Superstar headliners announced for Manchester Pride 2024

Manchester Pride 2024, one of the highlights of the city’s social calendar, will be headlined by Suagrbabes, Rita Ora Jessie J and Loreen this year.

‘The Greatest Showman’ actress and singer Keala Settle will also feature in what promises to be one of this year’s stand-out events.

Katy B, Bimini, Louis III, Chinchilla, Natasha Hamilton, and Claire Richards are all set to dazzle the audience as they take to the stage, bringing down the house with their electrifying performances and confident strides.

Drag Race Royalty at Pride 2024

Other performers joining on Friday include British drag artist BIMINI, Trans Filth & Joy and Runway by Banksie, Manchester’s very own 7-foot drag supermodel, who will be kicking off the Bank Holiday in true Manc style, as they host a runway showcasing glamorous queer couture and fashion realness.

RuPaul drag race royalty will also be present with Black Peppa, Ginger Johnson, Danny Beard and Banksie all set to perform – and we can’t wait to see ’em.

The artists will get to perform on ‘the most beautiful and glamorous car park in the western hemisphere’ as the city comes alive with vibrance, colour and expression.

The Gay Village Party hosts three performance spaces in Manchester’s Gay Village; The Village Stage which occupies an outdoor car park in the middle of the event site, The Alan Turing Stage in Sackville Gardens and the Indoor Arena.

The Indoor Arena is located in a covered car park and provides a warehouse-style clubbing experience.

The space will play home to The Gaydio Dance Arena which makes its grand return on Saturday 24 August, headlined by Manchester DJ Paulette.

It will also host a number of takeovers including Runway with Banksie, Manchester’s very own 7 ft drag supermodel, who will be kicking off the Bank Holiday in true Manc style, as they host a runway showcasing glamorous queer couture and fashion realness.

There will be performances from Trans Filth & Joy, The Queen Woman’s Takeover, Queer Asian Takeover and Danny Beard and Friends.

Black Pride MCR is also hosting a takeover on the Village Stage for the first time, showcasing and celebrating QTIPoC (Queer, Transgender and Intersex People of Colour) talent from around Manchester and the north west.

The event will bring together all of the communities to party together.

What other events are on?

The main action will centre around the Village Stage whilst the four-day party will take place around the central LGBTQ+ hub of Canal Street.

There will be a host of free events, too, including the massively popular parade, which will flow through Manchester on the 24th August.

Two-time Eurovision winner and Swedish pop sensation, Loreen will headline The Village Stage on Saturday 24th August adding to the excitement, following the recent announcement of her new single ‘Forever’, Manchester Pride will witness one of the first performances of this anticipated release.

Joining the Saturday line-up is the electrifying global superstar, Rita Ora.

Returning to Manchester Pride for the first time since her unforgettable 2018 performance, Rita Ora will bring her chart-topping hits and incredible stage presence to the festival for an exclusive pride performance.

On Sunday 25th August, Sugababes promise to push the button on nostalgia with a show-stopping performance as they headline The Village Stage.

And if that wasn’t enough noughties nostalgia for Sunday, Atomic Kitten’s, Natasha Hamilton joins Danny Beard & Friends, and Steps’ Claire Richards will be performing over on the Alan Turing Stage, alongside Pride Divas with Misty Chance.

Manchester Pride

Manchester has played a huge part in the UK’s queer liberation movement. In 1985, Manchester City Council provided funding for a two-week celebration on Oxford Street for the gay community. Manchester Pride was born.

Fundraising events have been held over August Bank Holiday weekend in Manchester since the late 1980s, starting with a jumble sale outside the Rembrandt Hotel. The first Manchester Gay Pub and Club Olympics event took place in 1985 — think boat racing down the canal, tug of war, and egg and spoon races adjudicated by drag queens.

Buzzin’ to be Queer

This year’s Manchester Pride 2024 theme is Buzzin’ to be Queer – A Hive of Progress and will celebrate strength found in togetherness.

“Just like worker bees collaborating in a hive, LGBTQ+ communities and their allies can achieve great things when united,” say the organisers. “The bee symbolises not only the hard work that has defined the city’s history but also the ongoing commitment to progress, inclusivity, and equality that Manchester Pride champions”.

Co-curation

 “Each year we ask our communities what they’d like to see at the Festival and I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to respond with this line-up,” said Manchester Pride CEO Mark Fletcher.

