Dayenu confirms return to Mardi Gras parade

Sydney’s Jewish LGBTQIA+ organisation Dayenu will march in the 2026 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday 28 February, reversing its earlier decision to withdraw after securing additional safety assurances.

In an announcement today, the Dayenu committee said the decision followed strong community support and negotiations with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras organisers and New South Wales Police.

The committee announcement stated, “Dayenu would like to thank New South Wales Police and Mardi Gras for working with us to accommodate our safety concerns leading to our participation in this year’s Parade. We are delighted to be continuing our participation. We look forward to seeing you in the parade.”

The renewed commitment comes weeks after Dayenu announced it would withdraw from the 2026 parade, citing fears for the safety of members, spectators, volunteers, police and the broader community amid rising antisemitism and recent violent incidents.

That decision followed the December 14, 2025, Bondi Beach terrorist attack in which 15 people were killed and more than 40 injured, as well as unrest during protests in Sydney’s CBD.

David, a representative of Dayenu, had said at the time that the move was shaped not only by the Bondi attack but also by more recent unrest.

“It was the events at Sydney Town Hall that really cemented it for us that things are turning very violent,” he said.

Founded in the late 1990s, Dayenu has represented Jewish LGBTQ+ Australians in the parade for 25 years and has consistently described its relationship with Mardi Gras organisers as strong and supportive.

For more information, email [email protected] and see: https://www.mardigras.org.au/event/parade/