Locations
Drag Music Cabaret Brings Mardi Gras Energy to Gosford
This Saturday 21 Feb night, FunHaus Factory invites Central Coast audiences into a vibrant world of colour, music and celebration presenting a one-of-a-kind Pop Art
Mature Skin by trans playwright Gabrielle Fallen
Mature Skin 11 - 22 March 2026 (Wed - Sat 7.30pm | Sun 5pm) Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre, 189 High Street, Northcote, Melbourne $38
Big Freedia, bounce music & queer culture hits Mebourne’s Fed Square
Direct from New Orleans, the undisputed Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia will headline a high-octane celebration of hip hop, rap and queer culture at Melbourne's
Cultivating Eros – Men’s Tantric Retreat
Cultivating Eros - Men's Tantric Retreat April 16-19, 2026 (Friday afternoon arrival to Monday morning departure) Location: Yanada Retreat Centre, Hawkesbury NSW https://www.andreasembodiment.com/tantricretreat Do you
Qtopia exhibition: LOVING Photographs of Men in Love 1850s-1950s
Qtopia Sydney and the European Union Delegation to Australia presents LOVING A Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s–1950s Curated photographs from the Hugh Nini
Ballroom Ngunnawal launches
Ballroom Ngunnawal, Canberra’s Ballroom scene, continues to grow as a space for culture, community and visibility. Rooted in a global tradition created by Black and
Book review: ‘Craze’ by Stephan Győry
CRAZE: An Insider Account of Sydney's Early Raves, Doofs & Festivals by Stephan Győry Reviewed by Stuart Ridley I can’t remember when I met Stephan Győry
Enter a queer utopia with The Huxleys
In the midst of Heroes and Taboos, Melbourne's The Huxleys will host the House of Heroes: Late Night dance party, as part of the Super
Electric Disco feat. DJ Raydar @ ChiChiz
STUN's Danny Corvini, aka DJ Raydar, will spin a mix of queer classics, house anthems, remixes, Y2K and retro pop at Canberra's brand new LGBTIQA+
Squealing Pig brings Mardi Gras home with ‘Squeal & Strut’ Pride party packs
Mardi Gras 2026 | Theme: ECSTATICA Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and long-standing official wine partner Squealing Pig Wines are inviting Australians everywhere to
Mardi Gras Fair Day returns for 2026
PICNICS, POP AND PRIDE: FAIR DAY RETURNS FOR 2026 Janice Robinson, Blusher and Courtney Act headline Sydney’s biggest all-ages LGBTQIA+ celebration Sydney Gay and Lesbian
From Stadium Pride to Streets of Reckoning: Mardi Gras 2022–2025
When the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras hit the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2022, it felt more like a holding pattern than a reunion.
TRANSGENRE launches free all-trans concert series ‘Euphoria Month’
TRANSGENRE – the largest grassroots initiative celebrating trans and non-binary voices in Australian music – has teamed up with Metro A.i.R to launch the first-ever Euphoria Month, a
Unhinged, high-camp, deeply sexy sketch comedy hits the Q Theatre
Thursday, 5 February 2026 The Q Theatre, Queanbeyan Tickets $30-$40 at https://theq.net.au/whats-on/hot-department/ Contains haze, coarse language and adult themes, recommended for ages 16+ Hot Department
Book review: ‘Don Bachardy: An Artist’s Life, An Oral History’ by Michael Schreiber
Don Bachardy: An Artist’s Life, An Oral History By Michael Schreiber Citadel Press Books © 2025 Available at https://www.amazon.com/Don-Bachardy-Artists-Michael-Schreiber Reviewed by Christos Linou 4 ½
Tina Cox presents an evening of First Nations and POC drag performance
January 23rd, 2026 illustrious Dance and Burlesque 7:00 PM $25.00 https://www.eventbrite.com/.../the-very-lubly-show... Welcome to The Very Lubly Show! This drag show is a powerful celebration of
Shygirl Presents Club Shy
