The Sparkle Weekend, hailed as the largest transgender festival in the world, returns to Manchester's Sackville Gardens from June 26 to 28, 2026, marking its 21st year. What began in 2005 as a small fashion show in the back of a Gay Village pub has grown into a three-day celebration attracting thousands from across the globe. The event, organized by the national transgender charity Sparkle, aims to provide a sense of belonging and joy for the transgender community and its allies.
Event Highlights and Activities
The festival will feature the Sparkle Superstars Pageant, a marketplace with over 40 traders, a family zone with activities, a wellness and health zone, sober spaces, sensory sessions, and sanctuary pop-ups for those seeking downtime. Nearly 30 performers are scheduled, including Ben Hodge, T4T, Bitten Peach, Annabelle Lecter, Ghetto Fabulous, Bollyqueer, Sophie and the Silhouettes, and theatre star Sam Buttery, who recently starred in The Lowry's production of Unfortunate.
Josh Houghton, co-chair and trustee of Sparkle, told the Manchester Evening News: "I attended the event for the first time in 2018, having not long come out. It was the most amazing experience I’d had, I didn’t know anything like it. It was something really special." He emphasized that the event is "by and for the community" and welcomes everyone, regardless of identity.
Patron Annie Wallace's Perspective
Actress Annie Wallace, who made history in 2015 as the first transgender person to portray a regular transgender character in British soap opera with her role as Sally St. Claire in Hollyoaks, has been a patron of Sparkle for nine years. She first attended Sparkle in 2009 before coming out publicly. "I spent many, many years in the closet as it were," she explained. "When I first visited Sparkle in 2009, I definitely wasn’t out. I remember initially thinking that it might not be my kind of event but I enjoyed it and saw all these people who were so proud and happy and I just thought it was so positive." She noted that Sparkle differs from typical Pride events by offering more than clubbing and dancing, appealing to a broader audience.
Introduction of Paid Tickets
For the first time, Sparkle Weekend will introduce paid tickets at £7.50 per person, a decision driven by nationwide difficulties in securing funding for Pride and LGBTQ+ events. Bursary tickets are available, and entry remains free for under-18s and carers. The revenue will support year-round activities like the Sparkle Sanctuary Socials, which host community-focused, sensory-friendly, and sober events—one of the few such initiatives in the country, attracting attendees from as far as North Wales and Stoke.
"Like a lot of Pride events across the country, we are struggling with the cost of running events which are safe and accessible," Josh said. "We are seeing a rise in everything year-on-year in terms of costs, but we are also seeing how the political landscape is shifting things too." He added that funding grants for LGBTQ+ organizations are becoming scarce, but Sparkle is grateful for continued support from some organizations despite negative media and political narratives.
Political Context and Community Resilience
The past few years have been challenging for the trans community. In April 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex alone, sparking debates on bathrooms, healthcare, and attempts to reverse progress. Annie commented: "I think it is incredibly difficult to separate trans lives and politics right now. We seem to be the obsession of the moment—we are having so much scrutiny put on us." However, she noted that this scrutiny has strengthened community bonds: "We do not sit back idly and just let things happen to us. We will fight and protest against it, and it's through events like Sparkle which can really make people feel invigorated and empowered."
Josh emphasized the importance of showing up for the community: "We’ve been coming together for 21 years now, and it’s an important way to support the community. It’s an opportunity for people to be celebrated for their identity and to be greeted with open arms." He acknowledged that even in progressive Manchester, many still struggle to be their authentic selves in various aspects of life.
