Town Hall, or in Kings Cross. Check out the 2026 Mardi Gras parade route map for more details.

Please note that buses between the city and eastern suburbs will be affected while roads are closed for the parade. A number of routes will be diverting around the closures, using alternative stops or ending trips early, so you may need to walk further than usual for access to the parade viewing areas.

Bus diversions

Buses between the city and eastern suburbs will be diverting between 3:30pm and 2:30am while roads are closed, using different stops and/or terminating early. Allow extra travel time and plan your bus trip ahead of time.

All stops on Oxford St between Hyde Park and Flinders St, and some stops on Anzac Pde, Elizabeth St will not be accessible. Buses will be diverting around Oxford St and Anzac Pde via Kings Cross or Surry Hills. Be prepared to walk further than usual to access the parade route.

Buses from the east travelling on Oxford St will divert via Kings Cross in both directions. Buses from the south and south east will divert via Central Station in both directions. Allow extra travel time and plan your bus trip ahead of time using the Trip Planner. 

Road closure and Parade Maps:

Eastern suburbs route diversions

  • Route 304: From 3.30pm to 2.30am: Services to the city will be diverting via Foveaux St, Elizabeth St then as normal. Services leaving the city will divert via Albion St and Crown St.
  • Route 311: From 3.30pm to 2.30am, Services to the city will be diverting via Foveaux St, Elizabeth St then as normal. Services leaving the city will divert via Albion St and Crown St.
  • Route 333: From 3.30pm to 2.30am, Services will divert around Oxford St through Darlinghurst via Kings Cross. All stops on Oxford St between Hyde Park and Flinders St will be missed. Services to the city will divert via Darlinghurst Rd, Craigend St, William St, Park St, Elizabeth St then as normal. Services leaving the city will travel via Elizabeth St, Park St, left William St, Kings Cross Rd, Victoria St, Oxford St then as normal. All stops on Oxford St between Hyde Park and Flinders St will be missed. Check signs at bus stops for alternative stop locations.
  • Route 339: From 5pm to 4.30pm, The Moore Park Busway will be closed, buses will run to and from the city as normal but use stops on Anzac Pde instead of the busway. Buses to the city will be diverting via Anzac Pde, Cleveland St, Crown St, Foveaux St then as normal. Services leaving the city will divert via Albion St, Crown St, Cleveland St, Anzac Pde then as normal.
  • Route 352: From 5pm until last service, buses between the city and Marrickville will be diverting around Oxford St and Flinders St closures in Darlinghurst via Lang Rd, Cook Rd and Moore Park Rd in both directions. All stops on Crown St and Oxford St will be missed in both directions.
  • Route 373: From 3.30pm to 2.30pmThe Moore Park Busway will be closed and buses will run to and from the city as normal but use stops on Anzac Pde instead of the busway. Buses will start and end at Central instead of Museum. Buses will be diverting via Anzac Pde, Cleveland St, Crown St, Foveaux St, Elizabeth St, Hay St, Pitt St and Eddy Ave dropping off at Stand D on Eddy Ave. Services leaving the city will pick up from Eddy Ave Stand C and will travel via Albion St, Crown St, Cleveland St, Anzac Pde, Alison Rd then as normal.
  • Route 396: From 3pm Saturday to 2:30am Sunday Services will be diverting via Anzac Pde, Cleveland St, Chalmers St, Randle St into Elizabeth St, then as normal. Services leaving the city will divert via Cleveland St and Anzac Pde. Stops on Oxford St and Flinders St will be missed.
  • Route 392N: From first service until 2:30am, services will divert via Cleveland St, Chalmers St, Randle St into Elizabeth St then as normal. Services leaving the city will divert via Cleveland St and Anzac Pde.

Inner West route diversions

  • Route 440: From 4pm Saturday to 2am Sunday: Services into and out of Bondi Junction will divert around Oxford St via Elizabeth S, Park St, William St and Darlinghurst Rd/Victoria St in both directions.

Night Rides:

Additional NightRide buses will run on some routes between 12am and 4am to help you get home including the N80, N81 and N90. 

  • Diversions for routes N30, N40: from 4pm Saturday 1am Sunday services towards East Hills/Macarthur will begin at Town Hall, Park Street Stand H as normal and travel via Elizabeth St, Market St, Castlereagh St, Hay St and continue as normal on Pitt Street. 

For bus service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Catch a ferry to Circular Quay to connect with trains to St James, Town Hall or Central to get within walking distance of the parade. You can also catch a light rail service from Circular Quay to Town Hall.

