Midsumma Pride March

Midsumma Pride March Participation

Midsumma Pride March. Photo by Suzanne Balding

Join the spectacular act of unity that is Midsumma Pride March


Midsumma Pride March is an annual takeover of St Kilda, where over 10,000 marchers strut down Fitzroy Street in St Kilda, cheered on by spectators who line the paths and balconies to show their support.

Midsumma Pride March 2027 will be held on Sunday 31 January

Below is key information for groups and individuals who would like to participate in the Pride March.
If you're looking to come and be part of the crowds cheering on, check out our info page for spectators.

Registration is free, and it closes in November 2026.

Registrations for the 2027 Midsumma Pride March are OPEN!

Register for Pride March 2027

NOTE: The information below refers to the 2026 Pride March, but details will be similar for 2027 and are updated as information is released.

What Does Marching Involve?

This is a queer community event and we warmly invite all members of our LGBTQIA+ communities and allies to participate. Whether you're marching in a group with friends or colleagues or just strutting by yourself, you’re welcome to join in the celebration.

The best part is it's all free! Free to sign up and free to march on the day.

Date: Sunday 31 January 2027

Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm, with staggered march times

Location: St Kilda. Meet at Ian Johnson Oval, march down Fitzroy St, end in Catani Gardens

Here’s what marchers can expect...

In the lead-up:

Sign up online: To be able to join the march, someone from your group needs to complete the registration form below before the deadline in November.

Stay up to date: The person who registered for the march is now our primary contact. From December to February, we’ll email this contact key information and updates.

Get your group details: In January, you’ll receive your group’s march position and arrival time.

Attend the briefing: On a date in late January, join our one-hour online Participant Briefing. This session is compulsory for one representative from each group and covers everything you'll need to know for the day.

On the day of the Pride March:

Arrive at your allocated time.

Your nominated contact should collect wristbands at the St Kilda Sports Club.

Marshal into position with guidance from friendly Midsumma staff and volunteers.

March down Fitzroy Street and soak up the incredible atmosphere!

Celebrate afterwards in Catani Gardens and the Fitzroy/Acland Street precincts.

How do I register to march?

Register to march by completing the form below. Due to the extensive planning that takes place in the lead-up to Pride March, we cannot accept registrations on the day of the march.

Can I march as an individual?

Of course! Individuals are grouped together in the march but you still need to register and attend the participant briefing.

Maps

Download the 2026 Midsumma Pride March map (PDF, 2.6 MB)

2027 map and information coming soon.

Marching Route

The march starts at Ian Johnson oval. Participants proceed down Fitzroy St and finish in Catani Gardens.

Traffic Road Closures

Drop-off area for Participants (PDF 2.79 MB)

Motorbike entry route (PDF, 2.77 MB)

Supplier Access to Catani Gardens (via Cowdery St, PDF 2.78 MB)

Getting There

Midsumma Pride March is a big event with road closures, limited parking and changes in public transport.

Drop-Offs & Pick ups

For those being dropped off or picked up by a friend, fam, or fab rideshare chauffeur, these are our recommendations for points that are just outside of our road closures:

Coming from the CBD, or North / West Melbourne?

Head to the intersection of Canterbury Rd and Fitzroy St.
Drivers can access this via a U-turn on Canterbury Rd while Fitzroy St is closed to traffic (see Google Map).

Coming from South / East Melbourne?

Head to the corner of Jackson St and Grey St (see Google Map).

We also have a specific accessible drop-off point for participants. Details on this in the accessibility section below.

Public Transport Options

The easiest way to get to Pride March is to use Public Transport - use the Transport Victoria journey planner to plan your journey.

Tram

Trams will not be traveling down Fitzroy Street between 10am and (approx) 2:30pm, but can still be used to get you close to the march (see tram routes map). Options include:

Route 96 to Stop 132 (St Kilda Station). There will be special 96a trams shuttling between Spencer St and St Kilda Station.

Route 12 (Victoria Gardens to St Kilda via Spencer St) to Stop 143 (Park Street/Fitzroy Street) will be running as normal.

Routes 3, 5, 16, 64 or 67 along St Kilda Rd to Stop 30 (St Kilda Junction) will be running as normal.

