Upcoming Events
ACON @ City2Surf | Sunday 9 August 2026
Join Team ACON at the City2Surf and run for LGBTQ Health!
Be part of the world’s biggest fun run on Sunday 9 August and help raise funds for ACON to support LGBTQ health and wellbeing.
Registrations for City2Surf 2026 are now open! Sign up to join Team ACON and take part in our vibrant rainbow run. Whether you’re chasing a personal best, running with your crew, or just in it for the fun, every step you take makes a difference. Your efforts will help us continue our work to improve the health of LGBTQ communities.
NSW Regional Rainbow Forum | 27-28 August 2026
NSW REGIONAL RAINBOW FORUM
27-28 August 2026
Wagga NSW
The NSW Regional Rainbow Forum will bring together community leaders, advocates, service providers, and stakeholders from across regional New South Wales to highlight current research, priority issues and best practice case studies. Professional facilitators will guide opportunities to create more connected communities and more inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ people.
MEET & GREET LAUNCH
5:30pm – 7:30pm, Thursday 27 August
Tilly’s on Baylis – Wagga
FORUM
8:30am – 4:30pm, Friday 28 August
Tilly’s on Baylis – Wagga
Featuring:
• Cr Dallas Tout– Mayor, Wagga Wagga City Council
• Michael Woodhouse– CEO, ACON
• Cr Will Miller– Hay Council & Rainbow on the Plains
• Vickie Burkenshaw– Wiradjuri Drag Pageant & Pride in the Paddock
• Professor Cliff Lewis– Charles Sturt University
• Denise McGrath– Leeton Rainbow Collective and ‘78er
• Brendan Barlow/Shelita Buffett– Rainbow on the Outback, Broken Hill
The Regional Rainbow Forum coincides with the Wiradjuri Drag Pageant and Queens High Tea events continuing over the weekend. ACON warmly encourages Forum attendees to stay for the weekend and enjoy the festivities!
Pride in Sport Summit | Wednesday 16 September 2026
Tickets are now open for the 2026 Australian Pride in Sport Summit, and we’d love you to join us.
On Wednesday 16 September 2026, we’ll be bringing the sport community together at UNSW Kensington for a full day of ideas, stories, practical learning and connection.
This is a day for anyone who cares about making sport safer, fairer and more welcoming for LGBTQ+ people.
You’ll hear from inspiring speakers, take part in honest conversations, meet people doing this work across the country, and leave with ideas and resources you can take back to your club, organisation, workplace or community. Whether it’s leadership, lived experience, law or legacy – this Summit has something for you!
The full program will be announced shortly, but we’re excited to share that the Summit will be hosted by Tracey Holmes, trailblazing journalist and Industry Professor of Sport and the Media within the Office of 2032 Games Engagement at the University of Queensland.
Speaker announcements are coming soon, so make sure you’re following Pride in Sport on Instagram for updates.
Tickets are on sale now, with prices kept low thanks to the support of our partners and sponsors. Pride in Sport members also receive generous discounts, making it easier to bring more people along.
Your ticket includes all Summit sessions and resources, tea and coffee, morning tea, lunch, and the networking event with drinks.
Whether you’re an inclusion lead, a volunteer, an athlete, a coach, a club committee member, or someone who simply believes sport should be a place where everyone can belong – this day is for you.
2026 AUSTRALIAN PRIDE IN SPORT SUMMIT
8:30am – 5:00pm AEST, Wednesday 16th September 2026
John Niland Scientia Building
University of New South Wales,
Gate 11, Library Walk, Kensington Campus,
Kensington, New South Wales
Honour Awards | Thursday 8 October 2026
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Honour Awards, NSW’s premier LGBTQ+ community awards celebration. Community members are invited shine a light on those who have made remarkable contributions to the wellbeing and advancement of LGBTQ+ communities.
Organised by ACON, NSW’s leading LGBTQ health organisation, Honour recognises exceptional leadership, achievements and contributions to rainbow communities in NSW.
“Every day, people from all walks of life and many community groups and organisations do incredible work that improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people and their families,” says ACON CEO Michael Woodhouse. “The Honour Awards are all about celebrating outstanding community service, leadership and excellence.”
Award categories cover the health, entertainment, community, HIV business, arts, youth and community service sectors. This year, a new award will recognise volunteers and their contributions to rainbow communities.
“Honour recognises well-known achievers and also those whose contributions are less widely recognised,” Woodhouse said. “The new Volunteer Hero category celebrates the quiet, consistent work that often happens behind the scenes but is essential to community wellbeing. Volunteers are the glue that holds many of our community organisations, groups and initiatives together.”
