People with Disability Australia is inviting members to register interest in joining its groups at the 2027 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade and Melbourne Midsumma Pride March. Places are limited, and the call is more than a chance to celebrate: PWDA’s theme puts the visibility, voices and leadership of LGBTQIA+ people with disability centre stage.

Essential Takeaways

  • Two events: The Sydney parade is on Saturday 6 March 2027; the Melbourne march is on Sunday 31 January.
  • Limited places: Priority will go to PWDA members and LGBTQIA+ community members.
  • Choose one or both: Members can register interest in either event or both, but PWDA can’t assist with interstate travel.
  • Access needs matter: The form asks about accessibility requirements and whether applicants will bring friends, family or support workers.
  • A call for inclusion: PWDA’s theme is “Nothing About Us Without Us – The Power of US”.

Two Pride events, one invitation to take part

There’s a vivid message behind PWDA’s invitation: come together, be visible and take up space. People with Disability Australia is seeking expressions of interest from members who want to join its group at either of the 2027 events, or both.

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is scheduled for Saturday 6 March on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst. The Melbourne Midsumma Pride March follows on Sunday 31 January, along Fitzroy Street to Catani Gardens in St Kilda. Midsumma describes its march as a community gathering shaped by celebration, protest and the pursuit of equality.

What applicants should know before registering

Places in PWDA’s groups are limited, with priority given to PWDA members and LGBTQIA+ community members. Applicants can choose one event or both, but will need to arrange their own interstate travel if they’re travelling from elsewhere.

The registration form asks for contact details and information about membership, identity, access requirements and current state or territory. It also asks whether people plan to bring friends, family members or support workers, and whether they’ve taken part in either event before. PWDA says it will notify applicants of the outcome in January 2027.

“Nothing About Us Without Us” is the message

PWDA developed its 2027 theme, “Nothing About Us Without Us – The Power of US”, in consultation with members. Their conversations began with the Mardi Gras theme “Hyperbloom” and led to a message about the pride, identities and collective strength of LGBTQIA+ people with disability.

The theme links being seen and finding community with the work of challenging discrimination and defending rights. PWDA says decisions about people’s lives need to centre their voices, experiences and leadership. That principle has a familiar ring in disability advocacy: it’s hard to make meaningful change while leaving the people affected out of the conversation.

Planning for Melbourne? Check access details

Midsumma’s event guidance includes information on accessible drop-off and pick-up points, an accessible viewing area, wheelchair access, live audio description and support from an access coordinator and volunteer Access Champions. Those details can help prospective participants and spectators plan ahead, particularly if access arrangements are an important part of their day.

There’s a practical wrinkle, too: Midsumma says registrations to participate close in the November before the march, and entries aren’t accepted on the day. PWDA’s expression-of-interest process is separate, so anyone considering joining its group should check the relevant registration information rather than assuming one form covers both.

A march for visibility and change

The wider Midsumma Festival runs from 17 January to 7 February 2027, with the Pride March among its major events. Sydney’s Mardi Gras season is scheduled from 12 February to 7 March 2027 under the theme “HYPERBLOOM”, the prompt PWDA says members considered when shaping their own theme.

But PWDA’s message reaches beyond a festival calendar. It describes marching as a way to celebrate, challenge stereotypes and discrimination, and make room for those who come next. For help with its registration, PWDA says members can email [email protected] or call 1800 422 015.

It’s a chance to celebrate together while insisting that people’s voices belong at the heart of decisions about their lives.

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