Event Dates
From: Sunday, February 28, 2027
To: Sunday, February 28, 2027
Paradiso Pool Party is one of the most anticipated events to take place during the entire Sydney Mardi Gras festival.
Paradiso opens Parade week with an eight-hour rooftop pool party at The Ivy. Spend Sunday afternoon in swimwear, catch up over cabana cocktails and stay for DJs and performances after sunset, right in Sydney’s city centre.
- Stay close the Ivy at the Amora Hotel Jamison, rated Fabulous, with large rooms, great breakfast options and close to all the city’s best attractions and gay venues.
The Party
- Next Edition: Sunday, February 28, 2027 – 16th Edition – From 2 pm to 10 pm at Jimmy’s Rooftop, The Ivy.
- An elegant oasis awaits you. Every year Mardi Gras fills Sydney’s sleekest poolside venue, the Ivy, creating a decadent event that’s the epitome of summertime glamour.
- Delicious cocktails, cabana lounges, cool local DJs… and Speedos galore. The Pool Party is the perfect way to make a splash this Mardi Gras season. Let’s get wet.
- Presented by DJ Dan Murphy as a Sydney Mardi Gras signature event, welcoming visitors to Parade week.
- Expect poolside cocktails, cabana lounging, DJs and live performances through the afternoon and evening. The individual artists have yet to be named on the official listing.
- Plan lunch before arriving, bring swimwear and leave the afternoon free: the appeal is settling into one rooftop party from daylight into the evening.
The Venue
- Jimmy’s Rooftop occupies Level 4 of The Ivy precinct, with a rooftop pool, cabana areas and a cocktail bar surrounded by city buildings. This is a CBD rooftop event rather than a beach party.
- Set among gently swaying palm trees and uniting a cast of outrageous friends and beautiful strangers, Mardi Gras’ Pool Party transforms Jimmy’s Rooftop bar at The Ivy into a sexy and intimate playground, where you can frolic with style as handsome lifeguards survey the stunning scene.
- Wynyard is the closest train station, and the Wynyard light rail stop sits directly outside the precinct. George Street is closed to general traffic here, so use public transport or arrange a nearby taxi drop-off.
- For a unique Sydney experience, stay at the Fullerton, rated “Fabulous” by guests and our editor’s top choice for location, room size and breakfast options.
Where to Stay
Choose the CBD for convenient access to the pool party, or Darlinghurst and Surry Hills for Oxford Street nightlife during the rest of your stay.
- The Fullerton Hotel Sydney – Luxury at Martin Place, close to The Ivy. A practical choice for combining the party with harbour sightseeing and city restaurants.
- Crystalbrook Albion – A smaller boutique base on a Surry Hills laneway, with charming interiors and a rooftop garden. Choose it for neighbourhood dining and a quieter place to return to.
- Best Western Plus Hotel Stellar – Spacious studios with kitchenettes near Hyde Park and Oxford Street; perfect for a longer Mardi Gras stay centred on the gay bars.
- Rydges Sydney Central – A larger Surry Hills hotel with an indoor pool, near Central Station and the area’s restaurants.
- 10 best hotels in Sydney.
Where to party after?
These venues work across a Mardi Gras stay; check their individual programmes for special events.
- The Oxford Hotel – 134 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. A gay pub with a terrace, bistro and upstairs entertainment spaces; a useful starting point for drinks around Taylor Square.
- The Colombian – 117-125 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. Watch Oxford Street from the public bar or head upstairs for cocktails and the rooftop.
- Universal – 85-91 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. Drag entertainment downstairs and a superclub upstairs; choose it for a full evening rather than a quiet drink.
- The Beresford – 354 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. A gay-popular pub with a leafy courtyard and food; a good option for a relaxed meal with friends.
- The Burdekin – 2-4 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. Rooftop drinks, drag brunches and event spaces across several levels. Its regular schedule currently runs Wednesday to Saturday.
- Stonewall Newtown – 157 King Street, Newtown. Stonewall’s new chapter brings drag, DJs and a gay community crowd to the Inner West; make this a separate evening from your Oxford Street circuit.
Other Gay Events in Sydney
- February-March – Sydney Mardi Gras brings together the parade, parties and cultural program.
- February – Fair Day offers a daytime community celebration in Victoria Park.
- February – Sissy Ball puts ballroom competition centre stage.
- March – Sydney Mardi Gras Party follows the parade with the festival’s major overnight celebration.
- May-June – Vivid Sydney combines light installations, music and harbour evenings.
Where to stay close to the gay bars.
Book now and pay on arrival.
The 1888 boutique is one of the finest
in the city and offers great deals.
For further information and advice on
Sydney Mardi Gras Pool Party, Website
Most of the gay bars are in Oxford street so we have chosen Hotels close to all the gay bars in this area that have high reviews on booking.com
our hotel partner.
Address: 36 College Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 21 Little Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 28 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 35-45 Wentworth Avenue, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Address: 16 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 68 Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point, NSW 2011, Australia
Address: 117-125 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 273 Crown Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: Level 1, The Oxford Hotel, 134 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst
Address: 231 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 280 Cleveland Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 354 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 133 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 2-4 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 383 Bourke Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 124 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: Take a look at the website for when is on and were.
Address: 134 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australi
Address: 85–91 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 35 Erskineville Road, Erskineville, NSW 2043, Australia
Address: 265–267 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 2-4 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
Address: 157 King St, Newtown NSW 2042, Australia
Book with confidence. Get the best Prices from our partner Booking.com
We have chosen hotels in Sydney that keep you close to all the shops,restaurants & bars
Sydney, has several neighborhoods known for their LGBTQ+ friendliness and vibrant culture. These areas are popular among the LGBTQ+ community and allies, offering a variety of entertainment, nightlife, and cultural experiences.
Next to Darlinghurst, Surry Hills offers trendy cafes, & a bohemian feel. Popular with LGBTQ+ travelers
Known for its alternative culture, street art, quirky shops, live music, and an inclusive vibe its a unique experience.

Summertramp Los Angeles