19 photos from magical Manchester Pride in England
Olly Alexander, Nelly Furtado and Samantha Mumba were amongst the entertainers.
Mark
The city of Manchester in northern England has one of the biggest LGBTQ+ Pride festivals in the UK. It always takes place over the public holiday weekend at the end of August and is the last major Pride festival in the country each year.
The 2025 event took place over the past weekend. Besides the Saturday parade through the city center, festivities included street parties around the Gay Village, based around Canal Street. The area gained fame with the original UK version of Queer As Folk in the late 1990s.
Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the best LGBTQ+ travel guides, stories, and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
That series was written by Russell T Davies. He was among those in the city to enjoy the celebrations and to pick up the festival’s ‘Icon Award’. He also marched with the George House Trust in the parade: a local, long-running HIV support service.
Canal Street and Mardi Gras party
Across the weekend, the Canal Street area was closed off and festooned with rainbow flags. Performers, including Samantha Mumba, Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge, and B*witched entertained the crowds. Many festival goers partied well into the night at bars such as Eagle Manchester.
There’s also a separate Mardi Gras Party. Big-name performers to grace the stage this year included Nelly Furtado, Olly Alexander, Drag Race alum Danny Beard, and Big Freedia, among others.
The event ended on Monday (a public holiday) with the traditional candlelight vigil to remember those lost to HIV.
Josh Wheeler (below), who attended with his dogs Axel and Dolly, told GayCities, “Manchester is one of the most welcoming cities in the world — LGBTQ or not. The people are incredible and, providing you are good, they are with you.
“Pride itself is just magic here. The streets are filled with people wanting to come together and have fun. All ages, generations, genders, everyone. It’s just a shame we can’t bottle it and remind ourselves year-round.”
Jamie (@saltnpreppa) had traveled from Essex in southern England to pop his Manchester Pride cherry.
“This was my first Manchester Pride, and I was super impressed with the community spirit, inclusivity, and energy of the whole weekend. In troubling times, it’s important to spend time with my community and allies, and Manchester’s sprinkle of northern hospitality made me feel so welcome!”
“What a ride!”
Another of those to attend was out-gay swimmer Michael Gunning, who marched with the automobile brand Bentley
“My head’s still in the clouds after my first Pride parade and what a ride it was!” said Gunning on Instagram. “Overwhelming, emotional, electrifying… all in the most beautiful way.”
Check out more photos below.
Related
Kit Williamson & John Halbach’s GREAT BRITISH ADVENTURE: Manchester
Follow along with Kit Williamson & John Halbach as they explore Manchester with Love GREAT Britain & GayCities: Your Gay Travel and City Guide. There’s so much to explore, from to the shopping and art in the Northern Quarter, to the incredible restaurant scene, to the bars of the world famous Gay Village, the home […]12 photos that capture the beauty of Brighton Pride in England
Mariah Carey was the headline act at this year’s Brighton & Hove Pride
Join the GayCities newsletter for weekly updates on the best LGBTQ+ destinations and events—nearby and around the world.
