Hundreds of thousands of revellers donned their best outfits – and even face masks – for Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Drenched in glitter and dressed in bright ensembles, partygoers flooded to Oxford Street for the 42nd annual parade and LGBT celebration on Saturday.
Crowds of about 200,000 gathered to watch the parade, with some attendees deciding to cover-up with face masks amid coronavirus fears.
Performers dressed in shiny gold outfits dance on Oxford Street during Saturday’s parade
A woman in the crowd at Mardi Gras on Saturday wears a face mask amid coronavirus fears
Crowds of about 200,000 gathered to watch the parade, with some attendees deciding to cover-up with face masks amid coronavirus fears
Two Mardi Gras partygoers share a sweet kiss during Saturday’s celebrations in Sydney
Participants march in the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade in Sydney on Saturday
A number of crowd members enjoying Saturday’s festivities from the sidelines were seen wearing face masks.
There are about 12,000 people participating in the parade with hundreds of thousands more watching. The festivities which kicked off with ‘dykes on bikes’ as per tradition.
Of the 191 floats in the parade, several focused on climate change while Australia’s bushfire crisis ‘heroes’ also took front and centre.
Sam Smith waves to the crowd during the Mardi Gras parade on Oxford Street. He is headlining the afterparty
Dua Lipa poses alongside the lifesavers float who took part in the Mardi Gras parade
Crowds cheers for performers who marched along Oxford Street for the 42nd annual parade
Revellers dressed in glitter beam and raise their hands while watching the annual celebrations
Parade creative director Kat Hopper said this year’s ‘What Matters’ theme seeks to stoke debate around social justice, trans rights, sustainability, climate change and love.
Grammy Award-winning UK singer Sam Smith will headline the afterparty alongside American pop performer Kesha and Brazilian drag queen Pablo Vittar.
Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness was spotted walking across Oxford Street during the celebrations.
Thousands of revellers took part in the iconic festival which celebrates sexual equality in the heart of Australia’s biggest city
There are about 12,000 people participating in the parade, which kicked off with ‘dykes on bikes’ as per tradition
A parade participant rode a motorbike along Oxford Street with Angel wings and flowers stuck to her body
Dressed in a carnival outfit, a woman displays a big grin as she poses for the camera on Saturday
Saturday marks the 42nd annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney, where hundreds of thousands of revellers are expected to attend
Revellers in pink one pieces and fish net stockings display rainbow flags during Saturday’s Mardi Gras celebrations
Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness was spotted walking across Oxford Street during the celebrations
Participants prepare in Hyde Park ahead of the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade
‘Dykes on bikes’ opened the parade in Sydney on Saturday. The festivities mark the 42nd anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade
Hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders packed into Oxford Street to watch the Mardi Gras parade
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese made an appearance at the event, smiling at the camera from the crowd.
The parade has drawn a high-visibility police presence, with the riot squad assisted by officers on horseback and members of the sniffer dog unit. It’s understood about 1,000 officers have been tasked for the event.
The parade commemorates the ’78ers, a small group of protesters who were arrested and beaten by police when they tried to march as part of international gay celebrations back in 1978.
NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer Sarah Paterson was one of about 80 RFS members letting their hair down after the punishing bushfire season.
‘I missed Christmas and New Years Eve because I was fighting fires, so this is like Christmas to me,’ she said.
‘My uncle Malcolm – most people would know him as Michelle – was involved with the original ’78ers so being at Mardi Gras has a personal connection for me as well.’
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese made an appearance at the event, smiling at the camera from the crowd
A group of women match their latex body suits with big boots, feathers and dramatic headpieces
Mardi Gras attendees boogie at Sydney’s Hyde Park as celebrations are underway on Saturday
Two women stun in red and yellow carnival costumes, which included beautifully detailed and large headpieces
Parade participants have a last-minute rehearsal before descending on Oxford Street
A couple share a kiss while celebrating the 42nd anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney
Mardi Gras participants pose in Sydney’s Hyde Park before the parade on Saturday
Members of the Qantas float gather before the parade in Sydney’s CBD on Saturday
A reveller with a rainbow of glitter painted across his chest pokes his tongue at the camera
One partygoer covered their face in crystal and silver gems for Saturday’s night of fun
Some revellers used the annual celebration as an opportunity to protest Prime Minister Scott Morrison. ‘Homos against Scomo,’ one sign read
A woman with flowers in her hair and rainbow eyelashes places a crown on another partygoer’s head
The annual festival draws in thousands of revellers who dare to dress in outlandish costumes
A trio dressed – dressed in green and wearing fake floral head pieces – are all smiles before the parade
A group of friends dress in white and gold ancient Greek costumes for Saturday’s night of fun
Dressed like a Greek God, a reveller shows his bare chest and displays golden wings and headpiece
A group of friends opt for zebra print for Saturday’s celebrations in Sydney’s CBD
A reveller dressed in red wings and a flowing white skirt struts for the camera
Two Mardi Gras attendees pose for a picture using a selfie stick on Saturday
A couple dressed in traditional wedding outfits kiss in the middle of Oxford Street ahead of the Mardi Gras parade
Two women dress in glitter ensembles for Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday evening
Great Gatsby! A group of Mardi Gras attendees dress in 1920s themed flapper dresses
A trio of men show their bare chests and decorate themselves with gold accessories and glitter for the night of festivities
A reveller flings their sheer cape with glee at the annual event in Sydney’s CBD on Saturday
One partygoer is seen getting a rainbow makeover for Sydney’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday
Two revellers don barely-there matching poison ivy costumes, completing their look with green sneakers
A participant poses for a photo ahead of the 42nd annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade in Sydney
Two smiling partygoers dress in bright coloured wigs ahead of the parade on Saturday
Sisters Laura and Jacinda Purcell from Penrith have been coming to the festival for years but it’s their first time marching in the parade.
‘I’ve been coming to Mardi Gras every year since I was 14,’ says Laura.
‘We just love everything about it – that feeling of being accepted by everyone.’
James Cowin and George Stephan travelled from Brisbane to march in the parade.
‘We came last year and it was amazing,’ said Mr Cowin.
‘It’s such a positive experience but it also highlights such important issues,’ Mr Stephan said.
A group of paramedics – who appear to work at the control centre – smile for the camera while dressed in their work outfits
A NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer displays a rainbow flag ahead of the famous parade on Saturday evening
Two women dressed in pink t-shirts and feather boas embrace during Mardi Gras celebrations on Saturday
Bright lights and outlandish costumes packed into Hyde Park and Oxford Street for the night of festivities
Fellow partygoers help add the finishing touches to the colourful outfits in Sydney on Saturday
A group dressed in glitter and leopard print pose for the camera with colourful hula hoops
Say cheese! Three glamourous revellers pose for a selfie ahead of the parade on Saturday
A pair dressed in muscle tanks and shorts smile at each other while holding an ‘out for Australia’ sign
One reveller crosses the road near Sydney’s Hyde Park in a silver glitter outfit and high heeled shoes
Dressed in a green one-piece, a reveller waves a rainbow pride flag