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 shows from April Mae June and Cassandra the Queen between 11am-6pm, and later on Déjávu is kicking on the party upstairs with international club DJs and kick-ass queens (pre-sale sold out, door sales only now). There’s loads more inclusive fun happening throughout the week at Universal, see here.

The 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 otherwise sold-out Dirty Disco parade night party that runs until the early hours of the morning. 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 has been turning up the queer party paradise vibes to eleven in honour of Sydney Mardi Gras – with everything from supersized drag brunches, drag ‘n dine extravaganzas and go-go dancers on the bar, to an immersive play revolving around a queer friendship taking over the basement (Back to Birdy). The celebrations will peak on parade night with “Impy Gras” – three levels of drag, DJs and decadence headlined by Angele Anang (Winner of Drag Race Thailand) with a smorgasbord of local legends. 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 night, March 1, with RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni Art Simone, Etcetera Etcetera and JoJo Zaho with loads more talent. You can also rock up to kick on with Impy Sungays – grab a slice from The Pizza Bros, sip on a $12 Spritz and bop along to DJs from 3pm and drag hosts. Plus, gogo dancers curated by local burlesque legend Mama Medusa will have you begging for more. Shows at 8.30pm, and gogo sets at 9.30pm and 10.30pm.

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 this weekend will be electric. Tickets for the Kinselas parade after party cost $30, and you can score them here. Snap up tickets to the closing party on Sunday from $30-$40 over here.

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 – none more so than on the big weekend. Though Palms is usually a line-up-down-the-street kind of affair, you’ll need to buy a ticket to get in on Saturday – there’s a day party that runs from 1pm until 6.30pm, and a night party that kicks off at 7pm and runs until 3.30am on Sunday morning. Tickets start at $20, and you can snap them up over here.

Okay ladies! The Courthouse Hotel (that big pub that towers over Taylor Square) is being taken over by Eden Entertainment Group from LA for Mardi Gras (the world's largest touring women's party) for its much-anticipated Eden Sydney Mardi Gras Parade Viewing + After Party for Queer Womxn + Friends. Get ready for an evening filled with electric energy provided by queer female DJs, live music performers and influential personalities – creating an atmosphere of positivity and celebration of Sydney's vibrant queer community. General admission ($105.49) includes entry only, while VIP admission ($168.70) offers exclusive access to the second level for parade viewing from 6pm–9pm, a welcome glass of sparkling wine upon arrival, and a selection of complimentary canapes. Snatch up tickets over here.

HOT TIP: Time Out readers can score a discount on tickets for the Pullman's Pre-Game Mardi Gras Party! Just use the code "TIMEOUT40" at checkout for $40 off tickets.

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-Game Mardi Gras Party (starting at $189 with our discount) will score you front-row parade access, free-flowing drinks, a hot line-up of drag entertainers led by Maxi Shield, roaming snacks and none other than DJ Carla from Bankstown on the decks, providing a high-energy soundtrack to keep you soaring. Snap up tickets over here. 

For the second year running, Homo House will be taking over Harry’s in Surry Hills for five days of partying with queer performances, DJs and drag artists bringing spicy dance sets, drag bingo, burlesque 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.

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 2024 is a ‘tuck shop’-themed affair hosted by much-loved local queer performer, DJ and multi-hyphenate talent Aunty Jonny. Reclaim the joy of recess in the ‘90s with a rowdy day of DJs and live entertainment surprises from the likes of Papi Chulo. Catch the parade on the big screen, play hopscotch and handball on the courts, and keep energy high with tuck shop treats. No tickets needed, but this will certainly pack out.

Perfectly placed between Oxford Street and Flinders, there are few better spots to settle in for a few hours of frozen cocktails before the parade than Taphouse. This year’s rooftop brunch party is hosted by drag queens Dominique Topp and Danni Issues, with a gin-heavy cocktail menu from Archie Rose. They’re accepting walk-ins for groups of up to ten. 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. Clubby Bears Cubby House is taking over for three weekends, culminating on parade day with sets from Ron Trent, Ben Fester, Magda Bytnerowicz and a closing party on Sunday, March 3, with a headline set from the legendary DJ Sveta. Entry is free on parade day before 9pm if you join the guest list over here, so get there early if you’re keen to dance more and spend less.

As one of the exclusive hospitality partners of Mardi Gras 2024 (part of the Solotel group), The Abercrombie has been hosting a balls-to-the-wall, loved-up party line-up since February 18, when its Fair Day after party in collaboration with Heaps Gay almost (not quite) made up for the fact that the Fair Day itself was cancelled. This weekend, strap in for Sydney’s longest Mardi Gras After-Party – with DJ’s playing until 8am on Sunday and a 24-hour licence. Find out more over here.

Saturday night at Darlo Bar will be hosted by no other than RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under darling Hollywould. DJs will be throwing tunes from 4pm, but it’s at 8pm that Hollywould will step in and amp up the energy. Expect drag icons aplenty and euphoric music from DJ HAYDAY. Entry is free, so you’ll want to get in early. Find out more at the website.

Redfern’s friendly neighbourhood art bar and queer safe space The Bearded Tit is going full Queerdo on Saturday night, the peak of week filled with wholesome and inclusive events. Doors open at 4pm with performances kicking off from 8.30pm with Western Sydney performer/femme queen Juhbahlee and drag artist Jack of all Babes (handyman by day, and sexy party superhero by night). Entry is $10. The Tit is also taking collections of new and pre-loved fabulous garments and accessories, which queen Crystal Love will be taking to share the love of drag with Sistergirls up in the NT (find out more on Insta). As usual, the weekend will close out with Sad Dyke Sundays. 

Surry Hills’ tiki bar Tucano’s is celebrating the big week with a series of sparkly events including a Bottomless Drag Disco Brunch – so you can fuel up on Mediterranean food and unlimited cocktails before hitting the parade. If you’re visiting on the big day (Saturday), you can also score a free makeover session from the in-house shimmer squad. If you find yourself back there on Sunday, you won’t regret it: the recovery brunch runs from 12pm – with $12 Bloody Marys aplenty. Brunch starts at $95pp and you can book in over here.