Manchester Village Pride is coming home. After years of celebrations that have stretched across the city, Pride is returning to the heart of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community for four days of music, drag, culture, community and, of course, one very big party in the Gay Village.
Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend, from Friday 28 to Monday 31 August, Manchester Village Pride 2026 promises a celebration that focuses firmly on community, with a packed programme bringing together LGBTQ+ icons, local talent, drag queens, DJs, performers and artists across the Village and beyond.
The Pride Parade will once again take over Manchester’s streets on Saturday 29 August, with thousands expected to line the route as it makes its way from Liverpool Street into the city centre and towards the Gay Village.
There’s also a brand-new Pride Fringe programme, bringing LGBTQ+ film, comedy, club nights, exhibitions, walking tours, family events and more to venues across Manchester.
So whether you’re heading straight for the outdoor stages, getting involved with the parade, exploring the Fringe or simply soaking up the atmosphere around Canal Street, there’s something happening throughout the city.
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Here’s everything you need to know about Manchester Village Pride 2026, including the dates and times, parade route, lineup, ticket prices, entry rules and the best of this year’s Pride Fringe.
When is Manchester Village Pride 2026?
Manchester Village Pride will take place on August bank holiday weekendThe parade will also return
As always, the Manchester Village Pride celebrations will take place over the August bank holiday weekend, filling the Gay Village for four whole days.
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This year, Manchester Village Pride will take place on Friday 28, Saturday 29, Sunday 30, and Monday 31 August.
Event gates will open at 6pm on the Friday, 12pm on both Saturday and Sunday, and 10am on Monday for the Family Fun Day.
The main outdoor stages will wrap up earlier, but the party in venues around the Gay Village will continue into the early hours – naturally.
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Manchester Village Pride Parade info
The Manchester Village Pride Parade will return in 2026, weaving its way all throughout the city streets on Saturday 29 August.
This year’s theme is ‘No Place Like Home’, an apt choice as the celebrations return to their spiritual home in the Gay Village.
The route will begin on Liverpool Street at around midday, before travelling down Deansgate, Peter Street, Oxford Street, Portland Street and Whitworth Street, finishing in The Village at around 4pm.
Road closures will be in place, which you can see HERE.
Manchester Village Pride lineup
In stark contrast to the previous Manchester Pride bosses, this year’s organisers have put most of the time, effort, and money into curating a real community, back-to-its roots Pride celebration.
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So rather than a big flashy headliner, they’ve curated one of the best lineups we’ve seen in years, of LGBTQ+ icons and allies plus loads of homegrown talent (and they’ve spent £20k less on the entire bill than was spent on one single headliner last year).
Performing at Manchester Village Pride 2026 will be the likes of Nadine Coyle, Danny Beard, Gareth Gates, Kate Nash, Cascada, and Rowetta.
Friday will be headlined by Nadine Coyle and Danny Beard; Saturday will see top slots for Gareth Gates and Meek; on Sunday, it’ll be Cascada and Kate Nash; then Rowetta will be the main act on Sunday.
They’re joined by a lineup of fantastic local talent, including artists, DJs, and drag queens, taking our city’s Pride celebrations back to their roots, and keeping things firmly in the Gay Village.
It’s going to be epic.
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Manchester Village Pride ticket prices
The music will all take place in the Gay Village for Manchester Village Pride
Also in stark contrast to 2025 will be the ticket prices for Manchester Village Pride, which are as follows:
Weekend tickets – £44.80 including booking fee
Friday, Saturday, Sunday day tickets – £28 including booking fee
Organisers have stressed that you will need a wristband to enter the Gay Village – this is because the Village legally becomes a ‘Live Event Space’, and its license requires a secure perimeter.
Without that, there can be no outdoor stages or bar.
Pride Fringe events
Manchester is launching its first-ever Pride Fringe this year, bringing LGBTQ+ arts, culture, entertainment and community events to venues across the city.
The programme includes the SCENE film and TV festival, comedy, club nights, exhibitions, Pride-themed walking tours, shopping events and family activities.
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Manchester Arndale will also hold a pre-Pride celebration on 22 and 23 August, with makeup stations, a selfie spot, and live drag performances.
Many events will raise funds for local LGBTQ+ charities, while hotels are offering Pride-themed packages, parties, gifts and discounts.
Makeup stations, drag shows, and selfie spots to take over Manchester Arndale ahead of Pride weekend
Daisy Jackson
Manchester Arndale has announced details of a huge Pride takeover to warm the city up for Manchester Village Pride.
The centre will be filled with all sorts of installations, dazzling performances, pop-ups, and community projects to kick off the celebrations for another year.
