Manchester Pride Festival 2023: A resounding celebration of diversity and inclusion

The Manchester Pride Festival, crowned the ‘Best Large Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards 2022, has successfully concluded its grand celebrations over the August Bank Holiday weekend (25 - 28 August). Partnered with Booking.com, this year’s festival amplified its advocacy for LGBTQ+ equality with a stellar lineup of local and international artists.

The Gay Village Party, co-designed with Manchester’s vibrant queer communities, stood out as the beating heart of the festival. Its artist lineup celebrated unparalleled diversity: 96% queer performers, 54% women, 51% people of colour, and a significant 42% representation from the trans and non-binary communities. World class performances from Brazilian drag artist Pabllo Vittar, global sensation Jake Shears, the mesmerising Alison Goldfrapp, and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner, Danny Beard, excited audiences.

Innovative stage takeovers, like the debut Queer Asian Takeover with Gok Wan, The Bitten Peach, and Lucky Roy Singh, and other showcases such as Trans Filth & Joy, Black Pride MCR, and the Queer Women’s Takeover, added depth to the festival’s offerings.

Complementing the musical spectacle were a series of events that celebrated LGBTQ+ life in Manchester, the famous Manchester Pride Parade, the insightful Human Rights Forum, the welcoming arms of Family Pride MCR and Youth Pride MCR, and the moving Candlelit Vigil in Sackville Gardens. 

Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride Festival, added: “From the immensely attended Parade to the vibrancy of the Gay Village Party and the solemnity of the Candlelit Vigil, it’s been an honour to witness such a phenomenal outpouring of love and support.”

Manchester Pride Festival 2024

With 2023’s echoes of celebration still resonating, preparations for the Manchester Pride Festival 2024 are already in full swing. To celebrate the community’s continued support, a limited number of ‘first release’ weekend tickets for next year’s Gay Village Party are now available at:

£35 + £2.50 donation + £3.50 service charge

Secure your tickets early for the best prices, exclusively at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/manchester-pride-festival

We value your feedback

Manchester Pride cherishes the experiences and opinions of its attendees. As we move forward, we invite all 2023 festival attendees to share their feedback:

• Online: Complete our dedicated survey here.
• Phone: Call 0800 0912 770, available Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 31st August to 29th September between 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm.
• In-person sessions: Interested attendees can register for face-to-face sessions with the Manchester Pride team here.
• Community session: The “Pride in our Future” session is scheduled for September, with more details to be announced shortly.

Manchester Pride remains committed to its mission, striving for the inclusion, celebration, and representation of the LGBTQ+ community. The insights and feedback from the community are invaluable in ensuring that the festival continues to evolve, innovate, and inspire.

ENDS

About Manchester Pride

Manchester Pride is one of the UK's leading LGBTQ+ charities, committed to campaigning for equality, celebrating LGBTQ+ life, and creating opportunities that engage LGBTQ+ people in Greater Manchester.

For media enquiries, please contact pressoffice@wearejam.agency