This Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras season, ACON is reminding communities that support, care and connection are right there with you across the entire festival.

“Mardi Gras is a time to celebrate loudly and proudly, but it’s also a time when our communities look out for one another,” said ACON CEO Michael Woodhouse. “During Mardi Gras, ACON is here to help our communities stay healthy and safe during the festivities.”

There are three ways help is on hand this season:

Help yourself!  Being prepared is key to a healthy and safe season. ACON is encouraging people to plan ahead for their sexual health — get tested, check your supply of PrEP and organise a new script if needed, and make sure you have condoms and lube on hand. Visit Ending HIV (endinghiv.org.au), ACON’s HIV and sexual hub, for more info.

Help each other!  ACON is also encouraging our communities to continue looking out for each other. Knowing the signs and symptoms of overdose, and having naloxone on hand, can save a life. For people hosting their own parties or wanting more information, visit Between the Lines (betweenthelines.org.au), ACON’s online guide to harm reduction.

And ask ACON! ACON will be delivering health, safety and wellbeing support at various events throughout the season including Fair Day and Parade.

ACON Village at Fair Day: Information, PrEP, cancer screenings and more

Visit the ACON Village and learn about ACON’s work in HIV prevention, cancer, LGBTQ health and support.

• HIV and sexual health peer workers will be promoting ACON’s new 2 Fun 1 1 campaign, which is all about on-demand prep. Doctors from Kaleido Health will be on hand for PrEP advice and scripts.
• The pop-up cancer screening hub will feature up-to-date information on cancer screening, prevention and support plus, in partnership with BreastScreen NSW and Family Planning Australia, there’ll be free breast and chest screening and self-swab cervical screening all day.
• HIV and sexual health peer workers will be promoting ACON’s new 2 Fun 1 1 campaign, which is all about on-demand prep. Doctors from Kaleido Health Centre will be on hand for PrEP advice and scripts.
• The pop-up cancer screening hub will feature up-to-date information on cancer screening, prevention and support plus there’ll be free breast and chest screening and self-swab cervical screening all day.
• ACON’s marquee will feature information and resources on health, wellbeing, safety and inclusion. Visitors will be able to make a vital contribution to community health research by taking part in health surveys, which only takes a few minutes and will help generate much needed data that informs important community health initiatives.

Reducing harms and staying safe during Mardi Gras Festival

ACON is here to help our communities party safely with a range activities and resources.

• ACON Rovers – trained volunteers who provide alcohol and drug support and information – will be at various events across the festival. Rovers are there to check in on revellers and help anyone who may need medical assistance get where they need to go. Rovers will be at Fair Day, Mighty Hoopla, Underbear XXL, Heaps Gay and Apollo Party.
• Safety messages will be featured in ACON’s Take Care XOXO harm reduction campaign. Rolling out on social media and at key events, the campaign highlights the effects of drugs and offer strategies to prevent overdoses.
• Throughout the festival, ACON will showcase street and hook-up safety messages on social media. People who experience harassment or violence are urged report it to police or contact ACON for support.

Get involved with ACON during Sydney Mardi Gras 2026

ACON will also be at the following events during the 2026 Sydney Mardi Gras Festival:

• Marks Park Sunrise (Saturday 21 February): An event at the Marks Park Rise Memorial in Tamarama commemorating those we’ve lost to anti-LGBTQ hate and violence
• The Normal Heart – Queer Night (Tuesday 17 February): A special evening performance of Sydney Theatre Company’s The Normal Heart featuring a post-show panel exploring themes in the play moderated by ACON CEO Michael Woodhouse
• Mardi Gras Parade (Saturday 28 February): ACON will shine a light on HIV prevention in its parade entry.

For information, visit acon.org.au or call (02) 9206 2000. Follow @aconnsw on Instagram.

ENDS

For more information please contact: David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications

E: dalexander@acon.org.au   T: +61 (02) 9206 2044   M: +61 (0)428 477 042