As the 12th-most queer-friendly country on the Equality Index, Australia is a top destination for LGBTQ+ travelers — and a growing destination for queer digital nomads. But where can you meet other queer people on this massive continent without relying on speed dating events or hookup apps?
Famous for its “bush doofs” — outdoor raves in remote regions — Australia is also home to some of the queerest festivals in the world. You’ll find budget-friendly festivals that you can attend for free (in exchange for volunteering), as well as ticketed events with all-inclusive glamping options.
Some festivals are held in the city, so you can come and go as you please, while others will have you immersed in the bush for a weekend or more. If you don’t have a car, don’t worry: carpooling is an option, and many events offer shuttle services from the nearest town or city that you can book in advance.
Whether you live in Australia or are just visiting, here are 10 of the best queer-friendly festivals in Australia to add to your calendar:
Confest
Next event: 2 - 7 April, 2026 (Woorooma Station, NSW)
Confest is one of Australia’s longest-running festivals, held almost continuously since 1976. It usually happens twice a year, in Spring and Autumn, and attracts about 7,000 participants over a 5-day weekend.
What makes Confest special is that there’s no official lineup of performers and no amplified music allowed. Instead, participants organize themselves into themed camps, such as Rainbow Village, Permaculture Village, and Arts Village, where they run their own workshops and activities.
You’ll find silent discos, drumming circles, massage workshops, and more, as well as bonfires, saunas, and a river to swim in. The event is clothing-optional, with a “no photos without consent” policy, and a dedicated camping area for attendees seeking a drug-and-alcohol free environment.
Tickets cost ~$140 AUD per person, with an expectation of 2 hours of volunteer work from everyone who attends. If you volunteer 12 or 24 hours (either during the event, Set Up, or Pack Down), you’ll have some or most of your ticket price refunded, and may be eligible for meals at the volunteer cafeteria.
I first attended Confest in 2018, and Matt has attended several times and been involved in coordinating and mapping the site.
Burning Seed
Burning Seed is a regional festival that happens every year in New South Wales, Australia. Based on the principles of Burning Man, Burning Seed operates as a gifting economy (with no money exchanged beyond the price of a ticket), with participants building “Red Earth City” from scratch every year.
If you’ve been avoiding Burning Man because it’s gotten too big or too mainstream, you might find Burning Seed a welcome alternative, with its smaller scale resulting in a more community-focused experience.
You’ll need to bring your own food, water, and camping gear for the weekend — or join a queer-friendly camp that pools together some or all of these resources. Once there, you can take part in live music, art, and other participatory activities.
Although it isn’t a queer-specific event, Burning Seed is based on the principles of Radical Inclusion and Radical Self-Expression, and has a large queer presence.
Sunburnt Arts, the organization that runs Burning Seed, is holding a community consultation to determine the date and location of the next event.
The Naked Camp
The Naked Camp is an annual camping event for men, including “trans, cis, queer, gay, bi and same sex attracted.” It attracts close to 400 men for a long weekend at a campground two hours outside of Sydney, with professionally-led workshops ranging from yoga and massage to crafting and live figure drawing.
I went for the first time this year, and was pleasantly surprised at the diverse range of ages and body types, and how welcoming the group was to newcomers. Although it’s a sex-positive event, all workshops are consent-focused and place an emphasis on clear communication and respecting personal boundaries.
In addition to the facilitated workshops, you can go for a hike, swim in the river, or perform in the talent show.
Tickets start at $375-410 AUD if you bring your own tent; cabins and glamping packages are available for an additional fee. You can also add on extras like breakfast, dinner, and roundtrip bus transportation from Sydney.
Subscribe to the mailing list or check out their local events here.
Tropical Fruits
Next event: 28 Dec, 2025 - 4 Jan, 2026 (Lismore, NSW)
Tropical Fruits is the “premier LGBTIQ+ community group in the Northern Rivers in NSW,” also known as the Rainbow Region. Tropical Fruits hosts an annual New Year's festival, with the next event happening 28 Dec, 2025 - 4 Jan, 2026 at the Lismore Showground; this year’s theme is Space Cadets.
The festival schedule includes a Camp Party, New Years’ Eve Party, Pool Party, and Recovery Party, and you can buy tickets to individual events or as a package. You can also buy a camping pass to camp right at the Lismore Showground.
What sets this festival apart is that it doesn’t take place in a remote location, but a 20-minute walk from the town center of Lismore. That means you can easily go to a grocery store, or take a day trip somewhere else in the region.
