We’re less than five months away from Manchester Pride 2023 and as one of the biggest annual events in the UK, let alone the city, there’s a huge programme of events and activities on the cards.
Kicking off on Friday, 25 August, the celebrations are set to last the entire bank holiday, with the party not rounding off until Monday, 28 August.
We don’t need to tell you how special Pride is in Manchester but, whilst we’re here: the annual celebration of LGBTQ+ life not only brings people from all walks of life together to have fun, demonstrate and champion individuality and community, but it also won the award for ‘Best Large Festival’ last year.
Now, for Manchester Pride Festival 2023, there are six wonderful events that are all absolutely free to attend, however, the ticketed Gay Village Party around Canal Street is back as always and passes go on sale this Wednesday at 12pm. It promises to the bigger and better than ever.
Canal Street is the centre of the universe, especially during the Manchester Pride Festival.
A space for all members of the LGBTQ+ family to come together, the Gay Village Party is the heart of the legendary annual festival. The four-day street party will see a whole host of performances by artists and performers from the community, with non-stop music, dancing and all-round good vibes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Whilst the rest of the festival at large is free to enjoy at your leisure, tickets are required to enter the Gay Village Party performances in and around Canal Street.
You can purchase either day or weekend-long passes tickets, with all events scheduled on Monday 28 August free to attend, not to mention, low-income tickets, family packages and VIP options available.
ADVERTISEMENT
Better still, £2.50 from every ticket will be donated to the Manchester Pride Community Fund, with the money going directly to LGBTQ+ causes and projects around Greater Manchester through the distribution of grants. You love to see it.
Credit: Supplied
Ticket options and prices include:
Weekend: £37.50
Friday ticket: £21.00
Saturday ticket: £31.00
Sunday ticket: £31.00
Monday ticket: Free plus £2.50 donation
Diamond VIP (weekend): £182.50
Gold VIP (weekend): £122.50
To ensure the Manchester Pride Festival is accessible and inclusive in the midst of a cost of living crisis, more low-income packages have been made available as well:
ADVERTISEMENT
Weekend: £20.00
Friday ticket: £11.75
Saturday ticket: £16.75
Sunday ticket: £16.75
Manchester Pride 2023 free events programme
As for the rest of this year’s Pride Festival, you can access various different events for absolutely nothing and, always with the people behind this wonderful occasion, there’s plenty to be enjoyed.
Manchester Pride Parade
The main event: Manchester‘s biggest parade will be returning to the city centre on Saturday, 26 August, with the LGBTQ+ community and its allies marching for equality in front of thousands of spectators.
Superbia Weekend
You’ve also got ‘Superbia’, Manchester Pride’s year-round arts and culture programme, which offers a culturally rich alternative to other elements of the festival, creating space for all with a series of alcohol-free events and spotlighting new work from LGBTQ+ performers.
Human Rights Forum
Taking place on Friday 25 August, the Human Rights Forum will bring together prominent activists and thought leaders to discuss the challenges that continue to face LGBTQ+ communities today, and what we as individuals can do to bring about political and social change.
Family Pride MCR
It’s never too soon to start celebrating pride. Family Pride MCR provides a safe and inclusive space for people of all ages, ally or otherwise, to enjoy Pride celebrations, with a special programme of events designed for little ones.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
Candlelit Vigil
Last but not least, there is the Candlelit Vigil, which is the culmination of Manchester Pride, closing the four-day Festival on Monday 28 August with an ever-important 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, as well as those discriminated and persecuted against for being part of the LGBTQ+ community, both here Manchester, the UK and, indeed, all around the world.
If you’ve ever come across Manchester Pride before, you’ll know that it isn’t just a Manc event; people travel from all over the country and even the globe to experience this legendary festival.
Pride 2023 is set to be an absolute belter as always and whether you’re coming along for the free events or wanting hoping to be part of the iconic Gay Village Party, you’re guaranteed to have a great time.
ADVERTISEMENT
Once again, tickets for the Manchester Pride Festival 2023’s Gay Village Party go live at 12pm tomorrow (Wednesday, 8 March) and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.
The Oldham Man and The Sea: the documentary about the Latics owner’s record-breaking Atlantic voyage
Danny Jones
It doesn’t matter if you’re not an Athletic fan or native to the borough; we think everyone should go along to watch the much-anticipated documentary about football club owner Frank Rothwell and his record-breaking journey across the Atlantic Ocean: The Oldham Man And The Sea.
One of the simplest and most satisfying names for a film we’ve heard in a long time.
For anyone who doesn’t know about the Oldham Athletic FC chairman turned OBE’s incredible story, Frank Rothwell has set multiple records with his impressive sea-faring feats in recent times.
This new doc, which just premiered at this year’s Manchester Film Festival, charts his latest trip across one of the biggest bodies of water on the planet in March 2024.
As you can see from the recent trailer, it’s almost as arduous a tale as the original Hemingway story.
This movie – produced by Journeyman Pictures and Chief Productions – made its full debut at the Odeon in Great Northern Warehouse for MFF 2026, and is set to have a number of other screenings in and around Greater Manchester in the coming weeks and months.
One of those is happening rather soon, in fact, over at Saddleworth’s Millgate Arts Centre on Saturday, 28 March, which is ideal for those local to the region; grab your tickets now.
ln fact, there’s also one happening even closer to his hometown the following month, with Oldham’s very own Queen Elizabeth Hall also hosting a special screening of Rothwell’s incredible achievement.
You can reserve your seats for that one right HERE.
Having not only become the eldest (70) Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge finisher back in 2021, but now holding the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to ever complete the crossing while rowing solo at 73 years old, he’s become nothing short of a local hero – and that’s just his stewardship of the Latics…
The film does, obviously, touch on his time at the helm of the League Two side, who finally returned to the EFL last June, but the heart and soul of this inspiring watch is the sail itself.
