Please ensure that you have read all the information below and the 2025 Parade Entrant Terms and Conditions before submitting your application online.  Submit your application here.

For some visual inspiration and photos of previous parade entries, please visit our gallery here. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Parade team via email at parade@mardigrasarts.org.au 

The 2025 Festival theme Free to be is a celebration of the strides toward true LGBTQIA+ equality while also acting as a global reminder that our fight is far from over, and that we are not truly free until we are all free to be.

“Free To Be is a manifesto of what our community has desired and fought for dozens of decades, and the reason why we will continue to be here, fighting, celebrating and being fiercely visible for the generations to come,” said Gil Beckwith, CEO of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. “Our theme is about making a statement to embrace and rejoice in our unique individuality as well as our collective identity. It is about the bravery to rise for each other in the darkest of times and protect the progress we’ve made, using it as a springboard toward the progress we deserve.”

If you’re a community group or a not-for-profit organisation and would like assistance understanding the theme or developing your float concept, please reach out to the Parade team at parade@mardigrasarts.org.au.

Eligible applications must:

Be submitted by: 

• Be submitted by:
  • LGBTQIA+ – Individuals, community groups or organisations primarily involving LGBTQIA+ people. Organisations must be able to prove their main aim is to represent or support the LGBTQIA+ communities. These Applicants must communicate a message relevant to the LGBTQIA+ communities; or 
  • Non-LGBTQIA+ – Individuals, community groups or organisations who do not identify as LGBTQIA+ but supports the rights, achievements, culture, and aspirations of the LGBTQIA+ communities. These Applicants must communicate a clear message of support or celebration relating to the LGBTQIA+ communities and must not use an abbreviation of LGBTQIA+. These Applicants must not sell themselves or what they do unless they are directly promoting how they support or celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities. 
  • Include a detailed creative concept to ensure SGLMG has a clear understanding of the concept, artistic ideas, production values, themes and messaging. 
  • Include a minimum of two (2) supporting documents to visually communicate the creative concept. Any production designs must include dimensions. Supporting documents includes visual designs of costumes, outfits, props, signage with exact wording, mood board references, participants formation, etc and must include details of the Float Vehicle, if using one. 
• Have relevance to the 2025 Festival theme. 
• Comply with all Terms and Conditions as outlined by SGLMG.  
• Not be discriminatory, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic, racist, sexist or breach any defamation law. Applications will not be accepted from organisations who have demonstrated any of the above in previous Parades or in their general business. 

SGLMG will not accept Applications from tobacco companies. 

1. Submit your completed Parade Application form online by 5PM, Thursday 12th September 2024 via our online Parade Portal. You will need to create a user account to submit the form online. 

2. The Curatorial Committee, comprised of representatives from both Sydney Mardi Gras and our community, will assess all applications based on the below selection criteria with weighted scoring: 
   • Representation of, relevance and benefit to LGBTQIA+ communities (30%) 
   • Provides a well-described and creative concept (25%) 
   • Ability to plan and deliver the creative concept and entry safely (20%) 
   • Relevance to the 2024 Sydney Mardi Gras Festival theme (15%) 
   • Meet the eligibility and conditions of entry (10%) 

Under no circumstances will Sydney Mardi Gras alter or make exceptions to the selection criteria to match an individual Application. 

If Sydney Mardi Gras receives more Applications than the total capacity allows and your Application has met the selection criteria, Sydney Mardi Gras may review your Application based on previous Parade history and support of LGBTQIA+ communities. Additionally, LGBTQIA+ community groups and organisations will receive first preference. Sydney Mardi Gras encourages non-LGBTQIA+ organisations to consider sponsoring or partnering with a LGBTQIA+ organisation for their Parade Entry. 

3. Applicants will be notified electronically on the outcome of their application on Thursday 10th October 2024 by 6:00pm. 

4. To secure placement in the Parade, Successful Applicants must complete the following: 
   • Complete payment of the Parade Entry Fee by Monday 2 December 2024. 
   • Provide any requested information to Sydney Mardi Gras and submit additional forms by the deadline (see Key Dates below). 
   • Attend the mandatory Parade Entrants Briefing session. 
   • Register the full name, phone number, email address and postal code of all individual Participants by Friday 21 February 2025. 

Sydney Mardi Gras charges a small fee to Entrants to meet a small proportion of the core costs of staging the Parade. Fees are set according to the type and size of group/organisation. Payment is only required for successful applicants. Refer to table below for categories and fees. All prices are in $AUD and include GST.

