LGBTIQA+ Festivals
Australia’s LGBTIQA+ Festival Circuit
Presented your own Show at Out in the Open? Can’t get enough of the LGBTIQA+ festival scene? (We know!) Australia’s circuit of quality LGBTIQA+ festivals provides a unique opportunity to tour the country. It’s also a great opportunity for audiences to travel while sampling a diverse and eclectic range of events along the way. Why not consider volunteering for the various festivals as it’s a great way to make new friends as well!
Bendigo Pride Festival (VIC) 17 Mar 2023 - 2 Apr 2023
Bendigo Queer Film Festival (VIC) 26 Mar 2023
The Bendigo Queer Film Festival has been running since 2004, when it was founded by Chris Walters in collaboration with the Melbourne Queer Film Festival (who remain major supporters).
Broken Heel Festival (NSW) 7 Sep 2023 - 11 Sep 2023
The Broken Heel Festival is a fabulous three day festival which celebrates the theatrical anniversary of "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" at her spiritual home, The Palace Hotel and the township of Broken Hill.
Chillout Festival (Daylesford, Vic) 7 Mar 2024 - 11 Mar 2024
Held on the Labour Day Weekend in early March, the ChillOut Festival in Daylesford, one hour north of Melbourne, is one of the largest and longest-running Queer Pride events in regional Australia.
Coastal Twist Festival (NSW) 26 Sep 2023 - 2 Oct 2023
Central Coast NSW’s good vibes, all out LGBTIQA+ inclusion festival. This dynamic festival embodies authentic inclusion of all peoples. 75mins from Sydney, 90mins from Newcastle. In 2022 there will be a special Queer Summer weekend getaway followed by the traditional Spring edition of Queer happenings including cabaret, dance party & exhibition to the ‘Coastie-Carnie’ day with the three signature events Hour of Drag Power, Puparazzi Pooch Parade and the world’s first LGBTQI longboarding event.
Feast Festival (SA) 1 Nov 2023 - 19 Nov 2023
Feast has grown since 1997 from a community arts festival for the lesbian and gay community in Adelaide to become a major event on the festival calendar in South Australia.
Frolic Dark Rainbow (Vic) 22 Jun 2023 - 24 Jun 2023
Run by the team who run Frolic Festival during summer. In winter they switch gears and host a more intimate, edgier festival to push boundaries and revel in the dark and the queer.
Frolic Festival (Vic) 9 Feb 2023 - 12 Feb 2023
Frolic is a not-for-profit festival run by a small team of like-minded Ballaratians who want to support and show off the wonderful diversity of the region – and have lots of fun doing it.
Gaytimes Festival (Vic) 23 Feb 2024 - 25 Feb 2024
The camping music festival of your big gay dreams - at Gembrook, in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges.
Geelong Pride Film Festival (Vic) 18 Apr 2024 - 24 Apr 2024
A family friendly festival of LGBTQI films, normally screening at The Pivotonian Cinema and Platform Arts, Geelong.
Hot & Steamy Festival (Qld) 16 Feb 2023 - 19 Feb 2023
The Hot & Steamy Festival, held annually in Port Douglas since 2020, is an excellent example of diversity and inclusion of the LGBTQI+ community in Far North Queensland.
*Note: due to a range of circumstances, the Hot & Steamy Festival will not be held in 2024.
Leeton Pride Festival (NSW) 29 Sep 2023 - 1 Oct 2023
Leeton Pride Festival is a charity dedicated to celebrating and supporting the queer community and its allies. They strive to create a safe and welcoming atmosphere for everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Midsumma Festival (Vic) 21 Jan 2024 - 11 Feb 2024
Midsumma has been Melbourne's annual Queer Celebration since 1988 - with a smorgasbord of queer arts and cultural events spread over more than 100 different venues throughout Melbourne and Regional Victoria.
Newcastle Pride (NSW) 6 Oct 2023 - 29 Oct 2023
The Newcastle Pride Festival is an exciting, glamorous and “out n’ proud” series of events that aims to showcase to locals and visitors that Newcastle is a city of diversity, culture and beauty. Newcastle Pride is an inclusive, vibrant and fun not-for-profit LGBTIQ+ community-based organisation.
OUT in the OPEN Festival (Vic) 10 Nov 2023 - 19 Nov 2023
OUTintheOPEN is Shepparton's festival celebrating community diversity. It was developed to address some of the inequalities faced by the local gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer (GLBTIQ) & allied communities and to build a more inclusive community in Greater Shepparton.
Perth Pride (WA) 4 Nov 2023 - 26 Nov 2023
Pride Western Australia is WA's largest community group, representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex community. Originally incorporated in 1993, its roots go back to the 1989 march on Parliament. PrideFest kicks off with a Parade and Celebration in November.
Fair Day: 12 November 2023
Parade: 25 November 2023
Fair Day: 12 November 2023
Parade: 25 November 2023
Southern HiBearnation (Vic) 10 Jun 2023 - 19 Jun 2023
Kicking off from the Queen's Birthday Weekend in June, VicBears Southern Hibearnation brings together bears and their buddies from all over the planet for the largest and friendliest bear FUNdraising event in the South!
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras (NSW) 16 Feb 2024 - 3 Mar 2024
SGLMG has existed since 1978 primarily for the benefit of Sydney's LGBTQI community, the enjoyment of a wider audience and as a global beacon of diversity, acceptance and LGBTQI rights. It includes the iconic Parade and the Queer Screen queer film festival.
TasPride Festival (Tas) 14 Oct 2023 - 4 Nov 2023
TasPride began in 1992 and continue to be dedicated to celebrating, uniting and promoting the Tasmanian Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer community, through providing opportunities for everyone to come together and share our pride.
Tilde Film Festival (Vic) Held in spring, annually.
Established in 2014, tilde is a community-based, international film festival based in Melbourne, and one of a handful of trans and gender diverse (TGD) film festivals in the world.
Tropical Fruits (Lismore, NSW) Late Dec - Early January annually
Established in 1988, Tropical Fruits Inc. is the premier GLBTI community group of the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. They hold regular events throughout the year. The NYE Festival is a four-day celebration of the GLBTI community, with a CBD Parade, NYE Party, Pool Party and Recovery Party.
Wagga Wagga Mardi Gras (NSW) 9 Mar 2024
A pride parade down the main street of Wagga Wagga, held annually on a Saturday in March.