News

Manchester Pride enters voluntary liquidation ‘with enormous sadness’

'We are very distressed at the position in which we find ourselves'

Daisy Jackson - 22nd October 2025

Manchester Pride has announced that the company has entered the process of voluntary liquidation, after it emerged that several of this year’s performers had gone unpaid.

The hugely popular LGBTQ+ event, which spills from the Gay Village and into surrounding venues every August bank holiday weekend, said it has faced ‘rising costs, declining ticket sales, and an ambitious refresh of format’.

Manchester Pride said that all of these factors, among others, have led to the organisation being ‘no longer financially viable’ and its staff team will be made redundant.

“We, along with the team, have put our hearts and souls into the celebration and community activities over two decades and are very distressed at the position in which we find ourselves,” the Board of Trustees wrote.

Last week, it emerged that a number of artists who appeared at this year’s celebration had shared a letter that alleges they are still waiting for payment for their work at the festival.

In a statement shared this afternoon, Manchester Pride added that they have been unsuccessfully seeking ‘financial opportunities’ to find a ‘positive solution’.

Manchester Pride wrote: “We had hoped to be able to find a way to continue, and, most importantly, to support our artists, contractors and partners.

“Despite our best efforts, sadly, this has not proved to be possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation.”

Manchester Pride’s statement in full

It is with enormous sadness that we announce that Manchester Pride has started the legal process of voluntary liquidation.

A combination of rising costs, which are affecting the entire events and hospitality industries, declining ticket sales and an ambitious refresh of the format aimed to challenge these issues, along with an unsuccessful bid to host Euro Pride, has led to the organisation no longer being financially viable.

We regret the delays in communicating the current situation; however, we were keen not to jeopardise financial opportunities while our discussions were ongoing. We were proactive and determined to identify solutions to the financial issues. We’ve been actively working with several partners, including legal and financial advisors, to do everything we could to find a positive solution. We had hoped to be able to find a way to continue, and, most importantly, to support our artists, contractors and partners. Despite our best efforts, sadly, this has not proved to be possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation.

The volunteer Board of Trustees are devastated at this situation and sad to share that our staff team will be made redundant. We, along with the team, have put our hearts and souls into the celebration and community activities over two decades and are very distressed at the position in which we find ourselves. We would like to sincerely offer our thanks to all of our staff, volunteers and supporters who have contributed so much to Manchester Pride over the years.

The organisation has achieved a great deal since its creation and, in particular, since the Covid pandemic. This includes:

● 237,000 visitors to the city

● £104.8m of economic impact

● 148 grants being made to grass roots community groups

● Positive positioning of Manchester as an inclusive city

We hope and believe that this leaves a positive and lasting legacy for the Pride movement in Greater Manchester, and that it will continue long into the future. We will do everything we can to support this moving forward.

The Manchester Pride team have now handed over the details of suppliers and artists who are owed money to the liquidators who will be handling the affairs of the Charity and contacting everyone.

Board of Trustees, Manchester Pride

Featured image: The Manc Group