Inflation, death and asbestos are three things not often associated with the glitz and glam of Australia's biggest celebration of the queer community.
But the organisers of the 2025 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival have had to overcome them all to pull off a jam-packed line-up for the February event.
"There was a very real possibility I'd be standing here announcing a festival that included only one event, our pride parade," festival chief executive Gil Beckwith said at the program launch on Thursday.
"I'm so relieved and excited to be here now."
Ms Beckwith said stretched finances were a significant threat to the festival, with arts events across Australia feeling the heat from inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.
"Costs have risen between 20 to 40 per cent over the last couple of years after COVID and some of the suppliers that we've relied on for many years have also gone out of business," she said.
The 2024 festival, which was the first after Sydney hosted World Pride in 2023, was also marred by the alleged murders of community members Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.
The Mardi Gras board officially uninvited police from participating in the parade after a serving officer was charged with killing the couple, both in their 20s.
The board is in discussions with NSW Police and is yet to decide whether uniformed officials will march in the 2025 parade.
"It's a watch-and-wait space, we're having continuing conversations with the police," Ms Beckwith said
"But (in the 2024 festival) there were a lot of people in grief and it really overshadowed the festival.
"It’s in their honour - and in honour of every person who has come before - that we continue our work with renewed purpose."
The 2025 festival theme is packed with events, including the return of Fair Day, which City of Sydney council cancelled due to asbestos contamination in the planned park venue in 2024.
The theme, Free To Be, aims to celebrate diversity and inclusivity for the whole community.
Returning after a 2024 debut will be Hot Trans Summer, a boat party for trans people and allies, Ultra Violet, a day-to-night party for LGBQTI women, and Blak and Deadly, a First Nations gala concert.
Ms Beckwith said the 2025 theme was close to every queer person's heart.
"It is a celebration of who we are as individuals and a reminder of the journey towards freedom," she said.
"No one is free until we are all free to be."
Performances from UK-based Romy and American DJ Honey Dijon will also feature across the festival.
The 2025 line-up also includes the Pride In Sport program.
In collaboration with HIV and LGTBQI health organisation ACON, the festival will offer a number of sporting programs from self-defence classes to volleyball tournaments.
The organisation's board will also be partnering with Qtopia for the first time after the opening of the nation's first queer history museum in inner-city Darlinghurst in February.
Mardi Gras tickets go on sale on November 15.