Keep in mind that ferries are expected to be busy and services may reach capacity early so have a back up plan in mind and consider the alternative transport options available.

For ferry service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

L1 Dulwich Hill Line

L1 Dulwich Hill Line light rail services run between Central Grand Concourse and Dulwich Hill from 5am daily. Use the Trip Planner to plan your trip.

On Mardi Gras light rail services will run a 24 hour timetable extending through the night until 5am. 

Access to the parade viewing areas:

  • The closest stop to the southern side of the parade is Central Grand Concourse where you can walk via Albion St.
  • For access to the northern side of the parade route change at Central for a train to Town Hall or metro to Gadigal to continue on foot.
  • Check out the 2026 Mardi Gras parade route map for more details.

L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford Lines

L2 Randwick Line light rail services run between Circular Quay and Randwick via Central Station (Chalmers Street) and the L3 Kingsford Line services run between Circular Quay and Kingsford via Central Station (Chalmers Street). Services run from 5am daily.

On Mardi Gras light rail services will run a 24 hour timetable extending through the night until 5am. 

Access to the parade viewing areas:

  • The closest stop to the southern side of the parade route is Central Chalmers Street or Surry Hills where you can walk via Devonshire Street.
  • The closest stop to the northern side of the parade route is Town Hall where you can walk via Park Street and William Street.
  • Check out the 2026 Mardi Gras parade route map for more details.

L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line

L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line light rail services run between Carlingford and Westmead via Parramatta CBD. Services run regularly from 5am to 1am daily. Plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Change at Parramatta to connect with trains to the city.

People are reminded that trams can’t stop quickly or easily – so please stop, listen and look around for trams and use designated pedestrian crossings. 

For more details on stop locations and maps, see light rail service information. For light rail service disruption information, check travel alerts or plan your trip using the Trip Planner.

Spectators are urged to leave the car at home as major road closures and widespread parking restrictions will be in place in the city, Darlinghurst and Moore Park from 4pm on Saturday and most roads remain closed until 2am, Sunday. 

Motorists are urged to avoid unnecessary travel in the CBD and to expect delays as traffic will be heavy on detour routes.

Motorists travelling between the city and eastern suburbs will be diverted via Cleveland St in the south or via William St and Darlinghurst Rd in the north.  

Road closure, clearway and Parade Maps:

Key road closure timings

  • From 4pm to 1am: sections of College St, Liverpool St, Wentworth Ave, Goulburn St and surrounding local streets.
  • From 4pm to 2am: Flinders St northbound lanes from Moore Park Rd to Oxford St.
  • From 4pm to 4am: sections of Bourke St, Campbell St, Short St and surrounding local streets in Surry Hills.
  • From 5.30pm to 1am: Anzac Pde northbound from Cleveland St to Moore Park Rd, and local roads in Surry Hills between Elizabeth St and Campbell St including Nithsdale St, Foster St, and Wentworth Ave.
  • From 5.30pm to 2am: Major closures along parade route including Liverpool St, Oxford St between College St and Darlinghurst Rd, Flinders St southbound from Oxford St to Moore Park Rd, sections of Crown St, sections of South Dowling between Oxford St and Fitzroy St, and Anzac Pde southbound from Moore Park Rd to Lang Rd, including the Eastern Distributor Randwick Anzac Pde off-ramp (Bondi exit remains open).
  • From 6.30pm to 1am: Moore Park Rd westbound from Oatley Rd to South Dowling St, no access to Eastern Distributor and Driver Ave between Lang Rd and Moore Park Rd (until 10am Sunday).

As well, sections of Hill St, Clare St, and surrounding local streets. will closed from 7am Saturday until 2am Monday.

Lane closures

  • From 6am Saturday to 2am Sunday: Oxford St between Darlinghurst Rd and Flinders St (westbound, lane 1)
  • From 8.30am to 4pm Saturday: Wentworth Ave between Wymess Ln and Goulburn St (southbound, lane 1)
  • From 12pm to 4pm Saturday: Flinders St between Albion St and Oxford S (northbound, Lanes 1 & 2)
  • From 2pm to 4pm Saturday: College St between Stanley St and Liverpool St (southbound, lane 1)
  • From 5pm to 6.30pm Saturday: Elizabeth St between Liverpool St and Goulburn St (southbound, lane 1)

Reminder: it is a fineable offence to drive on, or exit a driveway onto, a closed road. Access to your property and/or parking may be restricted due to closures and clearways, so please familiarise yourself with the road closure and clearway information when planning your movements on the day.

