Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival 2026

Four of Australia’s most groundbreaking LGBTQIA+ athletes will unite for the first time during the 2026 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival for Sports Talk: Raising the Rainbow Flag, an exclusive conversation about identity, resilience, and the future of inclusion in Australian sport.

Presented by Ruby Rose Management, the event brings together athletes who have each changed the landscape of their codes, offering an honest and unfiltered look at the moments that shaped them — the triumphs, the pressure, the visibility, and the battles fought to raise the rainbow flag in sport.

Inaugural panel:

• Ian Roberts (NRL) – The first Australian professional athlete to come out publicly while competing at the elite level.
• Matthew Mitcham (Diving) – Olympic Gold Medallist and one of Australia’s most celebrated openly gay athletes.
• Ellia Green (Rugby 7s & NRLW) – The first trans man to win an Olympic Gold Medal and a proud Sydney Convicts member.
• Mitch Brown (AFL) – The first professional male AFL player to come out as bisexual in the league’s 129-year history.

Following the panel, attendees will have the opportunity to meet each athlete, have memorabilia signed, take photos, and connect directly with the icons who continue to redefine inclusion across Australian sport.

“This panel is a testament to bravery, truth, and the fierce strength within our community,” says event producer Brendon Beavan. “Each of these athletes has rewritten the rules of Australian sport, and seeing them side by side is nothing short of extraordinary. As the first‑ever Sports Talk panel, they’re lighting the torch for a conversation that will only burn brighter as we move toward the Mardi Gras 50th Anniversary in 2028 and the Perth 2030 Gay Games.”

Funds raised will support the upcoming documentary Light – The Ian Roberts Story through its Documentary Australia fundraising campaign.

📅 Sunday 22 February 2026
🕛 Doors open 12:00 PM
🕐 Panel begins 1:00 PM
📍 Paddo RSL Auditorium, Paddington
🎟 Tickets: www.ticketfairy.com/event/sports-talk
🎫 Reader discount code: QMAGSport ($10 off adult ticket, only $25 +bf)

Q Magazine: supporting our community since 2004.

Look for your ‘Sports Talk’ special discount in THE SHOP.

Q Magazine: proud to support Ruby Rose Management.