Taking place this weekend (22 and 23 August), ahead of the main event in the Gay Village on the bank holiday weekend, Manchester Arndale wants to start the Pride celebrations in style.
Pose with Pride, in partnership with Manchester Village Pride, will include everything from makeup stations and selfie spots to live performances in the heart of the city.
So whether you’re looking for inspiration for your Pride makeup look, fancy watching a free drag show, or want to chat to some friendly faces from local LGBTQ+ organisations, Manchester Arndale has you covered.
There’s a minimum £3 donation required covering both the makeover and photo activities – but every penny goes directly to supporting Manchester Village Pride and its associated charities.
The Pose with Pride event will take place on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August, and here’s everything that’s going on.
Visit the Pride selfie station
You don’t need to wait until you’re in the mix at Canal Street to get an iconic photo, not when Manchester Arndale is installing a colourful rainbow archway for the weekend.
You can strike your fiercest post at the Pride selfie station, and receive a digital print to take home on the day.
Get your glam nailed on
There’ll be makeup stations for Pride across Manchester Arndale
Want to look and feel like your best self for Manchester Village Pride? You’ll be able to find loads of beauty and makeup inspiration across Manchester Arndale this week.
There’ll be makeup beauty stations dotted all around the centre, including Sephora, Space NK, BPerfect, KIKO Milano, and Lush.
From rainbow glitter makeovers to Pride-inspired face art, you’ll definitely leave feeling fabulous and very inspired.
Catch a spectacular drag show
The brilliant dance collective Ghetto Fabulous will be taking over the rainbow carpet at Manchester Arndale, with spectacular performances all weekend.
Led by the fabulous Coco Cannelll, the talented troupe will be premiering their brand-new ‘Byoncé’ drag show in Manchester Arndale.
Performances will take place at 1pm, 3pm, and 4.30pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
Share a Letter from the Heart
Manchester Arndale will post the Pose with Pride event this weekend. Credit: Supplied
It’s not just about dancing and slathering yourself in glitter – Manchester Arndale’s Pose with Pride event will also host the Letters to My Younger Self community project and touring exhibition.
Here, LGBTQ+ people and allies are invited to write a letter to their younger self, where it’s words of encouragement, a heartfelt message of resilience, or simply something you wish you’d heard more growing up.
Every letter will become part of a powerful national exhibition celebrating lived experiences across the community.
The Letters to My Younger Self project was originally created by Perthshire Pride and is brought to Manchester in collaboration with Manchester Village Pride.
Find your people and support
As much as Pride is a celebration, it’s also a chance for the community to come together in support of one another.
A number of local organisations, including George House Trust, Sparkle, LGBT Foundation, The Proud Trust and AKT, will be on hand to offer information, support, or simply a friendly chat.
You can learn all about their work supporting LGBTQ+ communities across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Manchester Arndale’s Pose with Pride event will run from 12pm to 6pm on Saturday 22 August; and 11.30am to 5.30pm on Sunday 23 August – see more HERE.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam train rides are back for more festive fun this Christmas, and tickets are already on sale… genuinely.
Sure, it’s literally the middle of August, and we’ve still got the rest of summer, and the small matter of a bank holiday weekend, Halloween, and Bonfire Night to get through first, but East Lancashire Railway (ELR) is already looking ahead to the most magical time of year.
The iconic heritage railway has announced that its hugely-popular ‘Santa Specials’ steam trains are back once again from late November.
The famous festive steam trains have become an essential part of Christmas for many families in the North West.
Santa Specials are your chance to hop on board an old-school steam train and travel through the magical Irwell Valley to make ‘enchanted memories’ that last a lifetime.
You can ALREADY book tickets for Greater Manchester’s beloved Santa steam trains this Christmas / Credit: Darren Robinson Photography (via ELR)
The truly special Christmas day out starts as you make your way through a winter wonderland at Bury Bolton Street Station, and first get to meet some old favourites and new characters – including the magical talking Christmas tree, Mrs Claus, and ELR’s very own Ice Princess – all before before having a singalong with a chorus of musical polar bears.
The festive fun then continues on the Santa Special steam trains themselves – with an 80-minute ‘enchanting voyage’ through the picturesque Greater Manchester countryside.
And, of course, you can expect a special visit from Santa while you’re on board.
After you’ve grabbed a selfie or two with the big man himself, the grown-ups can look forward to mince pies and festive tipples, while little Mancs can enjoy a soft drink, some chocolate, and take a festive-themed activity pack home with them.
Daisy Jackson -
20th August 2026 
