QueerScreen Special Presentation
Details coming soon
Nauti Movie Night
We've partnered up with QueerScreen to present two special films during the Mardi Gras Film Festival!
More details are coming soon!
Fair Day
Sunday 15 February 2026
All Aboard the Love Boat
Set sail with Sydney's finest bear crew! Harbour City Bears are dropping anchor at Fair Day! Join us under the bear tree to relax and enjoy the day. If you’re just testing the waters, the HCB committee will be on deck to answer all your questions about bears, Sydney and Bear Essentials!
The first event in the Mardi Gras calendar is Fair Day at Victoria Park, Camperdown.
| Where? | Victoria Park, Camperdown |
|---|---|
| When? | Sunday 15 February 2026 10am to 4pm |
| How Much? | Free, no registration required |
Fair Day Afterparty
Sunday 15 February 2026
Full Steam Ahead
After fair day, Harbour City Bears is 'Full Steam Ahead' to The Townie in Newtown!
For our fair day afterparty we’re taking over all the decks, from the ground to the rooftop. Members will get priority entry, as will those who’ve visited us at our Fair Day stall.
Harbour City Bears regular home bar on a Sunday, The Town Hall Hotel in Newtown (affectionately known as The Townie) is where you can head to wind down after a busy day at Fair Day.
So come along and visit the lower decks (Ground Floor), 1st deck (Midway Bar) or the crow's nest (Roof top Cactus Bar).
For our Fair Day after party, we're taking over all 3 floors of the Townie from 3pm!
When you get to the door, show your HCB membership card to get priority entry! If you aren't a member, come see us at the Harbour City Bear stall at Fair Day to scan a special QR code, which will also get you priority entry!
Come and meet new friends and old, introduce yourself to visiting bears, or just relax and have a dance!
The Townie is conveniently located directly outside Newtown Train Station.
| Where? | The Town Hall Hotel 326 King Street, Newtown |
|---|---|
| When? | After Fair Day Sunday 15 February 2026 3pm until 11:30pm |
| How Much? | Free, no registration required |
Bearaoke
Wednesday 18 February 2026
Seamen and Sea Shanties
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Every seaman loves a sing along, chum.
Come and join us at Kings Cross Hotel for a night of fun for you to discover your inner diva and support your fellow ship mates.
See them take to the stage and show talents you would normally find on the high seas.
You never know, we may uncover a singing treasure.
| Where? | Kings Cross Hotel 244-248 William Street, Kings Cross |
|---|---|
| When? | Wednesday 18 February 2026 7pm until late |
| How Much? | Free, no registration required |
Sauna Party
Thursday 19 February 2026
Cabin Fever
Step into the steam heat at our famous sauna party. Leave your worries (and clothes) at the door as you dive into a night of sweat and uninhibited fun at Sauna X, where the bears are taking over for the night.
Join us for a celebration of body positivity at our Bear Sauna Night, hosted at Sauna X on Taylor Street, Darlinghurst. Dive into three floors of steamy fun.
The lounge is a bar and chill out area where you can relax with a beverage. Drinks are assigned to your locker number for easy payment on your way out. Fresh towels are available from the counter at the entry.
Harbour City Bears are proud partners of ACON, NSW's community health organisation for diverse sexualities, inclusion and genders. Stay up to date with your STI checkups, PREP, and vaccinations, and have fun!
| Where? | Sauna X 10 Taylor Street, Darlinghurst |
|---|---|
| When? | Thursday 19 February 2026 7pm to midnight |
| How Much? | $25 for members $25 for kindred members $30 for non-members $35 on the door (if not sold out) |
Furry Friday
Friday 20 February 2026
Making Waves
Whether you’re a salty sea dog or a fresh-faced deckhand, join your fellow bears, cubs, otters, and admirers as we drop anchor for a night of cheeky smiles, and smooth sailing into Mardi Gras weekend. Expect a sea of handsome crew, nautical beats from our resident DJs, and a wave of laughter that’ll carry you through the night.
Throw on your best sailor stripes, cruise captain’s hat, or maritime chic as we make waves in Kings Cross.
So batten down the hatches, grab a drink, and join the crew we’re setting sail with the Harbour City Bears for a night of nautical naughtiness.
| Where? | Kings Cross Hotel 244-248 William Street, Kings Cross |
|---|---|
| When? | Friday 20 February 2026 7pm to late |
| How Much? | Free, no registration required |
Beach Day
Saturday 21 February 2026
Beach, Please!
Sun, sand, and a whole pack of gorgeous bears.
We’re heading to Obelisk beach for a relaxed day of saltwater, cheeky laughs, and bodies that deserve to be admired. Pack your towel and sunscreen, bring your charm, and let’s make some waves together.