Shygirl Presents Club Shy 8pm, Fri 23 January Liberty Hall, Moore Park, Sydney Tickets $81.46+BF One of the most exciting forces to emerge from London’s
Queer PowerPoint plugs into Canberra
Queer PowerPoint Wednesday 11 March 2026 | Tuggeranong Arts Centre | Book tickets to attend Thursday 12 March 2026 | The Q – Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre | Book
Big Gay C*nty Cabaret brings queer chaos to Mardi Gras
Friday 30th January, Doors 7:30pm, starts 8pm Factory Floor, Factory Theatre, Marrickville Tickets: General Admission $35 Big Gay C*nty Cabaret is a chaotic, interactive queer
Ready SET Drag – A Workshop With Sexy Galexy
Ready SET Drag A Workshop With Sexy Galexy Sun, 1 Feb, 10am - Sun, 22 Mar, 1pm FunHaus Factory - The Mini Haus Gosford NSW,
Melbourne queer travel guide
Midsumma Carnival by Adam Noviello In those hot, dreamy months across December to February, Melbourne comes alive like no other city
First look inside ChiChiz
Located right in the heart of the city in the Northbourne Avenue/Sydney Building position that was formerly occupied by Mezcal’s (and 5th Avenue before that),
The National Portrait Gallery’s legendary queer party returns in February
House of Heroes Late Night Friday 20 February 2026 7pm – 12.30am Early Bird tickets 20% off (applied at checkout), limited release Adult $40 | Concession $36 | Circle of Friends $36 |
Support Trans Comedy on the Central Coast
Australia’s trans and gender-diverse comedy talent is set to take centre stage this December as Funhaus Factory, the Central Coast’s home of inclusive culture, presents
Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud to headline Mardi Gras Laneway
NADINE COYLE TO MAKE HER SOLO AUSTRALIAN DEBUT AT MARDI GRAS LANEWAY 2026 Laneway lineup announced. Final tickets on sale. Sydney Gay and Lesbian
Dipa-Mahbuba-Yasmin – When Speech is Forced Down, Art Must Speak
Asexual Bangladeshi artist Dipa-Mahbuba-Yasmin shares beautiful art with tragic circumstances at Canberra's SpringOUT Festival. The title of your talk at the Shine Dome on Tuesday
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras launches first official app
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras has taken a bold step into the digital age with the launch of its first official app, writes
Kesha is coming to Bondi Beach for Mighty Hoopla!
Dust off your glitter, pull on your platform boots and prepare for pop mayhem — because the UK’s most iconic celebration of pop culture, MIGHTY
Non-binary actor donates big to the Canberra Youth Theatre
Canberra-born actor Liv Hewson, star of the Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet and Showtime’s Yellowjackets, has donated $100,000 to the Canberra Youth Theatre (CYT). The
Dyke-onic DJ Sveta
Sydney Mardi Gras party a few years ago: Sveta is coming to the end of a long set heating up a packed dancefloor before an
Oxford St at the crossroads
For decades, Sydney has been the home of Australia’s largest queer community. Of course, this has been spurred on by the annual Mardi Gras, one
Cult Classics with Venus Mantrap presents ‘Cruising’
Friday 24 October at 8pm Arc Cinema, National Sound & Film Archive, Canberra Tickets $16+BF/$12+BF conc. here Cult Classics with Venus Mantrap explores the archives
Call out for volunteers for the 2026 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is calling on volunteers to be part of the team that delivers one of the world’s most iconic LGBTQIA+ festivals.
A brief history of the Sydney Gay and Mardi Gras
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras rapidly evolved to the tastes and needs of a burgeoning queer community in its early days from 1978 through
Jett Blyton: Party like it’s 2012!
