<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tens of thousands will flock to the streets across the heart of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span> tomorrow night to celebrate the 48th annual Gay and Lesbian </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/mardi-gras" rel="" target="" title="Mardi Gras"><span>Mardi Gras</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Partygoers from across the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="" title="nation"><span>nation</span></a><span> will rush to the city to watch more than 9000 marchers and 170 floats take to the street in the iconic parade.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With festivities that have been running from February 13 until March 1, this edition of the festival follows the theme "Ecstatica".</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/vb-turns-to-new-mid-strength-beer-as-australia-alcohol-habits-change/116eb7c4-71b7-4762-a861-58a263c80396" target="_blank"><strong><span>VB pins hopes on mid-strength as Aussies drop classic beers</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Ecstatica is about euphoria as resistance, a reminder that our collective queer joy is on a break from the battle," Mardi Gras interim chief executive Jesse Matheson told </span><a href="https://9news.com.au/" rel="" target="" title="9News.com.au"><span>9news.com.au</span></a><span> at the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-gay-and-lesbian-mardi-gras-festival-2025/c54748c7-dc7d-428b-bb47-5ca9d1f178a2" rel="" target="" title="launch"><span>launch</span></a><span> in November last year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The theme blends the festival's foundations in protest and visibility with unashamed joy.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>So what can people expect heading into tomorrow night?</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/mardi-gras-2026-sydney-dates-parade-tickets-schedule-events-road-closures-everything-to-know-explainer/bf74bb4c-1df6-49e2-bfd9-e80a6360d753" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><strong><span>Parade locations, tickets and parties</span></strong></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The main procession will kick off at 7.30pm tomorrow, sweeping down Oxford Street, Flinders Street, and Anzac Parade, passing through the celebrated Taylor Square "Glitter Club" viewing area, with the parade expected to wrap up at 10.30pm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While the event is free and unticketed for spectators, some tickets can be bought to secure extra benefits such as prime viewing of the parade and a reservation at a party spot for the night.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Celebrations are expected to go well into the night after the parade.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/nsw-politics" rel="" target="" title="state government"><span>state government</span></a><span> has extended business hours for shops, bars, clubs, restaurants, breweries and live music venues in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span>, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, Potts Point, Paddington, Camperdown, Newtown and Erskineville until midnight this weekend.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Sunday Laneway party is set to wrap up the marathon of festivities, with music acts starting at 2pm and running until 1am, transforming the Beresford and Hill Street into a street celebration to close out the parade.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-blocking-kids-from-sport-parramatta-eels-program-helping-with-footy-boots/93ec8e9c-8301-4cb0-b07f-91b64bf56bbd" target="_blank"><strong><span>Gift helping kids stay on the field as cost of living cruels junior sport</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><span>What will the weather be like?</span></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Unfortunately, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/weather" rel="" target="" title="weather conditions"><span>weather conditions</span></a><span> this weekend are not looking great, however, that will not deter revellers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Showers are expected in the early morning, before clearing up by the early afternoon.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wet weather is expected to return at about 8pm, shortly after the start of the parade, and the damp conditions are expected to persist all night and into the following morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Luckily, conditions will clear up at 5pm on Sunday, not long after the start of the street party on Hill Street. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-rain-downpour-weather-warnings-adelaide-australia/92b97ab6-8dc6-48b6-b8a2-8f78fab86afa" target="_blank"><strong><span>Shark warning after Sydney deluge floods city</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><strong><span>Road closures and public transport</span></strong></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Major roads across Sydney's CBD extending to Moore Park will be shut from 4pm on Saturday and will not reopen until 2am on Sunday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/motoring" rel="" target="" title="Motorists"><span>Motorists</span></a><span> are being urged to avoid unnecessary travel to the city and instead utilise the metro and </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/trains" rel="" target="" title="train services"><span>train services</span></a><span> that are set to run for 24 hours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is the first time the iconic festival has had around-the-clock metro and rail services running to get partygoers home safely.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/nsw-transport" rel="" target="" title="NSW Transport"><span>NSW Transport</span></a><span> is advising people to take advantage of the rare opportunity.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Leave the car at home," Transport for </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="" title="NSW"><span>NSW</span></a><span> Coordinator-General Howard Collins said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Check signs carefully because your vehicle will be towed."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Light rail services will also run for 24 hours on the L1 Dulwich Hill, L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Light rails will arrive every 15 to 20 minutes until normal services resume on Sunday morning.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Sunday, bus routes 370 and 343 will also run around-the-clock with added hourly services.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About 300 extra bus services are also set to run to the city from Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and North Shore suburbs throughout the afternoon, along with NightRide bus services.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Standard ticketing still applies, however, with commuters being reminded to tap on and off when using </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/transport" rel="" target="" title="public transport"><span>public transport</span></a><span> this weekend.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/vince-mcmahon-police-video-shows-former-wwe-executives-160kmph-car-crash-on-a-connecticut-highway/ab9aa57f-4e6f-4507-85fe-5923e093abc9" target="_blank"><strong><span>Police video shows Vince McMahon's 160kmph car crash</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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