Hundreds of thousands of people will line the streets of Sydney for Saturday night’s 48th Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, but an activist float has been pulled at the last minute.

Pride in Protest, a left-wing group that has marched in the past with Palestinian flags, was banned from the event after not replying to a formal warning by organisers.

The organisation was emailed by Mardi Gras boss Jesse Matheson at 11am on Friday asking for it to remove an Instagram post characterising a Jewish float, Dayenu, as ‘pro-genocide’ and alleging they ‘support genocide’.

Mardi Gras was happy to support Pride in Protest but gave the group until 5pm that same day to remove the posts.

Pride in Protest did not reply to the email, and so was banned from the parade.

The group’s spokesperson Jean Maxine said they didn’t reply because the emails were sent during business hours to a member who was at their job at the time.

Pride in Protest did not wish to comment further on what it called a ‘shameful decision’ when contacted by the Daily Mail, but said it would be gathering at Town Hall at 3.30pm.

‘We did not comply with Minns’ pro-genocide crackdown via anti-protest laws, and we have not complied with this censorship by the Mardi Gras CEO,’ the group posted on its Facebook page on Friday.  

Pride in Protest won’t feature at the Mardi Gras this year after a controversial Instagram post

Mardi Gras boss Jesse Matheson sent the group a warning email

The email sent to Pride in Protest, to which it did not reply 

Meanwhile, more than 10,000 marchers and 200 floats will descend on Oxford Street on Saturday night following the parade theme of ‘Ecstatica’.

‘Ecstatica is about euphoria as resistance, a reminder that our collective queer joy is on a break from the battle,’ Mr Matheson told 9news.com.au.

Floats for this year’s parade will include companies like Canva, Coles and Qantas, the NSW SES Pride, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Police and NSW Ambulance.

Like many Sydney fixtures held following the Bondi terrorist attack, the event will feature police from the Public Order and Riot Squad carrying high-powered rifles as added security.

However, NSW Police have said there is no specific, active or imminent threat to the public.

When is the 2026 Sydney Mardi Gras?

The main procession starts at 7.30pm, proceeding down Oxford Street, Flinders Street and Anzac Parade. 

It will then pass through the Taylor Square Glitter Club viewing area.

The parade is due to wrap up at 10.30pm.

Do I need tickets?

The event is free and unticketed for spectators, but some tickets can be bought for better viewing of the parade.

About 10,000 marchers are expected to hit the Sydney streets tonight 

At least 200 floats will be on show at the parade in Sydney

Can I watch it on TV?

Yes, the parade will be broadcast live on ABC TV and ABC iview from 7.30pm.

What public transport is available?

For the first time, train, light rail, and metro services will run a 24-hour timetable for an event other than New Year’s Eve.

There will be added train services late at night and early in the morning to help parade-goers get home, but from 1am, not all train lines will run regular services, so plan ahead.

Metro services will run every five minutes from 5pm until midnight, every 10 minutes until 2am, and subsequently every 20 minutes until 5am on Sunday.

The light rail will run around the clock until 5am on Sunday.

What roads are closed?

Major roads across Sydney’s CBD up to Moore Park will be shut from 4pm on Saturday and will not reopen until 2am on Sunday.

Road closures along the parade route include: Liverpool Street, Oxford Street between College Street and Darlinghurst Road, Flinders Street southbound from Oxford Street to Moore Park Road, and sections of Crown Street.

Sections of South Dowling Street between Oxford Street and Fitzroy Street will also be closed, together with Anzac Parade southbound from Moore Park Road to Lang Road, including the Eastern Distributor Randwick Anzac Parade off-ramp.

The metro line will run all night to help parade-goers get home

The Mardi Gras after party, attended in previous years by Kylie Minogue, will not take place 

‘Leave the car at home,’ Transport for NSW coordinator-general Howard Collins said.

‘Check signs carefully because your vehicle will be towed.’

What will the weather be like?

Unfortunately for parade fans, the wet weather that’s plagued Sydney in recent days will persist through the night with a chance of showers hitting by 8pm.

Longer opening hours

The state government has extended business hours for shops, bars, clubs, restaurants, breweries and live music venues in Sydney, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Potts Point, Paddington, Camperdown, Newtown and Erskineville until midnight.

No after party

Unfortunately, the traditional party held after the Mardi Gras parade has been cancelled as organisers fight to secure its financial future.

The party, which has previously featured stars such as Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa and Cher, could not be justified, according to the organisation.

Mr Matheson said earlier this month that the rising production and infrastructure costs made running the party financially irresponsible.

‘This decision was not taken lightly,’ he said. 

‘Facing an existential threat to the future of Mardi Gras, and with new sponsorship uncertain, it was absolutely the right decision.’

In 2025, two of the official major partners, Google and Meta, ended their support of the party.