“My dad was probably my biggest musical inspiration growing up,” says fresh faced Canberra singer, Jett Blyton. “He was in bands when he was younger
THE STORY OF THE OARS: A hidden thing can’t remain hidden forever
Opening at Canberra's The Street Theatre 19 – 21 September 2025, get ready to dive into The Story of The Oars in The Street company’s
Xanadu 45th Anniversary Special Screening at Sydney Underground Film Festival
Host Maynard Brings Celestial Camp to Life at Dendy Newtown Sydney Underground Film Festival (SUFF) is thrilled to present a vibrant, retro-infused celebration of Xanadu
Qtopia Sydney Returns as the Queer Hub for Sydney Fringe Festival
Qtopia Sydney will once again be part of the beating heart of Sydney Fringe Festival, hosting the official Queer Hub from 2-27 September 2025. For
Affordable Art Fair opening night in Melbourne Royal Exhibition Building assembles country’s boldest talents
Running from 28 August to 31 August 2025, the Melbourne Affordable Art Fair collects under one roof some of the country’s most vibrant and visually
Youth Cabaret announces its first theatre production, Ride the Cyclone
A story of life, death and what might come next, Ride the Cyclone follows six young choir members. After being tragically killed in a freak
HOTLINE is the monthly gay club Sydney’s been missing
Hello? …We’ve answered. HOTLINE is the monthly gay club you’ve been missing - calling you across two levels from Kings Cross Hotel, Sydney. Pick up.
Minimalist living, maximum harmony: Lucy + Hayley’s queer road to freedom
South Coast stars Lucy Mills and Hayley Neal are striking a chord with their ingenious plan to chase music dreams while dodging sky-high living costs
F’Arq! Iconic Oxford Street gay club goes straight
What makes a gay club gay? It’s a question I’ve been mulling over since the launch of Aura, the new nightclub that has taken over
Sita is the ‘she’ shaping history
In a whirlwind six-month journey across Australia, tour guide and activist Sita Sargeant set out with a bold mission: to uncover and amplify the stories
Review: The Big Burlesque Show
Across two packed nights at long-standing North Melbourne performance space Meat Market, local Burlesque legend Domino de Jour gave attendees a showcase of homegrown talent
Dark, sweaty, intimate: Sydney’s new gay party, Flash
Sydney’s queer nightlife has its fair share of ups and downs, with many parties fizzling out after Mardi Gras or struggling to draw crowds during
New single from Melbourne’s queer indie pop artist, Harper Bloom
A rising voice in the independent music scene, with over half a million Spotify streams and column inches in leading industry publications from The
Review: Daddy, Don’t Drop the Soap!
DADDY, DON’T DROP THE SOAP! As part of Qtopia Pride Fest 2025 Until 6 June, 9:30pm. The Loading Dock at Qtopia Sydney, 301 Forbes St,
Rising queer pop star THORNE drops some honey
Queer pop star on the rise THORNE drops new single “Honey” – and, girl, is it sweet, writes Liam Heitmann-Ryce-LeMercier. Barbados-born, Guyanese-Australian queer pop artist
Drag queens shine at the Sydney Writers’ Festival
Review: Drag Queens Down Under Friday 23 May Sydney Writers' Festival @ Carriageworks Reviewed by Jo Falvey Having been glued to the edge of my
The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave
Photo by Matt Hurley Bringing their uniquely disciplined (and extremely high-energy) dance style to Rising – Melbourne’s arts, music, and live
Reviewed: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Showing until April 5 at Belco Arts. Tickets at https://www.belcoarts.com.au/curious/ Reviewed by Ali Khan I was
Review: Duino (Mardi Gras Film Festival)
7PM Thursday 3 April, National Film and Sound Archive Canberra Tickets https://queerscreen.org.au/sessions/duino-3/ Enter discount code STUNDuino for $17 tickets to Duino at Mardi Gras Film
Cafe Stepping Stone – empowering migrant women
The ACT’s Local Hero award recipients for 2025 are passionate about empowering migrant women, writes Jo Falvey. “We won an award recently, and afterwards, as
You spin me round(about)
Many of us have driven around Canberra’s Rainbow Roundabout but what does it mean to the community? Ali Khan finds out. Located at the heart
