The best queer parties in Melbourne

If you want to go to Thursgay, go early or wear comfy shoes, because you’ll be waiting a while. The queue often stretches down the street (and around the corner on Thursdays before public holidays, such as Easter), with partygoers ready to stick it out even in bad weather. Music is mostly noughties and now, and the crowd is on the young side – who might be the only people who can party all night on a Thursday. 

Thu 10pm-4am.

Here, queer and ready to dance until dawn – this is not your intro-level party. The music is house and disco, not pop, and the beats are relentless. Everyone here is down to dance – you might want to cancel your early brunch plans the next day. This party moves around, so check the Facebook page to find out where you can get your boogie on. It’s been serving Melbourne’s queer community for almost a decade – if it’s your scene, you’ll soon see why.

Various times and locations. 

If there were an award for best all rounder pub, which every good pub should really strive for, The Fox would always be in the running. Warm, welcoming, and more diverse than most northside pubs, the Fox also hosts Beers for Queers every second month. This free queer party features DJs, performers and a rad queer market from the afternoon until late. 

Every other month, 4pm-1am

An offshoot of the female-only Pinkalicious party, Sundaylicious means come as you are – and come to dance. It’s been going since 2009 and is hosted at various locations around the city. You can make an afternoon of it, with entry from 3pm, or dance all night. Some 500-700 people turn up to each party, and the crowd is majority female. The music is house, with DJs from 4pm. It’s quite the Sunday session – just don’t expect to be all that productive at work come Monday morning.

Various times and locations. 

Adam is a pop-up sans clothes pub for guys that takes over the upstairs area of Sircuit, the popular LGBTQIA club in Fitzroy. You can head over every Monday from now until March 28 from 7.30pm and enjoy live DJs and a happy hour until 9pm. Entry is $15, and it's a queer and straight-friendly event, so get ready to rock out with your c*ck out. 

Mon 7.30pm-late, until March 28 

Celebrate our city's fabulous and fabulously diverse queer community at this party taking over Tokyo Hustle every Thursday. You can expect the usual live DJ and bumping dancefloor, as well as a rotation of performances along the lines of cabaret, burlesque and more. 

Thu 9pm-late

If you're keen on reliving your emo years, make your way to one of the alternative queer parties by Bonez. Think bands covering songs by My Chemical Romance, emo-themed cabaret and burlesque line-ups, DJs spinning pop and punk tunes and drink specials all night. It's the perfect opportunity to break out those extra skinny jeans and smear on some black eyeliner. 

Various times and locations.