When the cruise arrives, swim out to say hello and meet your fellow sailors!
Obelisk Beach is clothing-optional, so get your bear bums out!
| Where? | Obelisk Beach, Mosman |
|---|---|
| When? | Saturday 21 February 2026 11am to 5pm |
| How Much? | Free, no registration required |
Harbour Cruise
Saturday 21 February 2026
Shipwrecked
Climb aboard everyone and get ready to be Shipwrecked!
The ultimate bear cruise adventure is setting sail across the harbour and landing on a sun-soaked beach.
Expect music, cold drinks, and plenty of cheeky sea breeze as the bears cruise to meet up with the bears that are at the beach day at Obelisk. Prepare for a day of salty skin and pure laid-back mischief.
Spaces will be limited so get in early for the scenic views with a BBQ provided. As an added bonus, the cruise will pull up to Sydney’s wonderful nude Obelisk beach, at the same time as our second beach day! You can swim to shore to catch up with the beach day attendees, or relax on the deck of our little boat.
The cruise leaves at 11am at King Street Wharf in the city, returning at 5pm.
Please note that the event is BYO drinks, however spirits are not permitted due to RSA restrictions. Pre-mixed drinks are fine.
This event will likely be very popular so make sure you get in quickly to get your tickets!
| Where? | Departing from King Street Wharf |
|---|---|
| When? | Saturday 21 February 2026 10:30am to 5pm |
| How Much? | $100 for members $100 for kindred members $130 for non-members |
Lunch and Pub Crawl
Sunday 22 February 2026
Gilligan's Tour
Hoist the mainsail and polish your compasses!
After you join HCB legend Barry Charles and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for their history tour of Darlinghurst and the Cross. you can join Harbour City Bears as we set off on a boisterous on-foot “cruise” from Kings Cross to the Townie in Newtown!
We’ll be making a flotilla of pub stops, including a hearty lunch to keep your sea legs steady, and plenty of wayward adventures as we chart a course through the back streets of Sydney.
Don't worry, we will be hopping on and off public transport, you won't be walking the whole way!
| Where? | Meet at Kings Cross |
|---|---|
| When? | Sunday 22 February 2026 directly after the History Walk |
| How Much? | Free, but registration required |
Sunday Bears
Sunday 22 February 2026
Hump Day
Congratulations seamen, you've made it halfway through Bear Essentials 2026!
For those of you who aren't napping in preparation for the super busy week ahead, our friends at The Townie in Newtown are hosting us for our regular Sunday afternoon meet up.
So come along and visit the 1st deck (Midway Bar) or the Crow's nest (Rooftop Cactus Bar). Grab a drink with your fellow maties, enjoy a hardy meal and exchange the salty stories of the first week.
Come and meet new friends and old, introduce yourself to visiting bears, or just relax and have a dance!
The Townie is conveniently located directly outside Newtown Train Station.
| Where? | The Town Hall Hotel 326 King Street, Newtown |
|---|---|
| When? | Sunday 22 February 2026 4pm until 8pm |
| How Much? | Free, no registration required |
Trivia Night
Tuesday 24 February 2026
Are You Smarter than Seamen?
Hoist your sails and show your tails! Test your wits at Trivia night with our own Capt’n Pugwash Gary as he navigates us through the straits of ABBA, leather and bears.
Strap into your harnesses, alert Roger the cabin boy and prepare to strut your knowledge on pop culture, current affairs, gay culture, disco classics and nautical nonsense that will shiver your timbers as Gary drops his anchor with Master Bates.
| Where? | Kings Cross Hotel 244-248 William Street, Kings Cross |
|---|---|
| When? | Tuesday 24 February 2026 7pm to late |
| How Much? | Free, but registration required |
Underbear XXX
Wednesday 25 February 2026
All Hands on Deck!
Hit the deck bears in your most seaworthy underdaks, strip down to your reliable tightie-whities, kinky jockstraps or even a whole union suit. Every able seaman is ordered to one of Aura’s two decks to dance the night away and show off their prized booty over both Aura’s dance floors. Each floor will cater to different music choices, though a sea shanty will be hard to find.
When you need a break from shaking your booty, head down to the lower decks of Sauna X where you can explore where bears and seamen meet. Here you can work up a different kind of sweat while getting to know your dance partners better than a dance floor allows
| Where? | Aura Nightclub and Sauna X 16 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst |
|---|---|
| When? | Wednesday 25 February 2026 8pm to 3am |
| How Much? | $65 for members $65 for kindred members $70 for non-members $75 on the door (if not sold out) |
Wet Furr Pool Party
Thursday 26 February 2026
Walk the Plank!
Wash that man right outta your hair, before you walk the plank into the wave pool at the Cook + Phillip Park Pool. Seaman Stayns is not invited.
