Midsumma Carnival

Midsumma is Australia's premier queer arts and cultural organisation, bringing together LGBTQIA+ artists, performers, communities, and audiences. The main event, Midsumma Festival, runs for 22 days each summer (January and February) in Naarm/Melbourne, featuring a diverse array of queer events that celebrate hidden and mainstream queer culture.

Carnival is the iconic outdoor celebration that marks the opening of Midsumma Festival, and it has become one of the biggest highlights in Melbourne’s LGBTQIA+ calendar. In 2024, the event attracted 118,000 attendees. This year, Midsumma Carnival will offer diverse performances, showcasing artists from across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. With endless things to see, do, and eat your way through, Midsumma Carnival is an iconic full-day outdoor extravaganza dedicated to kicking off the three-week-long festival.