St Kilda’s Fitzroy Street erupted in a dazzling display of colour, music, and community spirit last Sunday, as more than 53,000 marchers and spectators came together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Midsumma Pride March.
The milestone event, held on Sunday, 1 February 2026, was hailed as one of the most vibrant and inclusive yet, highlighting three decades of progress and pride within Victoria’s LGBTQIA+ communities.
Among the crowd of supporters and community groups were several distinguished guests. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, accompanied by local MPs Nina Taylor and Vicky Ward, joined the celebrations along with Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, reinforcing the government’s ongoing commitment to equality and inclusion.
Adding flair behind the lens, Melbourne’s best celebrity photographer turned celebrity in his own right, Lord Murray Schoorman, captured the day’s unforgettable scenes. From glitter-dusted performers to families waving rainbow flags under the summer sun.
VIP guests were hosted at the first floor viewing balcony of The Victorian Pride Centre, offering prime views of Fitzroy Street as the march passed. The Pride Centre once again served as the symbolic heart of the event, uniting the community in a shared celebration of love, pride, and resilience.
The march began at 10:30am, led by the thunderous engines of the Dykes on Bikes, followed by youth contingents and the Rainbow Mob, representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+ communities. Then the Victorian State Government with City pf Port Phillip closely behind. Followed by waves of community groups, allies, and performers flowed from Ian Johnson Oval down to Catani Gardens, where crowds gathered for post-march festivities until 3:30pm.
![Paul Horwell [VPC CEO] chats with Ch7 Melbourne News](https://tooraktimes.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Screenshot_20260205_110146_Gallery-138x300.jpg "Screenshot 20260205 110146 Gallery")
Channel Seven Melbourne’s reporter Phoebe Worthley, recorded highlight coverage, including an exclusive balcony interview with the Victorian Pride Centre’s CEO Paul Horwell, who reflected on the festival’s growth “Thirty years of marching means thirty years of visibility, courage, and community spirit. Pride belongs to all of us, and today’s crowd shows just how strong that spirit has become.”
This year’s celebrations had an extra splash of local flavour courtesy of GREAT OCEAN ROAD GIN, a queer owned and operated Victorian distillery that kept VIP festival dignitaries refreshed at their pop-up “hydration station.” Their creatively mixed beverages proved a hit in the warm afternoon sun, drawing curious tasters and new fans alike. Speaking exclusively to The Toorak Times, Ann Houlihan from GORG explained that they are thrilled to be the VPC’s newest supplier to come on board to serve their quality products at the various bars throughout the centre.
As the final beats echoed across Catani Gardens and the sun dipped over St Kilda beach, one message stood out — Pride is more than a parade; it’s a living, breathing celebration of identity, solidarity, and hope.
From its grassroots beginnings to its 30th anniversary, Midsumma Pride March continues to inspire Melbourne and the nation, reminding all who attend that love in every form deserves to shine as brightly as the rainbow itself.
