The famous Mardi Gras PARTY has been “paused” for 2026.
The annual event, which takes place after the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, will not go ahead this year, with recently-appointed CEO Jesse Matheson saying the decision was made “following two years of significant financial loss”.
“A major contributor to that loss has been the Mardi Gras PARTY, which has run at a deficit every year since 2020 following the loss of the Royal Hall of Industries (RHI),” Matheson said in a statement on Tuesday (February 3).
“As part of stabilising the organisation, the decision was made to cancel all events except Parade, Fair Day, Laneway and the Glitter Club viewing area, and to create Black Cherry and a new celebration event for the First Nations community, After Party with Blak Joy. This meant cancelling all other events, including the Mardi Gras PARTY.”
The Mardi Gras PARTY has previously been headline by some massive local and international music talent, including Cher, George Michael, Cyndi Lauper, Sam Smith and Kylie Minogue.
“This decision was not taken lightly. Facing an existential threat to the future of Mardi Gras, and with new sponsorship uncertain, it was absolutely the right decision,” Matheson’s statement continues.
“For those unfamiliar with its scale, the Mardi Gras PARTY is an approximately $2 million event – effectively a festival within a festival. At times, it has cost more to deliver than the Parade and Fair Day, while also being our most expensive ticketed event for the community. It has always been a significant undertaking.
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“After reviewing the Mardi Gras PARTY’s financial performance, capacity constraints following the loss of the RHI, community feedback, and changing demographics of attendees, it became clear that the event in its traditional format was no longer fit for purpose or aligned with our future vision to be a celebration event for our entire LGBTIQA+ community.
“As CEO, I could not continue to sell expensive tickets to an event I did not believe offered value for our community, honoured the Mardi Gras PARTY’s legacy, or protected the organisation’s financial future.”
Matheson added that despite their best efforts to keep the show going, the event then lost its headline artist over the Christmas break making the situation even more difficult.
However, he has assured festivalgoers that the party will return.
Read the full statement here.
