What's On

Road closures and travel advice ahead of Manchester Pride Parade 2023

Here's how to plan your day.

Daisy Jackson - 25th August 2023

One of the biggest days in Manchester’s events calendar is here, with tens of thousands pouring into town for the Manchester Pride Parade.

With a theme of Queerly Beloved – celebrating 10 years since gay marriage was made legal in England and Wales – it’s set to be one gigantic LGBTQ+ celebration.

Thousands will march through the streets, on foot or on float, with organisations and community groups all walking together.

But of course, for anyone trying to get around Manchester tomorrow, you’ll be butting up against road closures, diversions, and altered public transport to clear the way for the parade.

The Manchester Pride parade itself will set off at 12pm from Liverpool Road, navigating its path through the city centre via Deansgate, Peter Street, Oxford Road, Portland Street, Princess Street, Whitworth Street.

It’s expected to wrap up on Fairfield Street around 3pm.

Beyond that will be plenty of other closures to facilitate the huge, world-famous event.

Road closures in the city centre for the Manchester Pride Parade may also affect bus and tram journeys and traffic on the Inner Ring Road.

Here what you need to know – and for more inspiration of things to do in Manchester, head here.

Road closures for the Manchester Pride Parade on Saturday 26 August

Roads closed from 6am until 4pm (earliest) or 6pm (latest)

Liverpool Road (from Water Street to Deansgate)
Woolam Place (full length)
Potato Wharf (Liverpool Road junction)
Lower Byrom Street (MOSI to Liverpool Road)
Duke Street (Rice Street to Liverpool Road)
Stone Street (Bridgewater Street to Liverpool Road)
Barton Street (full length)
Southern Street (full length)

Roads closed from 10.30am to 4pm (earliest) or 6pm (latest)

Deansgate (Trafford Street to Bootle Street)
Camp Street (Longworth Street to Deansgate)
St John Street (Longworth Street to Deansgate)
Tonman Street (full length)
Gt Bridgewater Street (Watson Street to Deansgate)
Quay Street (Little Quay Street to Deansgate)
Peter Street (full length)
Watson Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Southmill Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Southmill Street (Bootle Street and Peter Street)
Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Mount Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Mount Street (Bootle Street and Peter Street)
Lower Mosley Street (Great Bridgewater Street to Peter Street)
Oxford Street (Peter Street to Whitworth Street)
George Street (Oxford Street to Dickinson Street)
St James Street (Oxford Street to Dickinson Street)
Chepstow Street (Great Bridgewater Street to Oxford Street)
Portland Street (Oxford Street to Nicholas Street)
Princess Street (Faulkner Street to Bombay Street)
Harter Street (full length)
Waterloo Street (full length)
Whitworth Street (Beaver Street to Fairfield Street)
Sackville Street (Whitworth Street to Charles Street)
Fairfield Street (Whitworth Street to London Road)
Granby Row (Whitworth Street to London Road)
Minshull Street South (Whitworth Street to Fairfield Street)

Travel advice for Manchester Pride Parade 2023

As well as Manchester Pride, tens of thousands will flock to the city for Noel Gallagher ‘s High Flying Birds’ gig at Wythenshawe Park, and for Manchester United ‘s game against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.

Saturday is expected to be the busiest day of the already very busy August bank holiday weekend, with TfGM warning of particular time frames where you can expect parts of town to become crowded.

They have said that they anticipate the busiest times on the transport network to be between 12pm and 2.30pm on Saturday, around the St Peter’s Square, Deansgate and Old Trafford areas and again between 5pm and 7pm.

Amidst all the celebrations and events around town will be industrial action on buses and trains, putting extra pressure on tram services.

TfGM has stressed that the Metrolink tram network will be the best way to travel around, stressing that ‘steps have been taken to ensure there is still adequate capacity and a stable, resilient service for those going to enjoy the Pride Parade or watch Manchester United – as well as for the overall network’.

Featured image: Manchester Pride