A stadium crowd of 40,000 spectators cheered on 5,800 marchers from more than 160 parade entries. They showed their pride, celebrated diversity, and drew attention to LGBTQIA+ issues throughout the night. ABC broadcast the event live to homes and viewing parties across the country.

This year’s theme, United We Shine, signified that LGBTQIA+ communities shine brighter together. The 2022 entries incorporated the theme into their final concepts, which covered a range of important issues.

“This year’s Mardi Gras Parade proved why it’s such an important event,” Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras CEO Albert Kruger says. “The Parade gives LGBTQIA+ people a global platform to celebrate the community, but to also draw attention to really important issues.”

“If the last few months have shown us anything, it’s that there is still a long way to go before equality is achieved. Our trans kids are still under continued attack, there are LGBTQIA+ people in Ukraine fighting for their freedoms, there are still countries around the world where LGBTQIA+ people are being killed because they are different.”

“Visibility is a key stepping-stone to acceptance. That is why Mardi Gras is still so important. It gives us the opportunity to show the world how special diversity is, how wonderful equality could be, and it lets us show LGBTQIA+ people from all over the world that they are accepted and they are celebrated.”

2022 is the second year the Parade has been staged at Sydney Cricket Ground due to the pandemic. This setting allowed Mardi Gras to stage a stadium spectacular, featuring performances from Darren Hayes, Vanessa Amorosi, The Wiggles, Mo’Ju, Wafia, Timothy Springs, Prinnie Stevens, and DJs KILIMI, Charlie Villas and Division 4.

“2023 will be a very important year. We will host a truly global LGBTQIA+ pride festival when Sydney WorldPride comes to Australia, the very first time WorldPride has been held in the Southern Hemisphere,” Albert says.

“Sydney WorldPride will feature 17 jam-packed days of events, draw in thousands of international tourists and introduce the world to our amazing First Nations and Asia Pacific LGBTQIA+ communities.”

“2023 will also mark Australia’s 50th anniversary of Gay Pride Week, the 45th anniversary of the first Mardi Gras Parade, and five-year anniversary of Australian marriage equality. So we can promise that the celebrations we’re planning are going to be like nothing ever seen before.”

Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade took place at Sydney Cricket Ground on 5 March.