In just a few weeks time, the city centre will be filled with vibrant colour, as the rainbow carpet is rolled out for the start of Pride - one of the largest in the country. The annual four-day LGBTQ+ celebration takes place over the August bank holiday weekend (23-26 August) in locations across Manchester.
At the heart of the festivities will be The Gay Village Party, hosting a diverse line-up of music and performances at Sackville Gardens along with other stages. Those attending can expect performances across The Village Stage, The Alan Turing Stage in Sackville Gardens and the Indoor Arena.
Joining the previously-announced headline performers Jessie J and Loreen over the August Bank Holiday weekend event, Pride's stellar line-up will also feature Sugababes, fresh from their recent performance at Parklife, as well as Rita Ora and The Greatest Showman star Keala Settle.
READ MORE: Manchester Pride confirm 'iconic' theme for 2024 festival as tickets go on sale
They'll perform on the first day of the event and will be followed by the likes of Violet Blonde, The Enby Show, Pec Kings, Tito Bone and the annual Trans Filth and Joy celebration. In recent weeks however, a number of performers have pulled out of Pride due to the event's main sponsor.
Throughout the weekend, there will be an number of special shows, including a runway events hosted by Manchester drag queen and recent RuPaul’s Drag Race star Banksie, as well as the return of Black Pride MCR and the Queer Asian Takeover, which will both feature the likes of Lucky Roy Singh, Ghetto Fabulous, House of Spice and Bitten Peach.
Outside of the ticketed Gay Village Party, there will also be free events including the annual parade through the city centre, Superbia, Youth Pride MCR, and Family Pride MCR.
As always, the festival will conclude on Monday, August 26, with the Candlelit Vigil at Sackville Gardens. Held in collaboration with George House Trust, the poignant event honours those lost to HIV, whilst also standing in solidarity with those living healthy and happy lives today.
Here’s everything you need to know if you’re joining in the fun at Manchester Pride 2024.
When is Manchester Pride?
Taking up its usual spot on Manchester’s busy cultural calendar, over the August bank holiday weekend, the festival returns from Friday, August 23, through to Monday, August 26.
How to get to Manchester Pride Festival
- By Train – the closest train stations are Manchester Piccadilly and Oxford Road.
- By Tram – the easiest and quickest way to get to Manchester Pride is by Metrolink. For Manchester Pride Festival, the nearest stop is either Piccadilly or Piccadilly Gardens. For the parade, the nearest stops are Deansgate Castlefield and St. Peters Square.
- By Bus – take a bus to Manchester Piccadilly Gardens. From there, the Gay Village Party event site is a two-minute walk.
When is the Manchester Pride Parade?
The Manchester Pride parade is one of the most anticipated parts of the festival, bringing traffic to a halt as thousands of LGBTQ+ people and their allies march together for equality.
Paying homage to Manchester’s iconic worker bee, organisers have announced that this year's theme will be ‘Buzzin To Be Queer - A Hive of Progress’, with the Manchester Bee taking pride of place. It will take place on Saturday, 24 August.
Speaking about the 2024 theme, Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride, said: “This year we will celebrate our theme of ‘Buzzin’ to be Queer - A Hive of Progress’ and see the ‘Progress Bee’ become more than a symbol, instead becoming a call to action.
"It reminds us that, just like worker bees collaborating in a hive, LGBTQ+ communities and their allies can achieve great things when we work together to influence change. It also symbolises the ongoing commitment to progress for LGBTQ+ inclusivity and equality that Manchester Pride champions all year round.”
Manchester Pride Parade route will start this year on Liverpool Road in Castlefield, before heading along Deansgate from the junction with Liverpool Road at midday. The route takes it via Peter Street, Oxford Street, Portland Street, Princess Street and Whitworth Street along the way.
The Gay Village Party Line-up
The Gay Village Party will get underway on the Friday (August 23) and continue throughout the weekend with a variety of headline acts, takeovers, performances and shows including Jessie J, Loreen, Sugababes, Rita Ora, Chinchilla and DJ Paulette. Of course, the line-up is always subject to change so it is always worth checking official signage and social media channels for the latest updates.
