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Sydney Opera House Sails Light up Hot Pink
to Celebrate Forty Years of Mardi Gras

In 2018, Sydney will celebrate the historic 40th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and on Friday 3 November 2017, theSydney Opera House will help Mardi Gras launch its full 2018 program by lighting its sails a blazing hot pink in celebration of the iconic event.

This coming Festival will focus on the evolution of Mardi Gras. Borne from a night of celebration turned protest in 1978, Mardi Gras’ spirit lives on 40 years later and has evolved into a seventeen day Festival of performance, art, self-expression and community that culminates in a world-renowned glittering spectacle of love and protest, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade.

Mardi Gras will officially unveil the full program of events at a special glitter-filled, invite-only party on the Forecourt of the Opera House. The Opera House sails will then shine a fabulous pink as the sun sets on Sydney’s Harbour around 7:40pm.

“Mardi Gras is 40 years young, and we can’t think of a more fabulous way to announce our full program than by painting the most iconic building in Australia pink,” said Terese Casu, Mardi Gras Arts CEO.

“2017 has been a big year for the LGBTQI community worldwide, as we continue to strive for equality, and in some cases, fight for our very lives. The hot pink sails of the Sydney Opera House will be a dazzling beacon of queer recognition and celebration, beamed around the globe,” said Casu.

Hosted by Joel Creasey, and with special performances by Dannii Minogue, Samantha Jade, Trevor Ashley and more, this year’s Mardi Gras launch looks to be one the most exciting of all time.

NSW Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said “The NSW Government is proud to support the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. It’s a key moment of Australia’s annual cultural calendar and the plans for the 40thanniversary are making 2018 look no different.”

City of Sydney is the proud government partner of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2018, providing funding for this commemorative anniversary season. Commenting on Mardi Gras’ cultural significance, Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore stated “This is a major milestone in the history of one of Sydney’s most important events, one that represents our city at its best – diverse, open, creative and irreverent.

“From the first march in 1978 to being one of the world’s great LGBTIQ festivals, the history of Mardi Gras is the history of the community’s long path to equality. We are proud to be a long term supporter of Mardi Gras and of the great welcome Sydney gives to visitors from all over the world.”

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival kicks off on Friday 16 February 2018 with seventeen sparkling days jam-packed with parties, performance, family and community events that culminate with the iconic Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday 3 March 2018. The extravagant SGLMG Parade will celebrate four decades of love, protest, diversity, acceptance, activism, pride, family, passion, creativity, drama and satire.

Tickets to the full MG program go on sale Friday 3 November at mardigras.org.au.

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