Train Stations

From Balaclava Station: Tram 3/3a or 16 to Stop 30 (St Kilda Junction)

From Caulfield Station: Tram 3/3a to Stop 30 (St Kilda Junction)

From Elsternwick Station: Tram 67 to Stop 30 (St Kilda Junction) or Route 246 bus to St Kilda Rd/Barkly St

From Flinders Street Station: Tram 3/3a, 5, 16, 64 or 67 to Stop 30 (St Kilda Junction)

From Southern Cross Station: Tram 96 or 12 to Fitzroy Street

From Windsor Station: Tram 5 or 64 from Stop 32 (Dandenong Rd) to Stop 30 (St Kilda Junction), or walk (15-20 minutes).

Bus

Bus routes 600, 606 and 922 will be affected by the event, but will be diverted to nearby temporary stops. Bus options during the Fitzroy Street closure period are:

Route 246 (Elsternwick to Clifton Hill) to St Kilda Road/Barkly Street (running as normal)

Route 623 (Glen Waverley to St Kilda) to Luna Park/The Esplanade via Carlisle Street (running as normal)

Route 606 (Fishermans Bend to Elsternwick Station) will reroute via St Kilda Station during the closure period (8am to 4:30pm)

Route 600/922/923 (Southland Shopping Centre to St Kilda via Sandringham) will run as normal but will not service the last two stops (St Kilda Station or Robe/Grey St).

See Summary of Affected Bus Routes (PDF 1.04 MB) or for route maps, see Affected Bus Services (PDF 872 KB).

Road Closures

There will be extensive road closures throughout the area.

Beaconsfield Parade, Marine Parade and Jacka Boulevard will be closed between Glenhuntly Rd and Kerferd Rd between 10am and 2pm approximately.

Fitzroy Street and adjoining side streets will be closed to traffic between 8am and 4pm approximately.

Download a map of road closures here (PDF, 2.6MB)

Parking

Due to the congestion caused by Midsumma Pride March, and the size of the event, there will be less parking than what is normally available in the precinct. Midsumma highly recommends taking public transport or cycling to the event.

Another option could be to park some distance away and catch a tram (e.g. park near MSAC and catch the 96 tram to St Kilda Station). If you are unable to catch public transport, surrounding options for parking include:

Palais Theatre Parking — Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda (via Carlisle/Acland Street only)

Luna Park — 23 Shakespeare Grove, St Kilda (via Carlisle/Acland Street only)

Acland Court — 158 Acland Street, St Kilda

Cycling

The Fitzroy Street cycling path will be closed during Midsumma Pride March, but the Bayside Trail will be unaffected.
The best alternatives to the Fitzroy Street path are shown on the Cycling During Midsumma Pride March map. The easiest and safest route is via Cowderoy St, which links the Bayside Trail (at Pier Rd) to Canterbury Rd and the Western Bike Path. Alternatively, follow Cavell, Carlisle and Barkly Streets, which link the Bayside Trail to St Kilda Rd.

The Midsumma Pride March Awards

After their inception in 2017, the Midsumma Pride March Awards have returned each year, helping to increase the passion and flamboyance of the march.

The awards are intended to encourage a bright and meaningful presence from participants. Winners are selected by a panel of diverse community representatives and announced at the post-Pride Celebrations.

2026 Award Winners

★ Peter Dewildt Award - Most Significant Message - awarded to the group with a timely and well-conveyed message: Minus18. This award honours the memory of Peter Dewildt (1953-2019) who was the first president of Pride March Victoria (now known as Midsumma Pride March).

★ Most Fabulous - awarded to a group who are fabulously dressed up, adorned and decorated for Midsumma Pride March: Bloco 3k.

★ Most Innovative - awarded to a group with an exciting and innovative float, props or theming for their marching group: Glamourhead Sharks.

2025 Award Winners

★ Peter Dewildt Award - Most Significant Message - awarded to the group with a timely and well-conveyed message: Minus18 plus an honourable mention to Queer Arabs

★ Most Fabulous - awarded to the most fantastically-frocked group: City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band plus honourable mentions to Rainbow LARP and Scouts Victoria

★ Most Innovative - awarded to the cleverest group in the march: Museums Victoria (homo of the dinosaurs) plus an honourable mention for Queer South Asians of Melbourne

2024 Award Winners

★ Peter Dewildt Award - Most Significant Message - awarded to the group with a timely and well-conveyed message: LAHRC - Latin American & Hispanic Rainbow Community

★ Most Fabulous - awarded to the most fantastically-frocked group: Rainbow LARP

★ Most Innovative - awarded to the cleverest group in the march: Junkyard Beats

2023 Award Winners

★ Peter Dewildt Award - Most Significant Message - awarded to the group with a timely and well-conveyed message: Union Pride (Victorian Trades Hall Council)

