2026 SYDNEY MARDI GRAS - COASTAL TWIST FLOAT

Name: 2026 SYDNEY MARDI GRAS - COASTAL TWIST FLOAT
Start: 2026-02-28T03:00:00+11:00
End: 2026-02-28T13:00:00+11:00
Location: Oxford St, Sydney NSW, Australia

Schedule

Sat Feb 28 2026 at 03:00 am to 01:00 pm

UTC+11:00

Location

Oxford St, Sydney NSW, Australia | Surry Hills, NS

🌈 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 / 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺 🌈
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝘄𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘀
Come ride the rainbow with Coastal Twist as we take our 2026 parade entry, It’s Raining They / Them, to Oxford Street.
This year we are celebrating gender diversity and affirming pronoun use with a float that is bright, playful and deeply affirming. Think colour, umbrellas, LED lighting effects, rainbow clouds, and of course a huge rainbow winding its way through the night.
It’s Raining They / Them honours our trans and gender diverse communities while creating a joyful space for learning, connection and allyship. Our Central Coast LGBTQIA+ community is as colourful as it is diverse and deserves a Mardi Gras entry that embraces and applauds the full spectrum of gender and sexual identities.
Our float will spotlight that gender is expansive and personal. Everyone is unique and welcome across the whole gender spectrum, including cis and trans people, non-binary and gender diverse folks, and anyone still exploring who they are.
💸 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁:
• Participant fee: $75 per person (all ages)
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:
By grabbing a ticket, you are securing your spot on the float and helping bring It’s Raining They / Them to life. Your ticket covers:
• Entry to the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade as part of the Coastal Twist It’s Raining They / Them float
• Base elements of your costume, including a rainbow costume vest (provided by the float team)*
• Costume workshops with our float crew
• Participation in the full-dress rehearsal and media day
You will also be part of a supportive, creative team representing the Central Coast at one of the biggest LGBTQIA+ events in the world.
* Base elements means the main structure of your costume, along with a costume vest provided by the float team. It does not include any extra bling or personal embellishments you may wish to add.

𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
Each participant chooses one costume style:
• Umbrella costume
• Cloud costume
If you do not want to or are unable to construct your own costume, you can choose to contribute an additional $25 to have one of our float elves create the base elements of your costume for you. You will still be able to personalise and add your own flair if you wish.

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀:
To keep everyone safe, coordinated and looking amazing, participants must:
• Attend the Mandatory Float Info and Open Day
• Attend at least one costume workshop to glue and assemble your costume
• Attend the Mandatory Full-Dress Rehearsal and Media Day
• Be available for Parade Day: Saturday 28 February, 1 pm to 11 pm in Sydney
𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆:
• Footwear: black or rainbow shoes or boots
• Optional tops for umbrella holders: a plain black top (T-shirt, singlet or similar) to wear under your rainbow costume vest
• Optional tops for clouds: a plain white top (T-shirt, singlet or similar) to wear under your rainbow costume vest
• Bottoms for umbrella holders: your own black pants, shorts or skirt
• Bottoms for clouds: your own white pants, shorts or skirt
𝗕𝗮𝗴:
• Black bumbag or backpack for umbrella holders
• White bumbag or backpack for clouds

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀
Location: Funhaus Factory - 141 Mann St, Gosford

Mandatory Float info & Open Day: Sunday, January 11th, 10 am – 11 am
Costume Workshops (all 10 – 12 pm):
• Saturday, January 17th
• Sunday, January 25th
• Sunday, February 1st
• Saturday, February 7th
• Sunday, February 15th
Full Dress Rehearsal & Media Day: Sunday, 22nd February, 10 am – 11 am
Parade Day: Saturday, 28 February, 1 pm – 11 pm (Sydney)

Spots are limited. If you have ever wanted to be in the Mardi Gras parade, this is your moment to step into the lights, celebrate gender diversity and help Coastal Twist shine on Oxford Street.
Grab your ticket, choose umbrella or cloud, and come dance under a sky where it is always Raining They / Them.