Celebrate LGBTQIA+ pride with UNSW this year.
Sydney Mardi Gras is one of Australia’s most iconic events, bringing thousands together for a vibrant celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride, diversity and self-expression. The festivities culminate in the world-famous Mardi Gras Parade, on 28 February in 2026. The parade theme is ECSTATICA – a shared feeling of joy, power and togetherness.
As part of our 2026 Mardi Gras celebrations at UNSW, we’re excited to announce the creation of the UNSW Queer Community Quilt, inspired by the iconic AIDS Memorial Quilt created in 1985. The quilt will be a visible and creative way to honour and celebrate LGBTQIA+ voices across the University’s 75-year history.
It will be made up of patches created by UNSW students and staff to represent their connection to the LGBTQIA+ community, be it personal or through their work at UNSW. This includes the research of one of our premier research centres and our parade partner, the UNSW Kirby Institute, which has made globally impactful contributions to the LGBTQIA+ community through its research over the past 40 years.
This collaborative artwork features patches that each tell a story, coming together as a visually striking and powerful symbol of visibility, pride and solidarity.
Cathy Brown (she/her), Director of Diversity and Inclusion at UNSW said, “I am really excited about the creation of the UNSW Community Quilt.
“UNSW has a long history of championing LGBTQIA+ inclusion through research, campus initiatives and community engagement, including celebrating Sydney Mardi Gras.
“The UNSW Queer Community Quilt is a vibrant representation of the impact, resilience, joy and power of the LGBTQIA+ community. It not only showcases UNSW’s commitment to building a strong future for LGBTQIA+ people, but is created by the community, for the community,” she said.
How to get involved
Join our quilt crafting workshops, hosted by UNSW’s Diversity & Inclusion team. You’ll design and create a patch that reflects your personal or professional connection to the LGBTQIA+ community. All materials, guidance and examples will be provided, so whether you’re an experienced crafter or a complete beginner, your creativity and passion are what matter most.
Your patch can showcase:
- your personal journey or identity
- LGBTQIA+ research and impact at UNSW
- the work of the UNSW Kirby Institute
- stories from UNSW’s diverse queer community over the past 75 years.
This project is a chance to make your mark and contribute to a lasting symbol of inclusion and pride.
We warmly invite all LGBTQIA+ students and staff, as well as allies and those connected to work that impacts the community, to contribute.
The first crafting workshop that started the Quilt creation was on 22 October, and there are seven more scheduled in the lead-up to Mardi Gras.
View the workshop details and register now.
Stay tuned for more updates
UNSW will unveil the Queer Community Quilt during 2026 Mardi Gras celebrations. If our parade application is successful, it will feature proudly as part of a joint UNSW and Kirby Institute float.
Arc, the SRC, members of the Student Queer Collective and the Office of Societal Transformation and Equity helped shape our parade application through a consultative process.
Organisers will notify entrants of the Mardi Gras parade outcomes on 7 November. Following this, UNSW will share more details on how our community can get involved in the 2026 celebrations.
UNSW is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where LGBTQIA+ students, staff and members of the broader community feel safe, supported and celebrated.
Find information on support and resources available on the EDI website.
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