Manchester Pride enters voluntary liquidation

Manchester Pride, one of the UK’s most prominent LGBTQ+ festivals, has announced it is entering voluntary liquidation.

The decision follows months of financial uncertainty, with reports surfacing that performers from the 2025 event remain unpaid and suppliers have been met with silence over outstanding invoices. In a statement issued today, the charity behind the festival expressed “enormous sadness” at the move, citing a combination of rising operational costs, declining ticket sales, and an unsuccessful bid to host Euro Pride as key factors in its financial collapse. 

The Board of Trustees said: “Despite our best efforts, sadly, this has not proved to be possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation. The volunteer Board of Trustees are devastated and sad to share that our staff team will be made redundant.”

Manchester Pride had been a cornerstone of the city’s cultural calendar, attracting over 237,000 visitors annually and contributing an estimated £104.8 million to the local economy since the end of the pandemic. The festival also awarded 148 grants to grassroots LGBTQ+ organisations and helped position Manchester as a beacon of inclusivity.

STATEMENT FROM MANCHESTER PRIDE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

However, behind the scenes, financial troubles were mounting. Equity, the performers’ union, confirmed it had received multiple complaints from artists regarding unpaid fees. Among them was Saki Yew, a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, who said she had received “no communication and no answer” regarding her payment.

The Charity Commission has acknowledged receipt of a “serious incident report” from Manchester Pride and is currently assessing concerns related to its finances.

The organisation had hoped to continue with plans for the 2026 event, traditionally held over the August bank holiday weekend, but those ambitions have now been shelved. Liquidators have been appointed to manage the charity’s affairs and will be contacting creditors, including artists and suppliers owed money.

While the future of Manchester Pride remains uncertain, organisers expressed hope that its legacy will endure. “We hope and believe that this leaves a positive and lasting legacy for the Pride movement in Greater Manchester, and that it will continue long into the future,” the statement concluded.

Equity’s North West Official, Karen Lockney, added:  “After too much uncertainty, the news that the organisation in charge of Manchester Pride is going into liquidation will be hugely concerning to those owed money.  

“Yesterday afternoon, Equity held a meeting for affected performers and creatives – some of whom are out of pocket by thousands. We heard upsetting stories from people unsure if they can make payments for rent, medical prescriptions and other essentials. Treating working professionals like this is unacceptable.

“Any performer or creative who worked at Manchester Pride but has not been paid should contact Equity as soon as possible. We are collecting contractual information to pursue all options to recoup money owed, and we will begin these processes immediately. 

“We are also speaking with Manchester City Council and other stakeholders to ensure artists' voices are heard in discussions about the future of Pride in the city, ensuring that Manchester gets the Pride it deserves: one that is rooted in the local community and the Gay Village, and which has workers' rights embedded from the outset.

 "On Thursday, 23 October, from 8-10pm, we’ll be in Via on Canal Street with membership and claims forms for anyone who has not been paid by Manchester Pride. You’ll find us downstairs and wearing a grey Equity hoodie.”