Manchester Pride Festival is set to transform the city into a vibrant celebration over the August bank holiday weekend (Friday 23rd – Monday 26th August). This year we celebrate the pivotal role that Manchester has played in progressing LGBTQ+ rights. Join us to celebrate one of the biggest Pride celebrations in the world, advocating LGBTQ+ equality with an exciting line-up of local and international artists.
JUST ANNOUNCED: GOK WAN AMONGST FINAL LINE-UP ADDITIONS
We are thrilled to announce that internationally renowned DJ and television personality Gok Wan is returning to the Gay Village Party on Friday, 23rd August. Gok Wan’s energetic set promises to bring all of the vibes to the festival, setting the tone for an unforgettable weekend.
Also joining Friday’s lineup is The Untold Orchestra, known for their redefined orchestral performances, and OneDa, whose eclectic mix of hip-hop, drum and bass, and Afrobeat-infused sounds will add a unique dimension to the festival.
ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Gay Village Party Dates: Friday 23rd – Monday 26th August
Tickets: Weekend and day tickets are still available from Ticketmaster. Gold VIP tickets are sold out.
TICKET AVAILABILITY
The Gay Village Party is the only ticketed event. Tickets are exchanged for a Pledge Band, granting access to areas managed by Manchester Pride, including performance stages and event spaces. A strict no Pledge Band, no entry policy is enforced. Funds from ticket sales support grassroots projects across Greater Manchester, with £1.8M distributed in grants to date.
A full breakdown of where the money from each ticket goes is available to view on the website.
VIP tickets
Gold VIP: Sold out
Diamond VIP: Available with exclusive perks:
Fast-track VIP box office access.
Complimentary Diamond VIP Brunch on Sunday 25th August.
Access to the VIP suite at the Village Stage with:
VIP Village Stage Viewing Platform
Luxury toilet facilities
Premium bar service
Exclusive snack concessions
Access to the Alan Turing VIP Lounge with:
Phone charging facilities
Glam station
Lounge seating
Exclusive VIP welcome pack containing:
1x cocktail voucher
2x standard drinks vouchers
Commemorative VIP laminate and lanyard with festival site map and artist programme
Pride essentials gift bag
Dedicated VIP Concierge service from 12pm to 10pm daily.
DETAILED EVENT SCHEDULE
All Manchester Pride Festival events are free to attend, with the exception of the Gay Village Party.
THE GAY VILLAGE PARTY
Co-created by charity Manchester Pride and Manchester’s queer communities, this event stands as the heartbeat of the festival. As the only ticketed event, the Gay Village Party presents an unforgettable line-up of LGBTQ+ performers and global icons in celebration of queer life and love.
With a vibrant array of bold and diverse performances across The Village Stage, The Alan Turing Stage in Sackville Gardens and the Indoor Arena, the line-up aims to centre and empower the diversity of Greater Manchester’s incredible LGBTQ+ talent,
Here’s a breakdown of the performances across the three stages. Please note: set times are subject to change. Information is correct at the time of publication. For the most up-to-date information, please visit the Woov app.
FRIDAY
The Village Stage: Trans Filth & Joy, Gok Wan and Jessie J. 19:30-23:00.
The Alan Turing Stage: Keala Settle, Iconic (feat. Ghetto Fabulous and The Untold Orchestra), OneDa, Lady Bushra, and Violet Blonde. 17:00-23:00.
The Indoor Arena: RUNWAY by Banksie and Fat Pride. 19:00-00:00.
SATURDAY
The Village Stage: BLACK PRIDE MCR TAKEOVER hosted by Rikki Beadle-Blair and Darren Pritchard. With performances from Loreen, Rita Ora, Katy B, and more. 15:30-23:00.
The Alan Turing Stage: QUEER ASIAN TAKEOVER, hosted by Lucky Roy Singh with DJ Zindagi. With performances from Shanika Sunrise, Raj, Val The Brown Queen and more. 16:00-23:00.
The Indoor Arena: GAYDIO DANCE ARENA, featuring DJ Paulette and more. 14:00–00:00. Followed by a silent disco, 00:00-02:00.
SUNDAY
The Village Stage: DANNY BEARD & FRIENDS, with notable appearances by Sugababes, Danny Beard, Natasha Hamilton, and more. 14:15-23:00.