★ Most Fabulous - awarded to the most fantastically-frocked group: Pride Of Our Footscray

★ Most Innovative - awarded to the cleverest group in the march: Liberty Disability Services

2022 Award Winners

★ Peter Dewildt Award - Most Significant Message - awarded to the group with a timely and well-conveyed message: Lifeview Residential Aged Care

★ Most Fabulous - awarded to the most fantastically-frocked group: LAHRC - Latin American & Hispanic Rainbow Community
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Thorne Harbour Health
Jews of Pride
Pride Of Our Footscray

★ Most Innovative - awarded to the cleverest group in the march: House of Airline Internationale - 'SURVIVAL' (Performance Group)
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Scouts
Chill Out Festival
Performing Older Women's Circus
Glamourhead Sharks

2021 Award Winners

★ Peter Dewildt Award - Most Significant Message - awarded to the group with a timely and well-conveyed message: LAHRC - Latin American & Hispanic Rainbow Community
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Indigenous Pride
Home Style Aged Care Services
Coburg High School
POW (Performing Older Women's) Circus

★ Most Fabulous - awarded to the most fantastically-frocked group: Samba Energia
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
O'Ziriguidum Escola de Samba and friends
PacifiqueX
Melbourne Front Runners

★ Most Innovative - awarded to the cleverest group in the march: VICPaH - Victorian Pups and Handlers
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Melbourne Argonauts Rowing Club
City of Port Phillip
Motafrenz Car Club
Bisexual Alliance Victoria

2020 Award Winners

★ Peter Dewildt Award - Most Significant Message - awarded to the group with a timely and well-conveyed message. This award honours the memory of Peter Dewildt, Pride March Victoria's first president, who passed in 2019: Parents of Gender Diverse Children
★ Most Fabulous - awarded to the most fantastically-frocked group: Rainbow LARP (Live Action Role Play)
★ Most Innovative - awarded to the cleverest group in the march: Pacific Essence

2019 Award Winners

★ Most Fabulous - awarded to the most fantastically frocked group.
The 2019 winner was: VIKA
★ Most Significant Message - awarded to the group with a timely and well-conveyed message.
The 2019 winner was Lifeview Residential Care
★ Most Innovative - awarded to the cleverest float in the show.
The 2019 winner was Rainbow Aboriginal Pride

Honourable mentions

★ Victoria's bisexual community
★ Deaf-initely Pride
★ Minus18
★ Melbourne Aces - Asexuals Australia

2018 Award Winners

★ Most Fabulous - the 2018 winner was Jews of Pride
★ Significant Message - the 2018 winner was No Pride in Detention
★ Most Innovative - the 2018 winner was Scouts Victoria.

2017 Award Winners

★ Most Fabulous: Melbourne Frontrunners
★ Most Significant Message: joint winners: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders; Minus18 and Safe Schools
★ Most Innovative: VAC and their Riff Raff Marching Band

Pride March Order

Revving up the rally is our much-loved pre-march procession; the Dykes on Bikes and Melbourne Motorcycle Tourers.

The rest of the procession then starts on foot, led annually by the iconic Rainbow Mob contingent.

The marching order shows the order in which the groups will be marching. They are assembled together into "waves" according to similar areas of interest or themes.

If you are a participant in the March, your primary contact will be sent this information by email in January.

Accessibility

On event day, you will be able to text or call Midsumma’s accessibility hotline on 0419 682 064 for information or assistance.

Getting There

While we recommend most people get public transport to Pride March, please note this is a highly attended event and trams / buses can become very crowded.

There will be extensive road closures throughout the event site — see our Getting There section above for a map and details of road closures.

Accessible Drop-off Point for Participants

The accessible drop-off point for participants is at the intersection of Fitzroy Street and Lakeside Drive (just north of tram stop 16). See Google Maps or option 1 of Pride March Access Points).

This can be accessed via:

Left turn from Lakeside Drive,

Right turn from Princess St

Or a U-turn on Fitzroy St

Note that no parking is available — this is a drop-off zone only.

From here it's about a 3 minute walk or wheel to the march marshalling area on Ian Johnson Oval, including the Accessible Marshalling Tent

If you would like assistance with way-finding, please email [email protected] prior to the event or call 0419 682 064 on event day.

Accessible Marshalling Tent

Ian Johnson Oval has some accessibility challenges (including slopes and grass), so an Accessibility Marshalling tent will be provided for participants while they wait to march.