Friday 23rd August:
Jessie J • Keala Settle • Trans Filth & Joy • The Runway by Banksie • Sam Buttery • Tito Bone • DJ XZAN • DJ Jess Rose • Nelly • Denon James • Violet Blonde • The Enby Show Pecs: Black is King • Queer Stage Revolution • Fat Pride MCR
Saturday 24th August:
Loreen • Rita Ora • Katy B • Black Peppa • Louis III • DJ Paulette • Black Pride MCR Takeover • Queer Asian Takeover • Jsky • Swagga • Platnum [Michelle Mckenna] • DJ Stacy Bee • Martell Munro • Queens in Kicks • Naveen Sonne • Freequency3 • Coco Cannell • Ghetto Fabulous • Gaydio Dance Arena • DJ Jade Jaxon • Night-Thomas • Jaii Andrews • Cadbury Parfait • Goodie • Coco Deville • Natasha Moonshine • Mr Blaque • Bennettiscoming • Lucky Roy Singh • House Of Spice • The Bitten Peach • Club Zindagi • Asifa Lahore • STNLY • Punjabi Roots • Ydsa • Saki Yew • Duniya Dhoom • Val The Brown Queen • Immy Terial • Fortune • Shanika Sunrise • Rachel Pro-Filing • Minara 'El Waters • Rajan Das • Zahira Zapanta • Tequila Thirst • Roman • Mohammed Barber • Qupid Harrow • Lady Macrocosm • Mayumi f*ckiko • Dave Cooper • Forbid • Kate Meyher • Chris Blackmore • Kriss Herbert • Craig Law
Sunday 25th August:
Sugababes • Claire Richards • Chinchilla • Danny Beard • Ginger Johnson • Natasha Hamilton • Queenz: The Show With Balls • Dean Mccullough's Pop Machine • Charlieeeee • Narcissa Nightshade • Bailey J Mills • DJ Billy Andrew • Lauren Lo Sung • Mix-Stress • Stephani B • Banksie • Ginny Lemon's Dog Show • Fatt Butcher • Your Manchester Live! Hosted By Belinda Scandal • Divas Only With Misty Chance • Angie Brown • Rozalla • Lill • Anna Phylactic • Viola • Verrycherry • Missie Jay • Saki Yew • Big Dee • Ginger Hunter • Haus Of Lasair • Hayley-Ria Christian • The Canal Street Kings • Rainbow Nation Dance Academy • Queer Women's Takeover • What She Said • Swagga • DJ Stacy Bee • Freequency3 • Queens In Kicks • Tam Poles • Rave With Pride • Naveen Sonne • Kimmie Smith • Olivia Mae • Vanilla Takeover • Just Soriah
This year, there will be three different stage areas situated across the Gay Village. The Village Stage will occupy the outdoor car park on Sackville Street in the middle of the event site, The Gaydio Dance Arena inside a covered car park space, and The Alan Turing Stage in Sackville Gardens.
On Monday, there will be a small line-up of events throughout the day before the Alan Turing Stage hosts the Candlelit Vigil in the evening.
How to get tickets
Tickets for Manchester Pride 2024 have been on sale now since February, but there’s still some left. Whilst some aspects of the festival, like the parade and the candlelight vigil, will be free to attend, you will need a ticket if you want to visit the Gay Village Party to watch the headline performers.
There are a number of options available, based on when you want to visit. There are individual day tickets, weekend tickets, VIP passes and low income tickets all available.
As in previous years, £2.50 from every ticket sold this year will be donated to the Manchester Pride Community Fund, with the money raised going towards grants for LGBTQ+ causes and projects across Greater Manchester.
Below are the various ticket options currently available to purchase (prices are before any additional ticket platform fees):
Friday Day Ticket - £41
Saturday Day Ticket - £41
Sunday Day Ticket - £41
Phase 3 Weekend Ticket - £49.25
There are also family tickets for Saturday and Sunday available for £19 each - these require four tickets, consisting of two adults and two children, being bought together for £76 here.
There are also two different VIP weekend packages available. The Gold VIP package (starting from £167.50 each) includes fast track VIP box office lane, access to the all-new VIP suite (including viewing platform, premium bar, VIP lounge access, luxury toilets, lounge seating, phone charging, glam station) and a VIP welcome pack including one co*cktail and one drinks voucher, a commemorative laminate and lanyard and a Pride essentials gift.
The Diamond VIP package, available here for £244.50, includes an invite to a complimentary Sunday brunch, fast track VIP box office lane, access to the all-new VIP suite (including viewing platform, premium bar, VIP lounge access, luxury toilets, lounge seating, phone charging, glam station) and a VIP welcome pack including one co*cktail and two drinks vouchers, a commemorative laminate and lanyard and a Pride essentials gift.
How and where to get your wristband
Once you've got your spot sorted, the next thing you'll be thinking about is where you go at the start of the weekend to swap your ticket for that all-important wristband. This can only be done at the Box Office, which last year was located on Minshull Street right next to the Gay Village. Attendees can pick up tickets from Friday, August 23.
The Box Office is open across the weekend, so make sure to check the website for opening times in the days leading up to Pride. Bring your E-ticket on your phone or print it out on paper and the Box Office staff will scan your ticket and place a Pledge Band on your wrist.
Can you enter the Gay Village during Manchester Pride without a wristband?
The Gay Village Party is the only ticketed event, meaning that Manchester Pride's programmed areas within the Gay Village, such as the three performance stages and event spaces, require a ticket to attend. Pride do not operate any events within the Gay Village bars and venues, so you will not be charged by Manchester Pride to enter individual Gay Village bars and venues.
However, there will be strict security measures in place throughout the area to ensure the safety of all visitors. There may also be queues to get into busy areas during the weekend.
What can you bring in?
And that brings us nicely on to what you're allowed to bring into the festival area with you. While some people may want to bring in a bag to carry their things around, or for personal reasons, organisers ask that you bring a bag only if it’s really necessary as this may delay entry into the event. However, customers with access needs are more than welcome to bring a bag to any Manchester Pride events.
As there are a number of bars within the staged arenas, Pride won’t be allowing alcohol purchased outside the event to be brought into the staged areas. Pride also asks that all glass bottles and containers be left at home as they have a strict no glass policy in the public areas for everyone’s safety.