First held in 2007, the Honour Awards have served as a platform to acknowledge individuals and organisations whose leadership and commitment have created lasting positive change for LGBTQ+ communities.
This year’s ceremony moves to the historic Paddington Town Hall on Thursday 8 October, marking a significant step toward greater community accessibility. The venue change comes alongside more affordable ticket options, ensuring that celebrating our community champions remains accessible to all who wish to participate.
The 2026 Honour Awards are proudly supported by community partners Equality Australia, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Twenty10, Pride Business Association, Rainbow Giving Australia and Positive Life NSW. Event partners include OUT@NBCUniversal, dplr, Universal Hotels, Star Observer, DBMedia and Adge Hotel & Residences.
“Our ability to come together and celebrate our communities’ achievements is made possible by the generous support of our partners and sponsors. We’re grateful for your support and look forward to celebrating with you all at the 2026 Honour Awards.”
Nominations for the 2026 Honour Awards are now open at honourawards.com.au. Winners will be announced at the Honour Awards Ceremony and Reception on Thursday 8 October at Paddington Town Hall, Sydney.
Parramatta Pride Picnic | Saturday 10 October 2026
Celebrating great vibes, fierce looks, and plenty of community love – don’t miss the return of Parramatta Pride Picnic for 2026 Parramatta Pride Picnic is back for its 18th year serving up a day full of fabulous entertainment, food, activities and meaningful connections for the LGBTQI+ community, their families, friends and community allies.
Proudly a free event, EVERYONE is welcome! As western Sydney’s largest Pride event, Parramatta Pride Picnic is proudly a collaboration between ACON, Inclusive Events and Parramatta Queer Forum, part of ACON’s Inclusive Communities Networks, alongside a dedicated team of volunteer event organisers.
At Parramatta Park Bowling Green and surrounds, we’ll be hosting market stalls featuring a variety of community and corporate partners and a great selection of food all within the lawns and gardens of our licensed bar area, allowing visitors to meander responsibly all afternoon with a curated list of beers, wines and cocktails.
Expect to see on the day many community favourites, stay and enjoy a diverse range of performances and guests, from DJs and Drag Kings and Queens to cultural entertainment and there’s always something for the kids and our four-legged friends.
Returning also for its 4th year, feel-good times continue at the park into the evening with a T-dance inspired after-party – more to be announced!
PARRAMATTA PRIDE PICNIC
11am – 7pm, Saturday 10 October 2026
Parramatta Park in the Bowling Green
Regular Events
Bingay | ACON Fundraiser
ABOUT BINGAY
Bingay is gay bingo which means there’s classic disco tunes, weird rules and penalties, outrageous antics, hilarious repartee, deliciously lewd bingo calls, and prizes that range from the silly and camp to great theatre tickets and restaurant vouchers.
Bingay hostess Charisma Belle oversees the madcap proceedings and Bingay’s long time barrel babe Naomi Palmer spins the balls and sings up a storm.
Bingay takes over the upstairs bar of The Beresford Darlinghurst on the second Thursday of every month, with each monthly event having a fabulously flamboyant theme.
Bingay’s balls first dropped in 1999, making it one of Sydney’s longest running LGBTQ community events + it raises money for our HIV and LGBTQ health services.
So whether you’re a regular or a novice, or a local or visitor to Sydney, if you’re up for a wonderfully camp mid-week entertainment experience, then you can’t go wrong with Bingay.
For more information and bookings, visit the Bingay website here
The LOVE Project
The LOVE Project (Living OLDER Visibly and Engaged) is an ACON initiative that’s all about creating better conversations and improved social engagement with older LGBTQ community members.
By understanding people’s preferences, we can facilitate greater social connectivity, improve social inclusion and evolve services to meet your needs.
The friendly health promotion team of the LOVE Project welcomes you to get on board to share experiences, interact with other members of the LGBTQ community and create a healthier, active and social lifestyle for yourselves and those around you.
For more information, contact: Russ Gluyas | 02 9206 2017 | rgluyas@acon.org.au
Follow the LOVE Project on Facebook and Instagram.
Fact Sheets
SocialisAsians
SocialisAsians is a social group to collaborate and support Asian gay, bi+ and queer men. It helps us to connect online or organise events and meet-ups as Asian gay, bi+ and queer men. The group is open to all members of ConverAsians and their allies from all backgrounds.
Join the SocialisAsians Facebook group here.
