Manchester Pride 2025 delivered an unforgettable bank holiday weekend packed with colour, community, and culture. The festivities spanned four days, with the city centre transformed into a vibrant hub of celebration. From the spectacular parade to the buzzing Gay Village Party and the newly reimagined Mardi Gras, this year’s event offered something for everyone while staying true to its roots of pride, protest, and unity.

At the heart of the weekend was the Manchester Pride Parade, which took place on Saturday 23rd August. Beginning on Liverpool Road and winding its way through Deansgate, Oxford Road, and down to Fairfield Street, the parade embodied this year’s theme: “Love”. Thousands lined the streets as floats, dance troupes, community groups, and LGBTQ+ organisations marched with messages of inclusion, strength, and pride. Despite occasional rain showers, the energy remained electric, with spectators cheering and waving flags in solidarity. The parade didn’t just entertain, it served as a powerful reminder of the progress made and the work still to be done.

Once the parade wrapped up, much of the attention turned to Canal Street for the Gay Village Party. Running from Friday through Monday, this core element of Manchester Pride offered a packed programme of live performances, cabaret, drag shows, and DJs across multiple stages including the Alan Turing Stage and the Indoor Arena. Headliners such as Samantha Mumba, B*Witched, Diana Vickers, and Sister Sledge brought the crowd to life, while local talent and grassroots performers ensured there was never a dull moment. The village, decked out in rainbow flags and glittering lights, became a space of pure celebration—welcoming, loud, and defiantly queer. With reduced capacity this year and improved access controls through the Gay Village wristband system, the event felt safer and more inclusive than ever before.

For those looking for a bigger party experience, Mardi Gras at Depot Mayfield and Freight Island added a bold new dimension to the Pride calendar. This two-day spectacle, held on Saturday and Sunday, fused the glamour of a high-end festival with the spirit of queer joy. Saturday’s programme included a headline performance by Leigh-Anne, who stepped in last-minute after Billy Porter had to withdraw due to illness. The day also featured sets from Gok Wan and the Ghetto Fabulous Dance Party, drawing massive crowds. On Sunday, Olly Alexander, Nelly Furtado, and Tulisa lit up the main stage, while drag acts and immersive performances kept things lively at the Garden Stage and inside the Freight Island venue. Secret raves, pop-up bars, a food village, and a VIP “Plant Room” added a sense of discovery and luxury, making Mardi Gras a standout new addition that many hope becomes a permanent fixture.

The weekend concluded with the Candlelit Vigil in Sackville Gardens on Monday evening. Always one of the most poignant moments of the Pride calendar, the vigil offered a space for remembrance, reflection, and unity. Attendees lit candles in honour of those lost to HIV/AIDS and in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people still facing persecution around the world. It was a quiet, moving contrast to the weekend’s louder celebrations, but equally powerful in its message.

Manchester Pride 2025 was more than a party, it was a declaration of love, identity, and resilience. With its evolving format and continued emphasis on inclusivity, accessibility, and activism, the festival proved once again why Manchester remains a leading light in the global Pride movement.