This tent is for anyone who needs to wait in the shade, with seating. It's also great for anyone using mobility devices, as the tent is adjacent to both the footpath and a ramp connecting to the parade route.

Any marchers can assemble at this tent and join the rest of their group when it's their time to march. Volunteers will be on hand to assist syncing up marchers with their groups.

For anyone arriving by car, the best drop-off point for this tent is the Accessible Drop- off point for Participants (details above).

If you would like assistance with way-finding, please email [email protected] prior to the event or call 0419 682 064 on event day.

Accessible Pick-up Point in Catani Gardens

The accessible pick-up point is at the roundabout on Pier Road (see Google Maps or option 5 of Pride March Access Points).

Passengers wanting to get to the accessible pick-up point should walk 100m towards the beach from the central rotunda in Catani Gardens.

Drivers need to enter Pier Rd from Beaconsfield Pde. You will need to do a u-turn via the roundabout after collecting your passenger(s).

If you would like assistance with way-finding, please email [email protected] prior to the event or call 0419 682 064 on event day.

Wheelchair Access around Midsumma Pride March

Fitzroy Street and Catani Gardens are wheelchair accessible.

The grass will be cut low for easier wheelchair access and low-hanging tree branches will be removed in Catani Gardens.

Pride March takes place on an open, smooth bitumen road (down Fitzroy Street in St Kilda), and this terrain is not controlled by Midsumma. The march route crosses tram tracks twice.

Specific wheelchair facilities provided are:

Accessible Viewing Area: located at tram stop 134 on Fitzroy Street, between Park Lane and Loch Street. This area will be attended by Midsumma team members from 10am to 2pm. There are a number of accessible positions along Fitzroy Street where you can experience the march if you do not want to be in a designated viewing area. For more information about this Viewing Area please see our info page for spectators here.

Accessible Toilets: all toilet blocks at the Ian Johnson Oval and in Catani Gardens include accessible toilets. There are also accessible toilets at the Victorian Pride Centre.

Auslan Interpretation

Ian Johnson Oval proceedings: at 10:15am, a Welcome to Country and speeches before the march begins will be Auslan interpreted.

Catani Gardens: will have DJs from 10:30am - 3pm, which will not be Auslan interpreted.

Audio Description

The march will be audio described live from the accessible viewing platform through headsets available. For more information about this Viewing Area please see our info page for spectators here.

There will be water bowls for dog guides at the free water stations, plus one at the Accessible Viewing Area.

If you would like assistance with way-finding, please email [email protected] prior to the event or call 0419 682 064 on event day.

Access Coordinator

Midsumma Pride March will have an Access Coordinator on site to support a team of Volunteer Access Champions who will be working specifically on supporting access for audiences and artists. If you or someone you are with requires one-on-one support navigating the Midsumma Pride March precinct, or guidance on finding and using the available provisions, our Access Coordinator can be contacted by:

Asking one of the friendly volunteers at the entrances

Asking at the Info Tent in Catani Gardens

Texting or calling Midsumma’s accessibility hotline on 0419 682 064

Rainbow Recharge Hub at the Pride Centre

The Victorian Pride Centre offers a space to a break from the buzz of Midsumma Pride March.

The Rainbow Recharge Hub is inside the Victorian Pride Centre’s Theatrette – a free, inclusive, and accessible space designed to support the community, especially our regional and rural communities. This “rest and recoup” station is perfect for those travelling from afar or anyone needing a quiet space amidst the celebrations.

Who is it for?

Regional and rural Victorians looking for a recharge base during the long day of Pride March. Older folks seeking a comfortable space to rest.

Rainbow families wanting a calm, family-friendly spot to regroup.

Anyone needing a reset.

What’s on Offer:

Quiet rooms, and hydration stations to keep you refreshed. All-gender bathrooms, charging stations, and friendly volunteers to assist with accessibility needs.

Watch the Pride March live broadcast with commentary from JOY Media inside the hub or step out the front to see the march in action.

Open from 10am - 5pm.
Head to the Pride Centre and volunteers will show you the way.

Access Feedback

Midsumma is committed to improving access to cultural experiences for d/Deaf and Disabled attendees.

If you'd like to share an area that needs improvement or a positive experience around accessibility at Midsumma Pride March please head to our specific access feedback form.

We're eager to hear from you!

Restrictions on Props & Accessories

When planning your fabulous outfits, banners and activations, please do not include:

Balloons

Glitter

The City of Port Phillip restricts the use of these items due to the event's proximity to the coast…