Manchester Pride, long celebrated as one of the UK’s largest and most influential LGBTQ+ events, has gone into voluntary liquidation. The charity announced that it could no longer continue operating after facing rising costs, falling ticket sales, and the financial fallout of a failed bid to host EuroPride.
For many in the community, the announcement marks the end of an era. Pride in Manchester has been more than a festival — it has been a vital symbol of visibility, celebration, and resistance since its early days in the 1980s. Over four decades, it evolved into a major fixture in the British LGBTQ+ calendar, drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year and generating millions for the city’s economy.
Yet behind the colour and music, mounting financial pressures have been building. In a statement released on 22 October, the organisers confirmed they had begun the process of voluntary liquidation, citing unsustainable running costs and a sharp drop in ticket revenue. Performers, artists, and local vendors are reportedly owed significant sums, with many left out of pocket.
Economic challenges and community concerns
The collapse of Manchester Pride exposes broader challenges facing LGBTQ+ charities and cultural events across the UK. The economic climate — with rising production costs, competition for sponsorships, and reduced public funding — has left even flagship Pride events vulnerable.
While the festival had sought to rebuild its reputation after criticism in 2021 over commercialisation and lack of transparency, its organisers struggled to balance inclusivity with financial survival. In recent years, debates over ticketing, corporate sponsorship, and the role of activism in Pride had sparked tensions within the community.
Local businesses and advocacy groups have expressed both sadness and frustration. “Manchester Pride was part of the soul of the city,” said one former volunteer. “To see it end like this feels like a loss of history — but also a warning that Pride needs to return to its roots if it’s going to survive.”
Impact on artists and the local economy
Dozens of performers and small creative suppliers are reportedly awaiting payment following the announcement. For many, Pride was not only a space for expression but also a major source of income and exposure. The event’s sudden closure leaves both emotional and economic gaps.
Manchester’s night-time economy, which benefited enormously from the influx of Pride visitors, is also expected to feel the loss. Hospitality venues in the Gay Village and the wider city centre have described the liquidation as “devastating”, with calls for the City Council to work with community organisations to ensure Pride in Manchester continues in some form.
A moment for reflection and renewal
The end of Manchester Pride as a registered charity does not necessarily mean the end of Pride in the city. Community leaders and civic officials have already pledged to explore how future celebrations can continue under new structures.
City Council representatives have suggested that future events could return to a more grassroots model — smaller, more affordable, and more community-led — aligning more closely with Pride’s original spirit of protest and solidarity rather than large-scale commercial spectacle.
For many LGBTQ+ campaigners, this moment represents both a loss and an opportunity: a chance to rethink what Pride means in an era where visibility has grown but vulnerability remains. As one attendee wrote on social media, “Maybe this is the time for Pride to come home — back to the streets, back to the people.”
Looking forward
The closure of Manchester Pride is a stark reminder that inclusion requires more than celebration — it requires sustainability, transparency, and shared responsibility. It also highlights the fragility of the institutions that sustain queer life and culture in the UK.
In the decades since its first parade, Pride in Manchester has mirrored the evolution of the LGBTQ+ movement itself — from activism to celebration, from defiance to dialogue. Its liquidation will no doubt ignite difficult conversations about how Pride is funded, who it serves, and what it stands for in 2025. Yet even in uncertainty, the resilience of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community endures.
Pride began as a march for equality and protest. Whatever form it takes next, Manchester’s story serves as a call to return
Kim Cockayne