Taking place between the 22nd to 25th August 2025, this huge LGBTQ+ party puts our city on the map every year. From festivals engulfing Gay Village to drinks in Canal Street's bars and a whole load of queens strutting their stuff, it's not short on fabulous ways to entertain. To narrow things down? Here's your 2025 Manchester Pride guide for the parade, events and more.
🌈🌈🌈
Boy Toy Events
Saturday
If anyone can turn up the party, it's the team over at Boy Toy Events. Their Pride weekend pick is none other than the Absolutely Britney Brunch Show, complete with a drag artist impersonator, lip-sync, a gaggle of other queens and 90 minutes of unlimited booze - all across a four-hour extravaganza.
Sashay your way to these fun times.
Canal Street Bars
All Weekend
When the Manchester Pride dates for 2025 bring even more fun and frolics to the area, you can count on Canal Street's bars to be right in among the action. Via takes you from day through to night with cocktails, meals, late-night drag and clubbing galore, while elsewhere there are further cheesy tunes or karaoke to choose between.
It's full of options for a Manchester Pride after party.
Manchester Pride Parade
Saturday
One of the festival's many highlights, the Manchester Pride Parade route is dedicated to our city's community spirit. This year's theme is Buzzin' To Be Queer - A Hive Of Progress, and it's a celebration of the iconic worker bee and its representation of Manucians' hard work ethic. Come kitted out in rainbows, hearts, flowers, Cupid motifs and more, with your nearest and dearest at your side.
The ultimate of Manchester pride parties.
Manchester Pride Gay Village Party
All Weekend
At the heart of it all? The Manchester Pride Gay Village Party, which features the likes of RuPaul's Drag Race UK stars Danny Beard, Banksie and Ginger Johnson, Eurovision sensation Loreen, and pop princess Rita Ora across The Village Stage, The Alan Turing Stage in Sackville Gardens and the Indoor Arena. If that wasn't enough, there's a Ginny Lemon's Dog Show takeover too. Cute.
The Manchester Pride lineup for 2024 sure is a winner.
The Candlelit Vigil
Monday
Closing the four-day festival with a moment of reflection in Sackville Gardens, The Candlelit Vigil transforms this space into a sea of flickering lights. Just like last time, the event is partnered with George House Trust, an organisation providing HIV support, advice and advocacy. It's the perfect way to show solidarity against the challenges still faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
Check out this unmissable choice of Manchester pride events for 2025.
Superbia
All Weekend
Superbia champions queer talent who are making their mark on the city's creative arts scene, spanning everything from music to dance, filmmaking and workshops. Giving a much-needed platform to these local artists and performers, this culture programme has inclusivity (and, of course, fun) at its core.
Skip the Manchester Pride box office with these free performances.
Come As You Are
Saturday & Sunday
The Refuge is back with Come As You Are, their yearly Pride party that, this year, includes a collaboration with Flash Ibiza, Supernature Disco and Sticky Heat. But that's not all, as the feel-good summer terrace will be open, all while the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel it calls home is offering a Stay With Pride package for the weekend as well.
This city favourite is back.
SCENE Festival
Friday 16th Friday - Thursday 22nd August 2024
Brand new for this year, SCENE Festival will be championing LGBTQ+ film and cinema, celebrating queer stories on screen. Catch the likes of Queer As Folk, Wizard of Oz and Grease 2 as well as previews of new content alongside shorts with Q&As. These will take place in spaces across the city (including a cheeky outdoor cinema situation going on) and there'll even be a whole host of parties to get involved with.
Here to make a SCENE, with the likes of Slow and Hairspray on the lineup.
After even more inclusive spaces? Check out this low-down on our city's gay bars and clubs. Then sign up to our newsletter and the latest will land in your inbox.