Cycleway closures

From 7am Saturday to 2am Sunday

  • Liverpool St between College St and Elizabeth St        
  • Oxford St between College St and Flinders St

From 4pm Saturday to 1am Sunday

  • College St between Liverpool St and Park St  

From 4pm Saturday to 4am Sunday

  • Bourke St between Fitzroy St and Campbell St             
  • Campbell St between Crown St and Bourke St

For detailed closure and clearway listings and maps, visit Live Traffic NSW, or download a real-time traffic app.

Parking

With carparks in the city expected to fill early and extensive restrictions on street parking in place, it's best to leave the car at home and take advantage of the additional public transport services running to get you to and from Mardi Gras celebrations.

If you have to drive and park your vehicle be aware that roads may close around your parked location. Vehicles are not permitted to drive on closed roads or exit car park driveways onto closed roads at any time unless at the direction of NSW Police. 

For parking options in the Sydney CBD visit City of Sydney - Parking.

Special event clearways

Special event clearway parking restrictions will also be in place between 6am Saturday 28 February and 2am Sunday 1 March on roads along and surrounding the parade route in the Sydney CBD, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Moore Park.

Look for the bright yellow signs and read them carefully when parking your vehicle on the day or the night before as clearways come into effect early in the morning. Vehicles left in clearways will be towed.

  • From 6am Saturday 28 February until 2am Sunday 1 March including Oxford Street, Flinders Street, College Street, Wentworth Avenue, Stanley Street, Park Street and Liverpool Street. Clearways will also be in effect on roads surrounding the parade and along detour routes
  • From 11am Saturday 28 February until 2am Sunday 1 March including Elizabeth Street, St Mary’s Road, Albion Street, Castlereagh Street, Campbell Street, Pitt Street, Cleveland Street, Campbell Street, Darlinghurst Road, Chalmers Street, Goulburn Street, Bathurst Street, Liverpool Street, Eddy Avenue, Fitzroy Street, Foveaux Street, Lang Road, South Dowling Street, Moore Park Road and various local roads. In Potts Point clearways will be in effect
  • From 5pm Saturday 28 February until 2am Sunday 1 March on Bayswater Road between Kellett Street/Pennys Lane and Ward Avenue.

Road closure, clearway and Parade Maps:

Clearways are strict no-parking zones for all vehicle types and apply even to local residents and TfNSW Mobility Scheme Permit holders. Check signs carefully as vehicles left in clearways will be towed and a fee applies. If your vehicle is towed, you can search your vehicle registration at the Find My Car website to find its new location, or alternatively call 132 701 to speak to an operator

For the latest traffic conditions, listed clearway locations and maps visit Live Traffic NSW or download a real-time traffic app from the App Store or Google Play.

Taxi

Taxi ranks within the road closure footprint will be inaccessible until roads reopen. Use a nearby rank and continue on foot. Be patient as taxis will be in high demand and heavy traffic is expected.

Don’t get taken for a ride, we want to make sure everyone gets to ride with pride while catching taxis and rideshare. Remember, if you experience a taxi driver refusing your fare, not using a meter or overcharging by demanding a set fare, you can report it by calling the Point to Point Transport Commissioner’s 24-hour Taxi Fare Hotline – 1800 500 410. When providing feedback, please have ready as much information as possible including date, time, location, taxi company, and number plate.

For details of taxi networks servicing the Sydney area, visit Transport Operators.

Rideshare

There are no designated rideshare pick up and drop off locations. Passengers are encouraged to avoid pick up and drop off in the immediate vicinity of the road closures due to expected traffic delays on local roads.

Road closure, clearway and Parade Maps:

Viewing areas

The accessible viewing area is located on Flinders Street between Patterson Lane and Linden Lane.

All guests with accessibility requirements need to register for the accessible viewing area. For more information, see accessible viewing options.

All patrons who register with SGLMG must get off at train at Central Train Station in. From Central Station you will then have access to the free Shuttle Bus service departing from Foveaux Street.

For more details on accessible viewing areas and connecting shuttle buses please visit Mardi Gras – Accessibility.

Taxis & Drop-Off Zone

Wheelchair Accessible Taxi (WAT) bookings can be made via Zero200. Bookings must be made prior to the Mardi Gras Parade night through Zero200.

An accessible taxi/rideshare drop-off and pick-up zone will be available on the corner of Albion and Bourke Streets, Surry Hills.

Transport

Accessible trips are shown in the Trip Planner with the wheelchair icon. You can check 'accessible services only' in the Options to ensure you only see accessible services. Only trip plans with accessible train platforms, ferry wharves and buses will be presented. See accessible travel or download a transport app (check the 'Accessibility' filter).