Manchester Pride 2025 is set to be one of the UK’s biggest and most exhilarating LGBTQ+ festivals of the year. Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend, the festival transforms Manchester into a citywide celebration of queer joy, protest, performance, and unity. With a theme focused on “Love” as a force of visibility and resistance, the event offers four days packed with unforgettable moments.
The weekend begins on Friday 22 August with the start of the Gay Village Party, where Manchester’s iconic LGBTQ+ district comes alive with live cabaret, DJs, food markets, community spaces, a silent disco, and much more. From Canal Street to Bloom Street, every corner of the Village pulses with energy, welcoming thousands from across the country.
Saturday 23 August is a standout day with the legendary Manchester Pride Parade, one of the largest in the UK. This year’s theme, “Love,” will be expressed through spectacular costumes, community floats, and powerful messages of pride. The parade winds through Manchester’s city centre streets and welcomes everyone to march in celebration and protest.
Also on Saturday and Sunday, the new Mardi Gras experience takes over Depot Mayfield and Freight Island. This immersive, high-energy event features music, drag, and dance from internationally celebrated artists and queer icons. The 2025 line-up includes Leigh-Anne (of Little Mix), Billy Porter, Olly Alexander, Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge, Danny Beard, and Gok Wan. Expect show-stopping live performances, dazzling fashion, and plenty of moments that push boundaries and celebrate self-expression.
The weekend concludes with the deeply moving Candlelit Vigil in Sackville Gardens on Monday 25 August. As night falls, thousands gather to remember those lost to HIV/AIDS and to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people facing persecution around the world. Surrounded by candles and community, this moment of quiet reflection offers a space for healing and unity in the midst of celebration.
Manchester Pride is more than just a party. It’s a movement rooted in visibility, equality, and community impact. Whether you're dancing beneath confetti at the Gay Village Party or standing quietly at the Vigil, your presence matters. The festival also raises vital funds for local LGBTQ+ organisations and projects.
Tickets for the weekend’s main events — including Mardi Gras and the Gay Village Party — are available now, with a range of options to suit all budgets. Parade participation and the Candlelit Vigil remain free and open to the public.
To plan your weekend, view full schedules, or get involved as a volunteer, performer, or group, visit manchesterpride.com
🌈 Join us in Manchester this August to celebrate love, diversity, and community at Manchester Pride 2025!