Manchester Pride is set to return this summer following the formation of a new not-for-profit Community Interest Company aimed at rebuilding and reinforcing the marquee city-wide event as a safe, inclusive and celebratory occasion.
Manchester Village Pride CIC has been established by village businesses and LGBTQ+ community stakeholders to deliver Pride 2026, after Manchester Pride Events Ltd collapsed last year.
The four-day celebration will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend as usual, running from Fri 28 to Mon 31 Aug, with core elements including the parade, the village party and the vigil all set to return.
Alongside activity within the Village, the event will also be supported by a vibrant and eclectic Pride Fringe programme, featuring LGBTQ+ arts, culture and nightlife events across the city.
The new organisation has secured backing from key partners including Manchester City Council, Marketing Manchester, Cityco and Equity, as well as from a range of LGBTQ+ organisations, charities and community groups, while also securing £120,000 in loans from village venues in a show of commitment to protect the future of Pride and deepen its community roots.
The CIC will be led by an unpaid board of voluntary directors, with all profits reinvested into LGBTQ+ charities, grassroots organisations and community services. A Community Advisory Board will also be established through an open application process to ensure community voices help shape the event, alongside engagement sessions organised by the Council.
Carl Austin-Behan, founding board member and spokesperson for Manchester Village Pride CIC, said: “Manchester Village Pride is built around a simple belief. Pride has a home and that home is the Village, but Pride belongs to everyone.
“This is a really exciting time for our community. We have a chance to start again. 2026 is a year of rebuilding, re-establishing trust, reconnecting with Pride’s origins and reinforcing the role of the Village as the heart of the celebration.
“From 2027 onwards, we plan to develop a wider programme of citywide activity around Pride. Bringing Pride home to the Village is about more than location. It is a commitment to responsibility, from paying artists properly to funding community groups, supporting charities, protecting LGBTQ+ heritage and building a sustainable future for Pride in Manchester.”
Deputy Council Leader Cllr Garry Bridges said: “Pride is vital for Manchester, as a symbol of our welcoming and inclusive city, a chance to celebrate our LGBTQ+ communities and to highlight injustices which still exist.
“The Council has always been clear that Pride must happen this year. Manchester Village Pride came to us with a strong and credible plan which we are happy to support. Who better to organise our city’s Pride than the people who work with our LGBTQ+ communities all year round?”
Further details, including ticket sales and the full programme, are expected to be announced soon.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Fri 30 Jan 2026
