Manchester Pride has revealed the first wave of its line-up for this year’s Gay Village Party, plus the brand new Mardi Gras event. Visitors to the four-day festival, taking place on August bank holiday weekend (Friday 22 – Monday 25 August), can look forward to a plethora of exciting local and international artists performing over several stages.
The hotly anticipated Manchester Pride line-up sees world-class LGBTQ+ superstars and allies taking centre stage, including Brit Award winner Olly Alexander, multi platinum selling pop star Leigh-Anne, and Hollywood superstar Billy Porter. Also announced were special guests, Tulisa and Big Freedia, chart topping acts, Sonique and Louisa Johnson, internationally acclaimed drag queen, DJ, and music producer, Jodie Harsh, and multi-award winning cabaret artist, Danny Beard with The Danny Beard Show.
In addition, Manchester Pride has worked with community collectives to commission a number of immersive shows. Following roaring success at Factory International last June, House of MCR, will return with its unique show that brings together dance, singing, lip-syncing, and fashion. Kulture Cabaret will also take to the stage with its celebration of queer South Asian and Middle Eastern performers, presented by Lucky Roy Singh.
Hit touring success Queenz: Drag me to the disco will feature during the bank holiday celebrations, while Bongo’s Bingo will kick off the event each day.
The performers are part of the first ever line-up at the brand new Mardi Gras event and one of the most diverse, with the ambition to better represent marginalised communities such as trans, non-binary, and queer local talent. Announced earlier this month, Mardi Gras will take place at Depot Mayfield on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August.
The iconic Gay Village Party is also set to return from Friday 22 to Monday 25 August with performances from the likes of Samantha Mumba, B*Witched and Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge and more announced.
Performances at the Gay Village will be hosted across two stages – the Alan Turing Stage and the Indoor Arena. Audiences will also have access to a thrilling funfair, market stalls, and pop-up food vendors, as well as unmissable entertainment, such as Ginny Lemon’s Dog Show.
Each year, the festival brings thousands of people onto the streets of Manchester, showcasing top-class LGBTQ+ talent. Playing host to world-class artists, performers, DJs and shows, the events provide an exciting and inclusive space for all to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture – it really isn’t one to miss.
The full line-up of artists and events for Manchester Pride Festival 2025:
Friday 22 August
Gay Village Party
Samantha Mumba
Fat Pride // Luke Lucent // Daniela Corvea
Silent Disco
Saturday 23 August
Mardi Gras
Leigh-Anne // Billy Porter
Special Guest: Big Freedia
Gok Wan // Sonique // Booty Luv // Joshua James // Bestley
The Danny Beard Show // Dean Mccullough’s Pop Machine // Bongo’s Bingo
Queenz: Drag Me To The Disco // Black Pride Mcr // Banksie
Rikki Beadle-Blair // Darren Pritchard // Charity Shop Sue
Bailey J Mills // Shanika Sunrise // Yshee Black
Red Bull Dance Your Style // Out and Laughing
DJ Jess Rose // Monopoly Phonic // STNLY
Swagga // STYLI // // Fly Girls$
Choke on my Pronouns // DJ Loz Newy
JSKY // Noir Qweens // Black Betty // DJ Sequinella // Coco Cannell
Andi // Jaii Aandrew // Ghetto Fabulous
Gay Village Party
B*Witched // Diana Vickers
Gaydio Dance Arena
“Our Village” Showcase // Performer Showcase
Youth Pride MCR // Silent Disco
Sunday 24 August
Mardi Gras
Olly Alexander
Special Guest: Tulisa
Tayce // Jodie Harsh // Louisa Johnson // K-Klass // N-Trance // Banksie
Stephani B // Anna Phylactic // Lucky Roy Singh Presents Kulture Cabaret // Louis III
House Of MCR – Pride Edition // Queenz: Drag Me To The Disco
Gaydio Dance Arena // Bongo’s Bingo // Out and Laughing
Mix-Stress Presents Kaleidoscope // Misschief
Rikki Beadle-Blair // Darren Pritchard
Olly Waldron // DJ Michael Maddison // Jamie John Warren
Club Zindagi // Lady Imelda// Minara ‘El Waters // Duniya Dhoom
Tequila Thirst // Amrick Channa // Kaan // Raj // Awais
Sitara Malik // Zahira Zapanta // Shimmy Begum // Saki Yew // Fortune
Gay Village Party
Sister Sledge Featuring Kathy Sledge // Angie Brown
Ginny Lemon’s Dog Show // Danny Beard // Gina Breeze
Diva’s Only With Misty Chance // Your Manchester Live With Belinda Scandal
Kurlz // Rave with Pride// Swagga
Girls on Film // Lailow // Vanilla Takeover
Club Dykes and Dolls // Manchester Prairie Dogs
Wildflowers // Silent Disco
While Mardi Gras and the Gay Village Party are expected to be a big part of the festival, there will be a longer ten-day event running from Friday 15 through to Monday 25 August. The longer event will see the return of the Manchester Pride Parade, The Rally, Candlelit Vigil, Superbia, Family Pride MCR, and Youth Pride MCR.
Many of the events of Manchester Pride Festival 2025 are free to attend with tickets required for both Mardi Gras and Gay Village Party – tickets are now available through the Pride website. VIP options will also be available.
Tickets for the Gay Village Party start from £18.90 and tickets for Mardi Gras now start from £66.96 for day tickets. As usual, funds raised from ticket sales will help to deliver safe city-wide celebrations throughout Manchester Pride.