Australia's Best Pride Festivals This June

Pride Month is just around the corner, and it’s time to start planning your itinerary! Across the country, organisers are in the final stages of preparing and planning pride events on all scales. Here are some of the most notable events this June.

Northern Territory

Darwin Pride is a festival featuring sporting events, theatre and comedy, workshops, live entertainment, and a Pride Film Festival. The festival kicks off on the 8th of June with a Netball Competition and After Party. Next on the programme is the opening night of King Paddy, a queer play written by Sean Guy specially for the festival. On the 20th of June is the official opening of Darwin Pride, hosted by Marzi Panne and Miss Ellaneous and featuring several performances by comedians, musicians, and drag artists. In the evening, join Gloria Hole and Angelina Bristol for a 1930s-themed celebration of queer cabaret and queer history – be sure to come in costume!

On the 21st, attend workshops on making your business more LGBTQIA+ friendly, learn about and enjoy food prepared from locally foraged ingredients by Ben Tyler of Kakadu Kitchen, have a laugh at a comedy show, and more! Bring the kids along for Family Fun Day on the 22nd and enjoy entertainment, activities, and market stalls. This event also features a First Nations Space, a dedicated cultural wellness space with storytelling and weaving. Following Family Fun Day, the Darwin Pride Parade will weave its way through the Waterfront to celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Queensland

The Gold Coast Pride Festival is now in its fourth year, and promises to be even more extravagant this time around. This three-day event officially kicks off on the 31st of May with a free opening ceremony in the evening. The next day, put on your best Fair Day outfit and head to Macintosh Island Park to enjoy a range of local stall holders, food and drink providers, and entertainers, and show some support for LGBTQIA+ businesses and community groups. Also on June 1st is the Gold Coast Pride Parade, which has the claim to fame as the only pride parade in Australia held on the beach! For added accessibility, a street parade – headed up by Rainbow Skaters and Dykes on Bikes – runs parallel to the beach route so that all members of the community are included. To turn things up a notch, attend one of the festival’s two ticketed parties. The Glow Afterparty will take place in the evening of June 1st, following Fair Day in Macintosh Island Park. Dance the night away to incredible Melbourne-based DJ Damien Mack with old and new friends. On June 2nd, keep the party going on the Recovery Cruise, with more drinks, dancing, and live music.

If you want to support the Gold Coast Pride Festival but can’t make it on the weekend of the event, consider attending the fundraising party on Saturday the 11th of May. The White Party T-Dance, held at Hairy Mary’s, will feature local DJ talent and every ticket sold helps to fund the festival and create safe, fun spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Sunshine Coast Mardi Gras unofficially begins on the 25th of May with a screening of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the film. Hosted by beloved local drag queens Miss Lady Saint Diva, Miss Synthetique, Shanny T Bone, and Gayleen Tuckwood, this event is the perfect way to start Pride Month early. The night will also feature performances by Burlesque L’amour, the Sunshine Coast’s premiere burlesque dance studio.

Sunshine Coast Mardi Gras takes place on June 1st at Aussie World and The Banana Bender Pub, with a family-friendly festival from 5:00 to 8:30 and an adults-only afterparty from 8:30 onwards. Enjoy drag shows, carnival games, and roller coasters while celebrating diversity, inclusion, and the beauty of the LGBTQIA+ community. Featuring over 45 performers – from singers to marching bands – this is not an event to be missed!

The following week, mark your calendars for PrideFest Moreton Bay on June 8th. Taking over Pine Rivers Park in Strathpine, this festival features headliners like ARIA award-winner Samantha Jade, Kween Kong and Art Simone (you may recognise them from RuPaul’s Drag Race), DJ Harry K & The Fluffy Allstars, and is hosted by none other than Paul Wheeler. The festival is complete with market stalls, dance performances, arts and crafts installations, a pop-up roller rink, and a quiet zone to rest and reset between activities.

Finishing off Pride Month, Brisbane’s 63rd Annual Queen’s Ball takes place on June 29th. The longest running queer event in the world, Queen’s Ball is an integral part of Queensland’s LGBTQIA+ history. Each year, the event raises funds that go back into uplifting and supporting the local queen community. The Ball also gives local entertainers and activists a chance to shine and receive well-deserved recognition for the work they do. You can read more about what Queen’s Ball means to the community here.

South Australia

For fans of a formal occasion, this year’s inaugural South Australian Pride Gala on the 15th of June might be the event for you! Dedicated to celebrating and recognising the hard-working members of the South Australian LGBTQIA+ community, this awards dinner will feature entertainment and canapes showcasing South Australia’s local flavours. Take this opportunity to get into a full glamour look and support the incredible work of South Australia’s activists and allies.

Victoria

Maryborough’s Pride Festival is back and better than ever. This year, Outburst Winter Pride Maryborough will take place over the 21st and 22nd of June. A free, family-friendly event, Outburst will feature market stalls, food and drinks, live entertainment, and other activities. The event aims to be a safe and inclusive space for all members of the community, allies, and friends and family.

Western Australia

From the 16th to the 22nd of June, make your way to Western Australia and get ready to sparkle at Pilbara Pride Festival. In its second year and ready to impress, Pilbara Pride promises to be a week of fabulous festivities, from Rainbow Family Day to Drag Queen Trivia to Queer Movie Night. The theme this year is ‘Glitter,’ so prepare yourself for glitz and glam across the numerous events planned for the week. The final day of the festival is the big finale, featuring a Pride Parade followed by a Pride Dance Party. Don’t miss out on this incredible festival!

June is shaping up to be an eventful pride month across Australia. This page will be updated as more events our announced, so keep an eye out and get ready to celebrate!