That’s right, we’re celebrating Wet Furr again, but this year it’s on a Thursday. There will be plenty of pool toys to keep you afloat, so you won’t get a sandy bottom.
There’ll also be some tasty treats and cold refreshments in the pool courtyard to give you the strength to look at all the hidden treasures.
And our DJ will be pumping out tunes to keep everyone from Captain Peg Leg to Roger the Cabin Boy happy.
There are a limited number of lockers, so bring a bag/backpack to store your cargo, your best budgie smugglers, and a towel. Parrot and eye patch optional.
Get your tickets early, as this event sells out.
| Where? | Cook + Phillip Park Pool 4 College St, Sydney |
|---|---|
| When? | Thursday 26 February 2026 6pm to 9pm |
| How Much? | $30 for members $30 for kindred members $40 for non-members $50 on the door (if not sold out). |
Furry Friday
Friday 27 February 2026
Nautical, But Nice
Ahoy again, bears! After making waves last week, we’re keeping the ship steady and the good times rolling with a night that’s Nautical... but Nice!
Sail back into the Kings Cross Hotel for round two of seafaring fun from the crows nest. As usual we’ve got the entire rooftop bar to ourselves, and since it’s Mardi Gras, we’ve got spillover room on the ground floor too!
So pull up your rigging, grab your crew, and let’s keep this voyage afloat!
| Where? | Kings Cross Hotel 244-248 William Street, Kings Cross |
|---|---|
| When? | Friday 27 February 2026 7pm to late |
| How Much? | Free, no registration required |
Mardi Gras Parade
Saturday 28 February 2026
Cruising
Can you feel it?
It starts as a heartbeat — one that’s echoed through this city since 1978.
Then the bass drops: the roar of the crowd, the thunder of the Dykes on Bikes, the shimmer of sequins under streetlights. From that first rev to the final float, you can feel it rising — an energy that’s wild, defiant, and beautifully alive.
This is Ecstatica — the 48th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, lighting up Oxford Street, Flinders Street, and Anzac Parade on Saturday 28 February 2026.
Over 200 floats and 12,000 marchers will bring the night to life — led proudly by our 78ers, First Nations LGBTQIA+SB communities, and the fearless icons who continue to shape our story. Together, they’ll transform Sydney’s most famous streets into a dazzling current of queer celebration and activism — a reminder of how far we’ve come, and how bright we burn when we rise together.
Join hundreds of thousands of people from Hyde Park to Moore Park as the Parade turns the city electric — a living, breathing spectacle of love, unity, and ecstatic joy.
Please register for this event if you would like to be in the Harbour City Bears 2026 Mardi Gras Parade entry.
Note that this DOES NOT guarantee you a place- we will be selecting from this list of registrations randomly until all places are gone.
HCB members and kindred members will get priority over the general public, so don't forget to log in or use the kindred code to increase your chances.
If you are selected you will receive an email to confirm and make payment, likely in late January.
| Where? | Oxford Street, Darlinghurst |
|---|---|
| When? | Saturday 28 February 2026 |
| How Much? | $50 for members $50 for kindred members $100 for non-members |
Parade Viewing Party
Saturday 28 February 2026
View from the Crow's Nest
Not joining the parade?
Don’t want to battle the crowds but want to still be part of the fun?
We have the answer.
Climb up the ships rigging till you reach the crows nest and join our viewing party.
We are taking over the ground floor and balcony level of the Kings Cross Hotel and you are invited along to watch the parade on the big screens.
This is a free event that gives you the luxury of all the amenities of the vessel without the need to battle the high seas.
| Where? | Kings Cross Hotel 244-248 William Street, Kings Cross |
|---|---|
| When? | Saturday 28 February 2026 |
| How Much? | Free, no registration required |
Sunday Bears
Sunday 1 March 2025
Bear Voyage
Congratulations maties, you've made it to the end of Bear Essentials 2026 and Mardi Gras! If you're not totally shagged out by now, we're having one last hurrah at The Townie in Newtown before Mardi Gras sails away for another year.
Join us in wishing a bear voyage to those people who’ve travelled here for Bear Essentials 30!
Harbour City Bears’ regular watering hole on a Sunday, The Town Hall Hotel in Newtown (known as The Townie) is where you can sail to, to wind down after a busy fortnight.
So come along and visit the 1st deck (Midway Bar) or the Crow's nest (Rooftop Cactus Bar). Grab a farewell drink with your fellow seamen, enjoy a last meal and exchange the salty stories of the last two weeks.
The Townie is conveniently located directly outside Newtown Train Station.
| Where? | The Town Hall Hotel 326 King Street, Newtown |
|---|---|
| When? | Sunday 1 March 2025 4pm until 8pm |
| How Much? | Free, no registration required |