February is stacked with big ticket events, but this weekend is where all the action is at – especially if you're in Sydney. WorldPride reaches fever pitch with the 45th Mardi Gras taking place on Saturday. If you've left things to the last minute and haven't made plans, take a look below. Otherwise, find a non-exhaustive list of the events, activities, exhibitions and openings taking place in February 2023, below.
NSW
It's your last chance to explore the Lyons Gallery pop-up at the Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park featuring artist Brad Robson. Tickets can be found here.
Altos Tequila will be shouting Australia’s biggest round of margaritas throughout February, with its Mexican Wave! All you need to do is register for your free margarita and step into one of the selected venues across Australia like Tio's Cerveceria in Surry Hills. All the details here.
See Hubris and Humiliation, a comedy that re-contextualises Jane Austen to create a satire of life in Sydney's gay scene. Running from January 20 until March 4 at Wharf 1 Theatre.
Josh and Julie Niland have opened the books for their latest restaurant Petermen, located in North Sydney.
The Other Side is part music gig, part dance work and created to push the boundaries of both genres. Debuting at Campbelltown Arts Centre on February 23, acclaimed musicians Party Dozen have collaborated with a contemporary dancer Brianna Kell to create a work that is an explosion of experimental dance, music and light.
WorldPride: 18 February – 5 March 2023
From 22 February until 1 March, head to Aesop Sydney to explore its Queer Library and collect a complimentary volume of your choice from over 45 titles from queer authors.
House of Mince presents Boris Pavlovabar at Kinselas this Sunday night. It's going to be hot.
Performance Space is hosting 24 hour party, Day For Night, on Saturday, February 18 from 12pm to 12pm. Performers include House of Silky, Tilly Lawless, Jack Colwell, Basjia Almaan, Kilimi and more.
The Mardi Gras Parade returns to Oxford Street on Saturday, February 25 for its 45th anniversary and Sydney WorldPride. All the details here.
Make your way to the Seymour Centre for a host of performances like KING, Camp, All Out Comedy with Geraldine Hickey, Nath Valvo and Coco Jumbo, William Yang's Gay Sydney: A Memoir and The Dan Daw Show.
On February 23, Red Bull is taking over iconic club ARQ for Red Bull Unforeseen, A Night With DUTTY x FILTH. The party is free and will host performances from C.Frim, Halfqueen, JessB, Mirasia, Basjia Almaan, Stelly G, Jamaica Moana and King Cxntessa.
Mardi Gras Fair Day is on the cards once more, so head down to Victoria Park on February 19 for an all day bonzanza filled with music, arts, culture and community.
Archie Rose will be holding a Queer Trivia on the 26 February truly testing your knowledge across all hot topics from pop-culture and history to science and geography. The trivia will be held at the Archie Rose Bar from 6pm to 8pm.
House of Absolut is hosting two big ticket events during WorldPride. Absolut and Merivale have enlisted Xander Khoury to curate and transform the upstairs of The Alex community pub into an immersive and educational “museum” and hub in homage to Ballroom in Australia. Alternatively, jump on the historic tour bus, Rainbow Routes, as it traverses the streets of Sydney, taking riders on a journey through Sydney’s queer history, from parties and marches, to places and moments. Hosted by Vanessa Wagner and including a chat with a 78er, Rainbow Routes is set to travel through time from ‘78 to today with guided curation by Kat Dopper of Heaps Gay and Summer Camp. Featuring live entertainment both onboard and enroute, Rainbow Routes is enlisting Vetta Borne, Dollar Bin Darlings, Seann Miley Moore, Heaps Gay DJs, Paul Mac and more.
Arthouse Gallery is holding a life drawing event fundraising for ACON and supported by Four Pillars Gin on February 23. Find tickets here.
The Abercrombie will celebrate Sydney's vibrant queer clubbing culture with 3 weeks of programming curated by Kate Monroe and Xander Khoury. Featuring full venue takeovers from Heaps Gay, Kerfew, Barba, SUGAR, Angels Only, Canned Fruit, Fur Ball, Queer Techno Collective, Queer House Collective, and more.
From February 14 until March 11, the Australian premiere of Choir Boy will take place at Riverside Theatre.
Queer Art After Hours will take place on February 22 at AGNSW. Visitors can catch performances by WorldPride 2023 artists-in-residence Blu Jay, Brian Fuata and Leo Tsao as well as performances by BVT, Dale Woodbridge-Brown, King Cxntessa, Salote Tawale, Megana Holiday and Tommy Misa. Live music will take over the galleries with DJ sets by Baschoe, DJ Gemma with VJ Vaxxx, Neesha Alexander and Salllvage.
The Star is transforming itself into Rainbow Central from February 17 until March 4.
VIC
From February 10 until March 11, Shakespeare Under the Stars returns to Melbourne Botanic Gardens to perform Romeo and Juliet in time for Valentine's Day.
If you're yet to experience Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse at NGV Melbourne, then I don't know what to tell you? Get down there quick smart, although you've got some time before it closes on April 16.
Looking for a new place to shop? Head over to newly opened Stable in Albert Park for designers like JW Anderson, Gimaguas, Gucci and Ganni.
Malthouse Theatre has extended its season of the hugely popular adaptation of 1922 silent film masterpiece Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror. You've got until March 5 to take a look!
Wang Chong returns to Malthouse Theatre for Made in China 2.0. In the play, Chong takes audiences on a journey deep inside his personal experiences of creating theatre around the globe, unpacking stereotypes of the global expectations of what China brings to the world. Made in China 2.0 opens on February 28 and continues until March 19.
QLD
Brisbane Powerhouse launches its festival ΩHM this month, with performances from Peaches, Future Islands and Kae Tempest to name a few.
Make your way to Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast to explore Pop Masters: Art From the Mugrabi Collection, New York where you'll find works from Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst and many more.
WA
Moonlight Cinema is currently showing a host of movies, new and old, at Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Perth. Bring a picnic blanket, the girlies and some snacks.
Catch Bikini Kill's performance at Perth Festival at the Rechabite Hall on February 28.
AGWA celebrates the arrival of Yoshitomo Nara with a launch party for the Nara After Dark event series from 9pm Saturday, February 25.
SA
Claudia Karvan will return to the stage in February in Edward Albee’s Tony Award-winning dark comedy, The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? It arrives at Dunstan Playhouse from 10-25 February.
NT
The Proclaimers are coming to Darwin on February 26. Get tickets here.
Head to Happy Yess this weekend for your fill of comedy and dancing.
ACT
The Sunset Cinema is back for summer at Australian National Botanic Gardens. Book tickets now to its Lindsay Lohan fest, or alternatively strap in for new flicks like The Menu, Blueback and Gracie Otto's Seriously Red.
TAS
Taking place across two weekends, Mona Foma will arrive in Launceston on February 17 and kick on until February 19, before it packs up and moves onto Hobart from February 24 to 26. As announced in October, artists like Angel Olsen, Bikini Kill, Bon Iver, Pavement, Jockstrap, and Peaches are slated to perform in Hobart, taking over the Mona lawns for a series of summer evening concerts.
Want to explore art this month? Take this list of exhibitions taking place across Australia in February.
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