The Manchester Pride annual festival returns this summer, with a huge programme of events and activities planned to celebrate. The parade, the Gay Village party and Candlelit Vigil are all set to come back with a bang over the August bank holiday. And now Manchester Pride has revealed its most diverse line-up to date for this year’s Gay Village Party, which has been co-created with Manchester’s queer communities.
Taking place between Friday 23 and Monday 26 August, the event, which was awarded ‘Best Large Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards in 2022, is an annual celebration of LGBTQ+ life and brings together the community and its allies to celebrate and protest. The events of Manchester Pride Festival 2024 are free to attend with the exception of the Gay Village party.
How much are tickets to Manchester Pride Festival 2024?
Day tickets and weekend tickets are available, with all events scheduled on Monday 26 August free to attend, and low income, family tickets, and VIP options available. £2.50 from every ticket will be donated to the Manchester Pride Community Fund, with the money going directly to LGBTQ+ causes and projects in Greater Manchester through the distribution of grants.
Ticket options and prices start at:
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Weekend: £46.50
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Friday ticket: £30.00
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Saturday ticket: £41.00
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Sunday ticket: £41.00
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Monday ticket: Free plus £2.50 donation
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Diamond VIP (weekend): £244.50
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Gold VIP (weekend): £167.50
What events will take place at Manchester Pride Festival 2024?
The Festival is made up of several fringe events, providing opportunities to advocate for LGBTQ+ equality, engage families and young people, and celebrate queer arts and culture. These include:
Manchester Pride Parade
The city’s biggest parade will be returning to the streets of Manchester city centre on Saturday 24 August, with the LGBTQ+ community and its allies marching for equality in front of thousands of spectators – the parade is now at capacity, but why not join the streets of people cheering it on?
Gay Village Party
A space for all members of the LGBTQ+ family to come together, the Gay Village Party is the heart of the festival and a real celebration of LGBTQ+ life. The four day street party will see a whole host of performances from LGBTQ+ artists and performers, including Jessie J, Loreen and Sugababes. Tickets are required to enter the Gay Village Party performances.
Candlelit Vigil
The Candlelit Vigil is the culmination of Manchester Pride, closing the four day Festival on Monday 26 August with a moment of reflection in Sackville Gardens. The home of Alan Turing, The National Transgender Memorial and the Beacon of Hope, the gardens are transformed into a sea of flickering candles to remember and honour those who we have lost to HIV and those who have been persecuted in the LGBTQ+ community, both here in the UK and around the world.
Superbia Weekend
Superbia, Manchester Pride’s year-round arts and culture programme, offers a culturally rich alternative to other elements of the festival, creating space for all with a series of alcohol free events and premiers of new work from LGBTQ+ performers.
Family Pride MCR
It’s never too soon – or young – to start celebrating pride. Family Pride MCR provides a safe and inclusive space for people of all ages to enjoy Pride celebrations, with a special programme of events designed for little ones.
Youth Pride MCR
A safe and nourishing space for young people to experience Pride in a way designed just for them, Youth Pride MCR is a free event specially curated for those aged 14-18 fusing fashion, music, art, performance and creativity. Manchester Pride is the only UK Pride event to have a dedicated space for young people.
What is the line-up for the Gay Village Party?
Visitors to the four-day festival can look forward to a plethora of exciting local and international artists performing over three stages: the Village stage, Mancunity stage and Alan Turing stage. The line-up symbolises the importance of changing the conversation, elevating and showcasing the world’s biggest queer artists, and focusing on community-led performances. Here are just some of the performers who will be at the Gay Village Party:
- Sugababes
- Jessie J
- Loreen
- Rita Ora
- Gok Wan
- Keala Settle
- Katy B
- Chinchilla
- Dean McCullough
- Ginger Johnson
- Claire Richards
- Natasha Hamilton
- DJ Paulette
- Trans Filth & Joy
- The Queer Asian Takeover
- The Queer Women’s Takeover
- Danny Beard & Friends
See the full line-up here.
How do I get tickets for Manchester Pride Festival 2024?
Tickets for Manchester Pride Festival, including entry to the Gay Village Party, are on sale via the event website here.