Manchester Village Pride 2026 will bring a series of road closures and bus diversions across the city centre on Saturday, August 29, to allow the parade to pass through safely. The closures will be in place from early morning until evening, with tram services and roads expected to be busy.
This year's event marks a significant change for Manchester Pride, as it has been taken over by a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC), which includes the involvement of Gay Village venues. The aim is to create an 'inclusive, safe and celebratory' event with a community focus. Manchester Village Pride comes almost a year after the voluntary liquidation of the company behind Manchester Pride last year.
Festival highlights and parade details
Taking place mainly within the Gay Village, the festival will feature performances from Nadine Coyle, Kate Nash, Gareth Gates, and Cascada, as well as bar takeovers, family-friendly celebrations, and the parade through the city centre. The event runs from Friday, August 28 to Monday, August 31.
Outside the Gay Village, Manchester's LGBTQ+ film and TV festival SCENE will run from August 20 to 27, with screenings, world-first premieres, parties, and panel discussions featuring Russell T Davies, Heartstopper author Alice Oseman, and members of The Traitors cast. The Neuroqueerz calm space at the Holiday Inn hotel on Aytoun Street (M1 3DT) will offer a live stream of the parade on August 28, wheelchair charging facilities, and a low-stimulation environment on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Proud 2 B Parents will host Proud Fest at the Great Northern Warehouse with events for families, including live music, entertainment, and craft sessions.
Road closures from 6am to 7pm
The following roads will be closed between 6am and 7pm on Saturday, August 29: Liverpool Road (Water Street to Deansgate), Wollam Place (30m south of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road), Potato Wharf (Castlefield Hotel Entrance to Liverpool Road), Old Medlock Street, Lower Byrom Street (40m north of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road), Duke Street (Rice Street to Liverpool Road), Stone Street (Liverpool Road to Bridgewater Street), Barton Street (Worsley Street to Tonman Street), and Southern Street (20m south of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road).
Road closures from 9am to 7pm
The following roads will be closed between 9am and 7pm on Saturday, August 29: Bridgewater Street (Collier Street to Deansgate), Tonman Street (Liverpool Road to Longworth Street), Deansgate (Trafford Street to Peter Street), Quay Street (Little Quays Street to Deansgate), Peter Street (Deansgate to Oxford Street), Camp Street (Deansgate to Longworth Street), St James Street (Deansgate to Longworth Street), Deansgate (Peter Street to John Dalton Street, one-way), Atkinson Street (no right turn), Bootle Street (no left turn), Jacksons Row (no left turn), Hardman Street (no right turn), Queen Street (no left turn), Wood Street (no right turn), Jerusalem Place, Marron Place, Watson Street, Museum Street, Mount Street, Southmill Street, Lower Mosley Street, Oxford Street (Peter Street to Whitworth Street), Chepstow Street, Portland Street (Oxford Street to Abingdon Street), Princess Street (Faulkner Street to Whitworth Street), Whitworth Street (Beaver Street to Fairfield Street), Samuel Ogden Street, Sackville Street, Fairfield Street, Minshull Street (Fairfield Street to Aytoun Street), Back Acton Street, Minshull Street (Fairfield Street to Ebden Street), Bridge Street Westbound (Gartside Street to Blackfriars Street), Whitworth Street (Deansgate to Albion Street), and Portland Street (Princess Street to Newton Street).
Bus lane suspensions and travel advice
Bus lane suspensions will be in place on Saturday, August 29, from 6am to 7pm on Bridge Street (Gartside to New Bailey Street), Whitworth Street West (Deansgate to Albion Street), and Portland Street (Princess Street to Newton Street).
For those travelling to the Pride Parade or Village Pride, the event sites can be reached by public transport, with tram stops and Bee Network bus routes located nearby. The closest train stations to the Gay Village are Manchester Piccadilly and Oxford Road, but the easiest way to get there is by Metrolink, with the nearest stops at Piccadilly or Piccadilly Gardens. Buses to Manchester Piccadilly Gardens leave the Gay Village Party just a two-minute walk away. Multiple other events are taking place in Greater Manchester this weekend, so journey times are likely to increase, particularly in the city centre.