If you’re arriving from out of town, you can book a shuttle bus from Byron Bay or the Ballina Airport (but book ahead to avoid holiday prices!).
Get your tickets for the next event here.
Newkind Conference
The Newkind Social Change Conference is a place for “people to come together to celebrate our humanity and inspire positive social action.” It includes workshops, professional development sessions, panel discussions, and entertainment, all for people involved in the social justice and sustainability space.
Early bird tickets start at $275 AUD, and include 3 plant-based meals per day and 5 days of camping. The entire event is drug- and alcohol-free, with eco-friendly toilets and a zero-waste ethos. Topics of discussion include Gender Equality, Intersectionality, and Race Equity, as well as First Nations Sovereignty and Climate Action.
The event takes place at a campground in Redbank, Victoria, about a 2-hour drive from Melbourne. Apply to volunteer or keep an eye out for tickets here.
Camp Euphoria
Next event: 27-29 March, 2026 (Wiseman’s Ferry, NSW)
Camp Euphoria is a queer camping event run by Rave Temple, which also hosts LGBTQ+ parties and other events in Sydney and Melbourne. The two-night event includes “workshops, offerings, installations, and party times set against a lush, private bushland backdrop with a serene creek running through.”
Expect a mix of wholesome and sexy activities to choose from, including a day-spa tent, darkroom, and talent show. Attend workshops to learn communication skills, bodywork techniques, and more, in an inclusive, queer-only setting.
Tickets for the next event in May 2026 start at $335 AUD, with a shared spot in a cabin included for $385. Payment plans of $50/week are also available.
Get your final release tickets here.
Gaytimes
Gaytimes is an LGBTQ-focused music festival most recently held in Gembrook, Victoria, a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne. As a “boutique festival with a strictly limited capacity of under 2000,” you’ll need to enter a ballot in order to attend. Unfortunately, the event is currently on hiatus as of 2026.
Why include it on our list? According to the website, Gaytimes is the “first queer music festival in the world,” and we think it’s well worth waiting for its return.
Past editions have offered roundtrip shuttle transport from Melbourne, and there are food and drink vendors on-site, making it a great choice for first-timers who have never camped at a music festival before.
Sign up for their mailing list to get notified when the next event is accounced.
Sydney Mardi Gras
Next event: 13 Feb - 1 Mar, 2026 (Sydney)
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is one of the biggest LGBTQ+ events in the world, held annually since 1978. It features everything from parades to pool parties, spread out over three full weekends in February and March.
Next year’s event kicks off with Fair Day, a free event that attracts up to 80,000 people each year. Other events include Ultra Violet, featuring music and burlesque performances by women and gender-diverse artists, and Laugh Out Proud, a live comedy gala at the Enmore Theatre.
What makes Sydney Mardi Gras so great is that you can choose which events you want to go to, and you don’t have to worry about camping or transport. If you’ll be visiting from out of town, just keep in mind that the cost of accommodation can rise during the festival. Apply to volunteer or get your ticket here.
ChillOut Festival
Next event: 5-9 March, 2026
ChillOut Festival takes place in March in Daylesford, Victoria — a small town with less than 3,000 residents just a 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne. ChillOut Festival is all about “queer country pride,” and has been “bringing together the rural LGBTIQ community, artists and the broader community for 25 years.”
The annual event features a parade, drag and burlesque shows, and other activities that attract up to 30,000 participants each year.
Since this festival is based in a small town, there are no official camping facilities; consider booking a place to stay somewhere in the Daylesford region.
Become a volunteer or sign up to their mailing list for updates.
Midsumma Festival
Next event: 18 Jan - 8 Feb, 2026 (Naarm/Melbourne)
The Midsumma Festival is Melbourne’s “premier festival of LGBTQIA+ arts and culture.” Like Sydney Mardi Gras, it takes place in the city, so you can pick and choose from a variety of free and ticketed events spread out over three weeks.
Start with the free Midsumma Carnival on 18 January, and attend the Midsumma Pride March on Feb 1st, and wrap up with the Pride Street Party on 8 Feb.
In the meantime, check out circus performances like Campfire Unleashed, cabaret shows like F.A.A.G., and inclusive events like the Deaf Club & Dance Party.
You can apply to volunteer or order a free printed festival guide in the mail.
Planning to go to any of these festivals? Let us know and maybe we'll see you there!
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