Manchester Pride announces line-up for August bank holiday

Manchester Pride Festival is back this August bank holiday – and organisers have today announced the line-up for those who plan to celebrate at MCR Pride Live and The Gay Village Party.

Zara Larsson, Sigala, Annie Mac, Gabrielle, Katy B, Example and Eve are all set to appear at this year’s MCR Pride Live on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August.

Swedish singer Zara Larsson has collaborated with MNEK and Tinie Tempah.  She has performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert alongside American singer John Legend and in January 2018, and was named in Forbes’ “30 Under 30 Europe” list. 

Her third album Poster Girl was released in March 2021 and debuted at number 12 in the UK Albums Chart.

On Sunday night Zara will be joined on stage by singer, songwriters Ella Henderson,  Gabrielle, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Lucy Spraggan. 

The stage will be hosted by Danny Beard, Cheddar Gorgeous, Anna Phylactic, The Manchester Queens and House of Blaque.

Set to appear on Saturday are English DJ, record producer and remixer Sigala, Radio One’s Dance Party legend Annie Mac, singer songwriter Katy B and musician, singer, songwriter, rapper and record producer Example.  

Plus the LGBTQ+ charity has secured another major artist as headline performer on Saturday, but will not reveal their identity until 27th August – right before the bank holiday weekend show.

Saturday night’s performances will be hosted by La Discothèque and House of Ghetto.

The venue for MCR Pride Live will be announced in coming weeks.

The roots of Manchester Pride and the Festival are firmly in the heart of Manchester’s world-famous Gay Village.

Taking place over all four days of the bank holiday weekend, the Gay Village Party is the ultimate street party celebration with incredible performances, markets and parties.

This year the festival will include Trans Creative presents Trans Pride Rally plus live performances across the Alan Turing Stage in Sackville Gardens, MancUnity Stage, Playground Stage and Superbia presents Queer Music Stage. 

Highlights will include Danny Beard and Friends, Black Pride MCR Takeover and Fat Pride.

Ticket holders can also expect the return of favourites such as the silent disco, sing-along cinema, the marketplace and the fairground rides.

Tickets to the Festival went on sale last month and the weekend MCR Pride Live Rainbow Passes sold out in less than an hour.

A limited number of weekend and day passes will be released at 12pm on Friday 30th April.

Rainbow Passes, which allow access to MCR Pride Live Festival and four days at the Gay Village Party, start at £55 for a day or £84.50 for the weekend and Gay Village Party tickets are £17.50 for one day or £25.00 for all four days.

New to this year is the introduction of a Low Income Ticket.

“I’m really happy that we are able to share this announcement today,” said Mark Fletcher, CEO of Manchester Pride.

“With many artists having decided not to tour this year, my team has worked twice as hard to secure a first class line-up of performers who are each excited to be able to celebrate LGBTQ+ life with us, in person this year. 

“And unless the roadmap to recovery changes we can’t wait to come back together once again. 

“MCR Pride Live will be in a new home, with a reduced capacity but the standard of talent on the stage remains exceptional and we know that our loyal and excited audience will love the programming across all of the events.

“Tickets to MCR Pride Live are very limited now and the Gay Village Party is selling fast, so I urge everyone that wants to come to buy them before they sell out.”

For more information about the festival, visit manchesterpride.com.