Navigating Identity and Humor: Holly Hazlewood’s Bold Stand in Comedy
“I’m very proud to bring an hour of queer comedy at a time when, again, queer art of any kind is being scrutinized at a
SHFPACT launches free STI Testing clinic for under 30s
Helping Canberrans be good lovers, SHFPACT launches free STI Testing clinic for under 30s Dedicated to helping Canberrans be the best lovers they can be,
Review: Qwire’s The Sound of Us concert
As part of SpringOut 2024, Canberra Qwire presented The Sound of Us, which was not only the celebration of local LGBTIAQ+ chorists, but a joining
Review: Briefs Bite Club feat. Sahara Beck
Created during the pandemic, Briefs: Bite Club featuring Sahara Beck was the sweet injection of sex and glamour that the 2024 SpringOUT program was thirsting
Zev Aviv on No Cops at SpringOUT
In your words, could you please describe the ‘No Cops at SpringOUT’ cause for readers? No Cops at SpringOUT is really similar to a lot
Heaven is a place on earth
I used to DJ at Heaven Nightclub in Canberra’s Garema Place pretty much every weekend between 1997 and 2001. My sidekick Jono and I also
Review: Drag Cabaret Danger Zone
Drag Cabaret: Danger Zone Friday 27 September at Smith's Alternative, Canberra Reviewed by Jo Falvey and Hannah Head The bold yellow warning signs screaming "Danger
Sexy Galexy: Putting on the glitz
Spring came roaring in like a lion for Sydney drag king Sexy Galexy with a whirlwind for the (last ever) Broken Heel festival, DJ sets
Inner West Pride Centre opens
The beating heart of Sydney’s LGBTIQA+ community moved west in August with the opening of the Inner West Pride Centre in the Newtown Town Hall
Support your local Pride
I’ve been involved in Fair Day since 2017, Meridian’s flagship event since the early 2000s (formerly AIDS Action Council). I’ve watched it grow from 1,200
The ACT’s rainbow vote
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has taken aim at the Liberal’s lack of solid commitment to the Canberra queer community in the lead up to
Review: Gaudy Ball
What a spectacular night at the Polo Club! KREWD presented the Gaudy Ball on the 14th of September, and it was truly a memorable extravaganza.
Pride in Paradise
In his first year in the role of marketing, Jack Bailey is enthusiastic about the 16-day program and its offering not only for locals but
More Grindr attacks, no cops at Fair Day
Canberra’s LGBTIQA+ community is divided over the decision to exclude the police from having a presence at this year’s SpringOUT Fair Day, either in-or-out of
What’s left behind?
Director Jarrad West moved from Perth to the ACT in 2006 and formed Everyman Theatre, which is now in its 16th year and has become
Queer Pavilion at the Canberra Art Biennial
October 17 to 31 Queer Pavilion at the Vault at Dairy Road https://canberraartbiennial.com *** This year the Canberra Art Biennial is proud to present the
Canberra Qwire Trivia Night 2024
Canberra Qwire Trivia Night 2024 Sat 21 Sep, 7pm-10pm @ Weston Creek Community Centre Tickets $25/$20 conc. at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/canberra-qwire-trivia-night-2024-tickets-977900385377?aff=oddtdtcreator *** Join us for a fun and
Fountain Lakes In Lockdown: A Drag Parody Play
Fountain Lakes In Lockdown: A Drag Parody Play 13 Sep 2024 to 15 Sep 2024 Erindale Theatre It’s August, 2021. Kath is up to pussy’s
Coastal Twist Festival returns
Get ready for an unforgettable springtime escape this October long weekend with the Coastal Twist LGBTIQA Arts and Culture Festival. Set on the stunning Central
Heaps Gay Hot Mess
8pm-3am, Saturday 10 August The Vault, Dairy Rd, Fyshwick Tickets https://www.thevault.place/event-listing-1/heaps-gay Heaps Gay are heading to Canberra for a messy, indulgent & inclusive art party
Kaleidoscope III open now to queer artists
Kaleidoscope III Celebrating LGBTQIA+ pride Generator Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre ENTRIES CLOSE: Midnight Friday 13 September 2024 Opening: 6pm Friday 18 October 2024 Exhibition: 18
Canberra Qwire’s Out and About singing workshops
Canberra Qwire Presents "OUT and About" Workshops: Fostering Community and Connection through Song Canberra Qwire, proudly LGBTQIA+, is thrilled to announce the "OUT and About"