ENTRY CATEGORY	FEE	DESCRIPTION	PARTICIPANT CAPACITY
Individual or group of up to 5 Parade Participants	$63	A single member of the LGBTQIA+ community or group of up to five people.	1-5 pax
Community Group with 6-40 Participants	$174	A social group comprised of friends/family, or a NFP incorporated association such as local sporting clubs or support groups.	6-40 pax
Community Group with 41-80 Participants	$349	A social group comprised of friends/family, or a NFP incorporated association such as local sporting clubs or support groups.	41-80 pax
Government Organisation	$1198	Any government organisation.	80 pax
Not for Profit Organisation with less than 50 employees	$293	NFP organisations including charities, churches, and services organisations.	80 pax
Not for Profit Organisation with 51-500 employees	$600	NFP organisations including charities, churches, and services organisations.	80 pax
Not for Profit Organisation with 501-1000 employees	$866	NFP organisations including charities, churches, and services organisations.	80 pax
Not for Profit Organisation with more than 1000 employees	$1198	NFP organisations including charities, churches, and services organisations.	80 pax
Political Party	$1198	Any group/organisation that is representing or has affiliations with political parties.	60 pax
Small Business	$1131	A micro or small business conducting general business activity for LGBTQIA+ and non-LGBTQIA+ communities. This category includes all event promoters. (Medium-Large businesses can only enter the Parade via partnership agreements)	80 pax
Tertiary Education Institute	$1198	Any university or tertiary education institute, including TAFE and colleges.	80 pax

What Sydney Mardi Gras will do:

• Assess whether an Entrant and their entry aligns to the selection criteria and core values of the Parade and SGLMG. 
• Assess an Entrant on their creative concepts and production standard. 
• Consult with Entrants to realise their creative potential. 
• Work with an Entrant to maximise the impact of their messaging to audiences. 
• Work towards delivering a Parade that is designed to inspire, excite and challenge audiences. 
• Communicate clearly and apply the same measures and treatment to all entries. 
• Identify any elements that may require expert advice. 
• Identify any elements detailed that violate the 2025 Parade Entrant Terms and Conditions and provide advice back to the Entrant. 
• Respond to queries in a timely manner. 

What Sydney Mardi Gras won’t do:

• Censor counter viewpoints.
• Allow illegal activities or ambush marketing.
• Allow messages that discriminate or may cause harm to others.

What Sydney Mardi Gras expects from Entrants:

• Participate and be open to consultation with the Sydney Mardi Gras team.
• Adhere to the 2025 Parade Entrant Terms and Conditions, and any instruction provided before and on Parade day.
• Honour your agreement with us; your parade entry is what was approved on your application.
• Attend mandatory briefings including the Entrant Briefing.
• To use the available resources to produce a visually enticing entry.
• Businesses and government entries must set a high artistic standard.
• The Parade is a protest and a celebration that is world-renowned and belongs to a creative and vibrant community. All Entrants are expected not just to take part, but to contribute to the artistic and political goals of Sydney Mardi Gras and help create an event that is world standard.
• Show respect, listen and follow requests from Sydney Mardi Gras staff and volunteers.
  

DATE	ACTION
12PM (AEST), Thursday 15 August 2024	Parade applications open
5PM (AEST), Thursday 12 September 2024	Parade applications close
6pm (AEDT), Thursday 10 October 2024	Applicants notified of outcome by 6pm (AEDT).
By 11:59pm (AEDT), Monday 2 December 2024	Entrant organisers must submit payment for their Parade entry fee.
5pm (AEDT), Friday 6 December 2024	Entrant organisers must complete the “Parade Entrant Additional Information Form” and provide the following information: – Final marketing copy – Final creative concept, if this has significantly changed from initial application – Participant information confirmed, such as any accessibility considerations, if you have invited/confirmed any notable people – Final music details – Signed copy of Supplementary Media Release Form
Tuesday 14 January 2025	Some entrant organisers who have special effects, technical equipment, pushables or comprehensive float designs will be required to provided documents, such as technical drawings, risk assessments, or other documents, for further SGLMG review.    Float Marshall contact details will need to be provided by all entrant organisers.
5pm (AEDT), Friday 31 January 2025	If using a float vehicle, entrant organisers must complete additional forms via the Parade Portal website to confirm the following:  – Driver first and last names  – Driver licence number, including state of issue and expiry date  – Driver mobile phone number  – Nominated person/s who will collect the Float Vehicle Pass
Sunday 2 February 2025	Entrant organisers must attend the mandatory Entrants Briefing on this date. This briefing provides key information on Parade day operations, logistics and safety. Successful applicants will be updated on confirmed time and venue.
5PM (AEDT), Friday 21 February 2025	Entrant organisers must register and provide Sydney Mardi Gras with the full name, phone number, email address and post code of all individual participants. All information will be used in accordance with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras’ privacy policy on the button below and is required for ticketing and contact tracing purposes.
Saturday 1 March 2025	Parade Day Entrant groups will be given staggered times:  – Vehicle arrival: 3:30PM – 6:45PM  – Participant registration and arrival: 3PM – 7PM  – Parade start time: 7:30PM – 10:30PM  – Parade event ends: 11PM  All times are subject to change.    If using a float vehicle, entrant organisers must provide the confirmed vehicle registration number by 12:00PM.  Successful applicants will be provided more information and dates regarding participant tickets and collection of Float Vehicle Passes in November.