“Jessie J and Loreen are outstanding performers. It’s brilliant to have them sharing the stage with local Queer talent and supporting us as we continue to push the Pride movement forward.

“There’s a huge variety of entertainment on offer this year; a host of classic Pride favourites, emerging artists, drag royalty and well-known performers spanning a whole range of genres.

“What’s most important is the representation and visibility of the further marginalised LGBTQ+ people.

“The way we’ve been able to achieve this is through co-curation with our communities. The stage takeovers enable us to deliver an event which is designed by our communities for our communities and allies to enjoy.

“This year will see one of the biggest weekends we’ve delivered. We’ve got another headline act lined up and a few surprises in store that we’ll be announcing over the coming months so we’re encouraging people to get their tickets in advance to avoid disappointment because it’s likely to be a sold-out event.”

Tickets for Manchester Pride 2024

The Gay Village Party is the only event you need tickets for at Manchester Pride 2024

Tickets are exchanged for a Pledge Band which will give you access to the areas managed and programmed by Manchester Pride such as the performance stages and event spaces.

Earlybird, Pre Sale and First Release tickets have now sold out.

Second Release Weekend and VIP tickets can be purchased from £27.50 for a day ticket and £42.50 for a weekend ticket.

A fixed donation of £2.50 from every ticket sold goes directly to the Manchester Pride Community Fund, ensuring that LGBTQ+ causes and projects in Greater Manchester receive vital support with grants that are distributed throughout the year.

You can grab a ticket to the Gay Village Party at Manchester Pride 2024 by clicking here

Full line up for Manchester Pride 2024

The full day-by-day line-up of artists and events for Manchester Pride 2024 so far:

FRIDAY: Jessie J, Keala Settle, Bimini, Trans Filth And Joy, The RUNWAY with BANKSIE, Felix Mufti, The Bollywitch, Sam Buttery, Tito Bone, DJ Xzan, DJ Jess Rose, NELLY, Denon James, Violet Blonde, The Enby Show, Pec Kings: Black is King, Queer Stage Revolution, Fat Pride MCR

SATURDAY: Loreen, Special Guest: Rita Ora, Katy B, Black Peppa, Louis III, DJ Paulette, Black Pride MCR Takeover, Queer Asian Takeover, Jsky, SWAGGA, Platnum [Michelle McKenna], DJ Stacey Bee, Martell Munro, Queens in Kicks, DJ Nkay, Freequency3, Coco Cannelll, Ghetto Fabulous, DJ Jade Jaxon, Night-Thomas, Jaii Andrews, Cadbury Parfait, Goodie, Coco Deville, Natasha Moonshine, Mr Blaque, Bennettiscoming, Lucky Roy Singh, House of Spice, Bitten Peach, Club Zindagi, Asifa Lahore, STNLY, Punjabi Roots, YDSA, Saki Yew, Duniya Dhoom, Val the Brown Queen, Immy Terial, Fortune, Shanika Sunrise, Dan Chan, Minara ’El Waters, Rajan Das, Zahira Zapanta, Tequila Thirst, Roman, Mohammed Barber, Qupid Harrow, Lady Macrocosm, Mayumi Fukiko., Dave Cooper, Forbid, Kate Meyher, Chris Blackmore, Kriss Herbert, Craig Law

SUNDAY: Sugababes, Claire Richards, Chinchilla, Danny Beard, Ginger Johnson, Natasha Hamilton,Queenz: The Show with Balls, Dean McCullough’s Pop Machine, Charlieeeee, Narcissa Nightshade, Bailey J Mills, DJ Billy Andrew, Lauren Lo Sung, Mix-Stress, Stephani B, BANKSIE, Ginny Lemon’s Dog Show, Fatt Butcher, Your Manchester Live! hosted by Belinda Scandal, Divas Only with Misty Chance, Angie Brown, Rozalla, Lill, Anna Phylactic, Viola, Misty Chance, Verry Cherry, Missie Jay, Saki Yew, Big Dee, Ginger Hunter, Haus of Lasair, Hayley-Ria Christian, The Canal Street Kings, Rainbow Nation Dance Academy, Queer Women’s Takeover, What She Said, SWAGGA, DJ Stacey Bee, Freequency3, Queens in Kicks, Tam Poles, Rave with Pride, Naveen Sonne, Kimmie Smith, Olivia Mae, Vanilla Takeover, DJ NKAY, JUST SORIAH