More importantly, it also documents not just the gruelling nature of the 64-day, seven-hour and 53-minute trek, but also how Frank has now helped raise more than £1.4 million on behalf of Alzheimer’s Research UK.
What an absolute icon.
Hopefully, this should be just about all the reason you need to watch The Oldham Man And The Sea the very next opportunity you get to do so – and, of course, all proceeds from ticket sales will also be going to charity, because just the kind of bloke he is.
And here’s hoping we get a streaming version sometime soon.
MOBOs 2026 in Manchester – all the award winners and iconic performances
Thomas Melia
Manchester had its second major music award show visit of the year courtesy of the MOBOs, and here’s all the awards, winners and iconic performances from the night.
We knew 0161 was known for its impact on the music industry, but it’s recently become a place for music celebration on multiple occasions with the BRITs and, most recently, with the MOBOs.
As expected, this was a night full of A-listers, rising stars and incredible music makers, who all united for an award show dedicated to celebrating one aspect of the industry in particular – Music of Black Origin.
Created by Kanya King back in 1996, Manchester had the pleasure of hosting the MOBOs as the award show celebrated its 30-year anniversary right here at the 23,500 seater Co-op Live.
MOBOs 2026 – all the highlights from the night
Get ready to find out everything that happened during the MOBO Awards 2026, including the awards, winners and iconic performances.
All the awards and winners from MOBOs 2026 in Manchester
MOBO Global Songwriter Award – Pharrell Williams
MOBO Lifetime Achievement Award – Slick Rick
Album of the Year – The Art of Loving by Olivia Dean
Song of the Year – Olivia Dean, ‘Man I Need’
Best Male act – Jim Legxacy
Best Female act – Olivia Dean
Best Newcomer – DC3
Video of the Year – Raye, ‘Where Is My Husband!’
Best R&B/ Soul Act – Flo
Best Alternative Music Act – Nova Twins
Best Grime Act – Chip
Best Hip-Hop act – Central Cee
Best Drill Act – Twin S
Best International Act – Ayra Starr
Best African Music Act – Wizkid
Best Caribbean Music Act – Vybz Kartel
Best Jazz Act – Ezra Collective
Best Electronic/ Dance Act – Sherelle
Best Gospel Act – DC3
Best Media Personality – Niko Omilana
Best Performance in a TV Show/Film – Stephen Graham, Adolescence
Best Producer – P2J
Pharrell Williams receiving his ‘MOBO Global Songwriter Award’ and Flo accepting the ‘Best R&B/ Soul Act’ / Credit: The Manc Group
Who performed at the MOBOs 2026 in Manchester at Co-op Live?
Flo opened the show with their iconic silhouettes, just like on their Access All Areas Tour, which we had the privilege of witnessing live at Manchester Academy last Autumn.
If you’re worried you’ve lost a backstage pass to all things Flo, think again. Their latest single continues the unrestricted theme with its aptly-fitting title ‘Leak It’, and they set standards high.
A variety of grime acts dominated the stage as curated by DJ Target with Chip, D Double E, Wiley, Nolay and Scorcher with staple hits like ‘Legend’, ‘Street Fighter Riddim’ and ‘Wot U Call It?’
Slick Rick treated Co-op Live and the MOBOs audience to a medley of hits like’Children’s Story’ and ‘Landlord’ while bringing out the wonderful Estelle to sing ‘Mona Lisa’ alongside the respected rapper.
Flo opened the show with a live debut of new single ‘Leak It’ / Credit: MOBO Organisation (supplied)
Folk-pop star Miles Smith had the crowd in the palm of his hand as they all sang ‘Stargazing’ in unison, almost as though it was their own performance. This singer-songwriter returns to Manchester and Co-op Live this winter.
When Tiwa Savage walked onto the stage, this Manchester indoor venue knew they were in the presence of royalty, the Queen of Afrobeats to be exact. She performed ‘You 4 Me’ and dropped a preview of her new hit ‘Energy’.
The multi-MOBO winner Olivia Dean showed off her vocal prowess with an exclusive live performance of ‘A Couple Minutes’ accompanied by a beautiful orchestra arrangement.
Ms Dean blew our minds with her ‘Man I Need’ performance at the BRITs just last month, and she can’t keep away from Manchester, returning to Co-op Live next month for ‘The Art of Loving Tour‘.
Credit: MOBO Organisation (supplied)
Moston’s own Aitch had the crowd going crazy with his The Stone Roses-sampling track ‘1989’ and one of his biggest hits to date, and Ashanti-sampling record ‘Baby’.
Dancehall diva Shenseea closed the night with not one but four of her cathartic bangers like ‘Hit & Run’, the empowering ‘Shenyeng Anthem’, UK Top 20 single ‘Shake It To The Max (Remix)’ and newest effort ‘Talk To Me Nuh’.
Which stars attended the MOBOs red carpet in Manchester?
Manchester is the music capital of the North, so it makes a lot of sense that some of music’s biggest names decided to pop over to this city for a visit.
Alongside all the nominees and performers, there was a whole host of acts in attendance from the music, film, TV and social media industries.
Everyone from former Little Mix member turned independent artist Leigh-Anne and Bemi Orojuogun, more widely recognised by her digital moniker ‘Bus Aunty’, strutted their stuff on the MOBOs red carpet.
Audio North had the incredible opportunity of chatting with a whole host of talented artists and creatives straight from the red carpet, including shaking hands with legendary multi-hyphenate Nile Rodgers.
This was a truly beautiful night which celebrated the contributions and impact made within the music industry across the past 12 months and beyond, soundtracked by some class live performances.
Danny Jones -
7th March 2023 