The Alan Turing Stage: DIVAS ONLY HOSTED BY MISTY CHANCE. Claire Richards, Ginny Lemon, Angie Brown, and more. 13:00-23:00.
The Indoor Arena: QUEER WOMEN’S TAKEOVER, with Lauren Lo Sung, Mix-stress, Stephani B, and more. 15:00-00:00. Followed by a silent disco, 00:00-02:00.
The full line up and day splits can be found on the website.
MANCHESTER PRIDE PARADE
The theme for the world famous Manchester Pride Parade is ‘Buzzin’ to be Queer’, celebrating the iconic worker bee symbol.
The parade takes place on Saturday 24th August, starting at 12:00 from Liverpool Road, navigating its path through the city centre via Deansgate, Peter Street, Oxford Road, Portland Street, Princess Street, Whitworth Street, and concluding at Fairfield Street around 15:00.
An accessible viewing area is located on Whitworth Street.
More information on the theme can be found here.
FAMILY PRIDE MCR
Saturday 24th August, 12:30 – 18:00, at Great Northern Warehouse.
Co-designed by Proud 2 b Parents, Family Pride MCR ensures a safe and welcoming environment for all ages, featuring a variety of activities and entertainment for families to enjoy, including:
Soothing music for a calm space
Performances from House of Ghetto and Aida H Dee
Mascot meet and greet
Hair and glitter tattoos station
Art activation space
Soccer and soft archery
Forest-based activities
A full breakdown of the activities can be found on the Manchester Pride website.
YOUTH PRIDE MCR
Saturday 24th-Sunday 25th August at The Proud place, in partnership with AKT and the Proud Trust.
Designed for young individuals aged 14-18, Youth Pride MCR provides a safe space for young LGBTQ+ people to discover their identities, form lasting bonds, and authentically express themselves.
Highlights include:
A full weekend of workshops and activities co-designed with young LGBTQ+ people allies, in partnership with Proud Trust and AKT
Performances from young drag stars in House of Kings Queens and Holy Things
Intergenerational coffee morning to hear from queer elders
Workshops
Rooftop party
Drag bingo
Chill zone
Board games
Clothes and skateboard customising
More TBC!
The Rally in partnership with Sparkle, Friday 23rd August.
Join us at the Gay Village Party 2024 as we come together to protest for queer liberation, in partnership with Sparkle, the national Transgender charity. We’ll be focusing on how we can all best work to Protect Trans Youth, and attendees will be encouraged to write to their MP and push for an end to the ban on puberty blockers.
More information can be found on the website.
SUPERBIA
Friday 16th August – Monday 26th August, various locations. Superbia showcases Manchester’s extraordinary queer talent through a range of alcohol-free, accessible events including music, dance, filmmaking, workshops, and more. Many events in the programme have been funded through Manchester Pride’s Superbia fund.
A full breakdown of all activities can be found on the website.
COMMUNITY LANE
Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August, 11:00 – 21:00. Community Lane is a vibrant hub filled with a wide variety of market stalls where you can discover unique treasures and support local artists and creators. This year’s Community Lane is hosted in partnership with the LGBT Foundation, featuring dedicated sober meet-up spaces with the Foundation’s community cafe and Sober Gay Socials meetup. Engage with amazing charities and community groups, and discover how they contribute to the fantastic LGBTQ+ life in Manchester.
CANDLELIT VIGIL
Monday 26th August, 21:00 – 22:00. The Candlelit Vigil in partnership with GHT is a significant event that marks the culmination of the Manchester Pride Festival. Curated by Nathaniel J Hall and Kate O’Donnell, this moment of reflection brings together LGBTQ+ communities and allies to remember those we have lost to HIV, and to stand united in the fight against the global epidemic and the persistent stigma that surrounds it.
Artists include: DJ Paulette, Kath McDermott, Mix-Stress, The Untold Orchestra, Claud Cunningham, Holly Redford-Jones, Nicki Miles-Wilding, Sam Buttery, Josh Gordon, Hafsa Qureshi, The Sunday Boys, Jenifer Reid, and Georgiana Ghetiu.
Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, said: “This year’s Manchester Pride Festival is not just a celebration, but a reflection of our journey over the decades. We honour our past, celebrate our present, and look forward to a future of unity and equality.”
Join us for a weekend of celebration and reflection at Manchester Pride Festival. For more information and to purchase tickets for the Gay Village Party, visit www.manchesterpride.com/