American singer Kelly Rowland will add her star power to Sydney's WorldPride festival next year, an event organisers say will be the biggest to be held in the city since the 2000 Olympics.
The former Destiny's Child songstress was today revealed as the headline act for WorldPride's Domain Dance Party on February 26.
The festival is set to highlight the voices and art of First Nations performers and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Today's announcement marks 100 days until the event kicks off in the Harbour City.
Chief executive Kate Wickett said the two-week celebration would be for everyone, regardless of background or budget.
"We want to show the world the beauty that Sydney is, the beauty of our community, the beauty that we have to offer," she said.
"We want to shine a light on our diverse communities here in Sydney, Australia and all of the region."
The festival's full program was announced today.
It will include more than 300 events between February 17 and March 5, 2023.
Kylie Minogue, Charli XCX and Jessica Mauboy are lined up for special performances during the opening concert, Live and Proud, on February 24, which will be hosted by Courtney Act and Casey Donovan.
The event's closing night concert, Rainbow Republic, will feature American band Muna and Australian artists G-Flip and Peach PRC on March 5.
The event will be held in conjunction with Sydney's annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which will mark its 45th year.
Mardi Gras' iconic parade will also return to Oxford Street after two years at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Sydney Mardi Gras chief executive Albert Kruger said the full suite of events associated with the celebration would return in 2023.
The past two iterations have been hampered by COVID-19 restrictions.
"We have gone through such a difficult time," he said.
"We all at some stage felt isolated, we were put in a spot where we were locked down and we had to stick it through, and Mardi Gras was no different.
"It is a momentous occasion for us to be back on Oxford Street next year."
Sydney is set to be the first city in the southern hemisphere to host WorldPride.
Ms Wickett said organisers made a promise next year's festival would highlight the stories of marginalised people.
"We made a promise in 2019 ... to gather you all, to amplify the voices of those voices that have often been silenced, or diminished, or that have never been heard," Ms Wickett said.
"We made a promise to dream, to dream what's possible for our community, to dream about the positive change that Sydney WorldPride could have for our community."
A human rights conference will be held as part of the WorldPride festival, and is set to run for three days from March 1.