Camp-Berra float quits Sydney Mardi Gras for Wagga Wagga
Richard Allen (aka Rachel) put the Canberra gay community in the spotlight back in 1980 with the first ever Camp-Berra float at the Sydney Gay
Another way to connect
You may have heard about tantra during some late night googling or amongst cheeky conversations with friends about the sexy massages you've recently had. What
Beau Lamarre-Condon court date announced
Former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon did not appear at Sydney’s Downing Centre local court in June when an eight-week adjournment to August 13 for the
Brendan De La Fabulous
The Kings Cross end of Sydney’s Darlinghurst is swinging again thanks to Brendan De La Hay and his wild new plaything, the Emerald Room, writes
The ACT’s rainbow vote
What should queer Canberrans expect if the ACT Liberals win at the territory election in October, Hannah Head asks opposition leader Elizabeth Lee. Canberra is
A fresh Green perspective
Isabel Mudford is the new Greens for candidate and brings a wealth of experience, writes Hannah Head. The ACT Greens have officially selected Isabel Mudford
Queer, disabled, successful
Sitting at home one day, Wayne Herbert was feeling increasingly frustrated at the state of the conversation around the richly diverse disability community, which includes
WHAT’S LEFT UNSAID campaign exposes trans and gender diverse discrimination
The Victorian Government has announced the launch of The Unsaid Says a Lot, a groundbreaking campaign which aims to raise public awareness of the everyday
Guys Loving Guys Peer Support Group
Each Tuesday, 6:30 - 7:30 beginning 4th June Fitzroy Library, 128 Moor St Fitzroy, Meeting Room 1* Peer to peer sharing, in a sacred space powerfully
New Meridian video drops
In 2022, Meridian launched a new video engagement tool – a 5-minute short called 'Welcome To Meridian'. Brainchild of Community Engagement Manager, Lee Caldwell, the
The Mardi Gras Road Trip
Newcastle Flicking through the collections from the Hunter Rainbow History Group, Newcastle's rich and extensive queer history is dazzling. Highlighting both the vibrancy and pain
‘Yes!’ to the roundabout makeover
A peculiarly Canberra landmark, the Rainbow Roundabout on Lonsdale Street in Braddon is a much-loved and photographed feature of our capital. Painted in 2017 to
The Power of Sharing Lived Experiences
With over 17 published books, two TEDx talks, a fortnightly radio show and weekly postings on their blog, Yenn Purkis is a leading voice in
Yokelust is a triple threat
Originally from Batemans Bay, Canberra-based Yiannis Nikodellis is one active bod. In between DJing and making music under the name Yokelust, he’s also an artist
Big goals in A Tiny Studio
A queer-run fitness studio in Canberra is making exercise accessible to all members of the LGBTIQA+ community, writes Holly Hazlewood. Finding a safe exercise space
In Bed With Jerry, the Madonna collector
You wouldn’t know from his suburban Canberra home that Jerry Kirbell is a massive Madonna collector. There’s no sign of the Material Girl anywhere, writes
Road to asylum paved in danger
The challenges faced by queer refugees do not stop at the border, discovers Holly Hazlewood. As the rights of queer people around the world are
Seahorse Playgroup launches in Canberra
There’s a new playgroup for queers* in the capital, writes Jo Falvey. When Frankie (he/him) and Aevi (they/them) were living in Melbourne they had been
Infinity Worm review
INFINITY WORM SATURDAY 16 SEPTEMBER, GOOLABRI ESTATE A.C.T. As someone who was part of Canberra’s original rave scene of the early ‘90s, I know that
Out of the Shadows
Out of the Shadows is an exhibition of digital drawings, crochet sculpture and video works by Megan Munro. The works reflect Munro's life as a
It’s electrifying!
Wollongong-based T is the artist behind the instagram account @neon.bodies, where hot guys from the internet are given a glow up. Interview by Christos Linou
The National Museum of Australia transforms in a celebration of Queer history
Having written the book on queering the museum, Mr Middleton is part of the team that has brought together the National Museum of Australia’s upcoming
