[3][4][5][6] In 2019, it was estimated that Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras—host of WorldPride 2023—would have a 25–40% increase in attendance over normal years, and contribute over AU$664 million to the local economy.

[7][2] Due to its scale and the bidding process, WorldPride was colloquially referred to as "the gay Olympics" by Australian media outlets.

He restored the funding and promised to help with permits, but declined to back down on a demand that organizers remove the city logo from promotional materials.

[8] Pope John Paul II addressed crowds in St. Peter's Square during WorldPride 2000 stating, in regards to the event, that it was an "offence to the Christian values of a city that is so dear to the hearts of Catholics across the world.

"[9] The organisers claimed 250,000 people joined in the march to the Colosseum and the Circus Maximus, two of Rome's most famous ancient sites.

[10] Among the scheduled events were conferences, a fashion show, a large parade, a leather dance, and a concert featuring Gloria Gaynor, The Village People, RuPaul, and Geri Halliwell.

As WorldPride started in 2006, the main parade was scheduled for August 6, but was strongly opposed by Israeli religious Orthodox Jews, Muslims and Christian leaders from the outset.

[14] The 27th annual conference of InterPride, held in October 2008 in Vancouver, Canada, voted for the bid from Pride London, over Stockholm Pride,[15] to host WorldPride 2012 in the capital of the United Kingdom just ahead of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games and during the anticipated year-long celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.

Pride London organisers had failed to secure the funds necessary for contractors of key areas of the work, and they announced that all activities were being cut or cancelled.

The 28th annual conference of InterPride, held in October 2009 in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, voted to accept the bid of Pride Toronto to host WorldPride 2014 for the first time in North America.

[20] WorldPride 2014 festivities included an opening ceremony at Nathan Phillips Square featuring concert performances by Melissa Etheridge, Deborah Cox, Steve Grand and Tom Robinson,[21] an international human rights conference whose attendees included Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, Frank Mugisha and Edie Windsor[22] amongst 2,400 attendees and 195 presenters from around the world,[23] a gala and awards event, a variety of networking and social events including Canada Day and American Independence Day celebrations and an exhibition commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

[30] There were many free public stages throughout Toronto's Church and Wellesley neighbourhood, featuring drag queen and king shows, burlesque shows, cultural performances, and musical acts including Carly Rae Jepsen, Peaches, Against Me!, Hercules and Love Affair, Chely Wright, Pansy Division, Lydia Lunch, The Nylons, k.d.

[31] Parachute Club, whose 1983 single "Rise Up" has long been considered a Canadian gay anthem, released a contemporary remix of the song a week before the festivities.

[31] The closing ceremony, held at Yonge-Dundas Square following the parade, featured performances by Tegan and Sara, Robin S, CeCe Peniston, Rich Aucoin, God-Des and She and Hunter Valentine.

In October 2012, InterPride's membership voted at its annual conference in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, to award WorldPride 2017[37] to the city of Madrid, Spain.

In 2019, WorldPride was hosted in New York City by Heritage of Pride as Stonewall 50 — WorldPride NYC 2019; it marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots on June 28, 1969 in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood, which are widely considered to be the most important event leading to the gay liberation movement[43][44][45][46] and the modern fight for LGBT rights in the United States.

At InterPride's 2019 meeting in Athens, WorldPride 2023 was awarded to Sydney, which received 60% of the vote ahead of the other bid contenders Montreal (36%) and Houston (3%).

[56][57] It would mark the 45th anniversary of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras—Australia's largest and longest-running LGBT pride event, and five years since same-sex marriage was recognized in Australia.

[61] The centrepiece was a three-day LGBTIQ+ Human Rights Conference focusing on LGBTIQ+ people's experiences of discrimination and persecution in the Asia Pacific region and more broadly.

[63][64][65] Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed regret over the cancelation, claiming the outcome would harm Asia’s vast LGBTIQ+ community.