The first Manchester Village Pride has raised a record-breaking £183,500 for five core charities and organisations, with an additional £12,500 collected for George House Trust during the Candlelit Vigil.
The event took place over the late August Bank Holiday weekend, almost a year after the organisers behind the original Manchester Pride went into voluntary liquidation. At the start of the year, venues and businesses in the Gay Village rallied together, with support from the council and key members of the community, to ensure Pride 2026 went ahead.
Community-led fundraising success
The funds were raised through ticket sales and donations over the four-day event, which featured performances from Danny Beard, Cascada, Kate Nash and Gareth Gates. The entire 2026 line-up cost £20,000 less than the price of just one headliner act last year.
The money will be shared amongst akt, Sparkle, The Proud Trust, LGBT Foundation, and George House Trust, with £30,000 also going towards grassroots LGBTQ+ community groups.
Organisers and charity leaders respond
Carl Austin-Behan, Co-Director of Manchester Village Pride CIC, said: "This isn't just a donation from MVP; this is a massive achievement by the community, for the community."
Darren Knight, CEO of the George House Trust, said: "We want to thank everyone who bought a ticket and made Manchester Village Pride 2026 such a phenomenal success, supporting our work for a world where HIV holds no one back."
Rachel Bottomley, Managing Director for LGBT Foundation, added: "Manchester Village Pride not only organised a show-stopping community Pride weekend this year, but also raised an incredible amount for LGBTQ+ charities."
Following the success of this year's event, Manchester Village Pride will return over the August Bank Holiday in 2027, set to be August 27-30.