For further information, please contact: asia@acon.org.au | 02 9206 2080 | 0419 714 213
Follow and like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ACONAsianGayMensHealth
Follow us on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/asiangaybiqueermenacon
Join our social event group on meetup here: www.meetup.com/sydney-gay-asian-men
Pride Events Across NSW
LGBTQ+ Pride Festivals Across NSW
Many cities and towns across New South Wales have LGBTQ+ Pride festivals showcasing their unique local LGBTQ+ arts, culture and communities. Look out for ACON’s team at the events, and find out more about our work in Regional NSW here.
Mark your calendars! NSW’s Pride Festivals are listed below, in order of the months of the year they traditionally take place. This page can be updated as new information comes in. For additions and inquiries, contact regionaloutreach@acon.org.au.
Tropical Fruits – Lismore – New Years
Held every year since 1988, this elaborate New Years Eve festival runs over four days around Lismore in northern New South Wales, providing creative, welcoming and fun opportunities to celebrate in the beautiful Rainbow Region. Info at TropicalFruits.org.au.
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – Feb/Mar
Sydney’s huge and world-famous Mardi Gras features a huge array of events so suit every taste and style. Look out for ACON’s stall at Fair Day and our float in the Mardi Gras Parade! More info at MardiGras.org.au.
Rainbow City Festival – Orange – March
The Rainbow Festival transforms the city of Orange into a colourful celebration promoting diversity and inclusivity. Visit the Orange City Council website for all the details.
Bathurst Pride – April
The Bathurst community come together for Pride ‘n Stride at the Bathurst Library for a day full of stalls, music, food and more. Please follow HeadSpace Bathurst for more information.
Pride in the Park – Moruya, South Coast – June
Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride in the Eurobodalla Shire with a free family day at Moruya Riverside Park. Live music, self-expression, learning and resources, community, fun activities, yoga, art and more. See all Queerobodalla events here.
Rainbow on the River – Laurieton – June
Rainbow on the River aims to raise the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex communities on the Mid North Coast of NSW. More details here.
Winter Blooming Festival – Armidale – August
The Winter Blooming Festival is a vibrant, inclusive arts and cultural event held in Armidale, New South Wales, celebrating First Nations, multicultural, and LGBTQIA+ communities and their allies. Program details coming here.
Tamworth Pride – Tamworth – September
Annual festival that takes place in Bicentennial Park to celebrate and promote inclusivity, equality and diversity between the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Info on Facebook here.
Rainbow in the Outback – Broken Hill – September
A bold celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and visibility in Broken Hill, shining a light on community, resilience, and joy in regional New South Wales. Find all the details on RainbowInTheOutback.com.
Leeton Rainbow Pride – Leeton – September/October
A safe space for queer members and allies in Leeton to connect, converse and have fun – providing information, social groups and activities in Leeton. Find out more on the Leeton Ranbow Pride Facebook page.
Coastal Twist Arts & Culture Festival – Central Coast – October
Central Coast NSW’s annual arts-based weekend festival. Burst into spring with a bumper weekend of Queer happenings from cabaret night and dance party to Fair Day & the “Puparazzi” Pooch Parade. Coastal Twist is the ultimate Queer Spring into Spring weekend getaway. Find out more at CoastalTwist.org.au.
Newcastle Pride Festival NSW – October
Newcastle’s annual Pride Festival showcases to locals and visitors that Newcastle is a city of diversity, culture and beauty. Find out more at NewcastlePride.com.au.
Lake Macquarie Pride – October
Lake Macquarie Pride is an initiative of Newcastle Pride Inc, aiming to showcase to locals and visitors that Lake Macquarie is a city of diversity, culture and beauty. Discover more via its Facebook group.
Parramatta Pride Picnic – October
Created by ACON, this is a massive day of community and pride in western Sydney, packed with community stalls, a rainbow kids activation area, dog shows, food trucks, Q&A panels, drag queens, dancers, buskers, choirs, a fully licenced area for purchasing craft beers and wine, a charity sausage sizzle, music, performances, exhibitions and a chill zone. Keep on eye on @parrapridepicnic on Instagram for announcements!
Rainbow on the Plains Festival – Hay – November
The Rainbow on the Plains is a festival of fun, support, inclusion and celebration of LGBTQIA+ community, people from culturally diverse communities and anyone who loves to celebrate inclusion. See festival details here.
Far South Coast Rainbow Wave Festival – Pambula – November
A youth led LGBTQ+ pride event on Yuin Country in the Bega Valley. Visit their Facebook page for more details.
Tropical Fruits – Lismore – New Years
Held every year since 1988, this elaborate New Years Eve festival runs over four days around Lismore in northern New South Wales, providing creative, welcoming and fun opportunities to celebrate in the beautiful Rainbow Region. Info at TropicalFruits.org.au.
