TL;DR
- Manchester Pride Ltd has entered voluntary liquidation.
- Performers and suppliers are owed thousands in unpaid fees.
- Rising costs and failed bids led to financial collapse.
- Council promises to revive Pride in 2026.
- LGBTQ artists face financial hardship after the event’s downfall.
The Fall of a Pride Giant
Manchester’s rainbow has dimmed. Once one of the UK’s largest and most vibrant Pride celebrations, Manchester Pride Ltd has officially gone bust—leaving performers, creatives, and suppliers clutching unpaid invoices and broken promises. The organization announced it had gone into voluntary liquidation, citing “rising costs, declining ticket sales, and an unsuccessful EuroPride bid” as the final nails in the glitter coffin.
In a somber Instagram post, the Board of Trustees admitted with “enormous sadness” that the festival was no longer financially viable. The entire staff has been made redundant, and liquidators will now handle the long list of those owed money. The statement ended with a heartfelt apology: “Despite our best efforts, sadly, this has not proved possible. We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially.”
The Stars Left Unpaid
Among the most frustrated are the performers who helped make Manchester Pride’s 40th-anniversary celebration shine. Headliners like Olly Alexander, Nelly Furtado, and Billy Porter brought thousands to the city center this past August. But behind the scenes, Drag Race UK’s Zahirah Zapanta and other local performers say they haven’t been paid a dime.
Karen Lockney of Equity North West called the situation “hugely concerning,” saying many creatives are now struggling to pay rent or fill medical prescriptions. “Treating working professionals like this is unacceptable,” she said. Equity is now collecting contracts to pursue every option to recover the money owed.
A Promise of Revival
Manchester Pride’s collapse is more than a financial story—it’s a gut punch to one of the UK’s most visible LGBTQ events. For four decades, it’s been a celebration of queer identity, community, and progress. Now, its sudden disappearance raises painful questions about sustainability and respect for queer labor.
But Manchester City Council is determined to keep the flame alive. Council leader Bev Craig promised Pride will return in August 2026: “Pride is much more than the organization that runs it,” she said. “We want to support a new chapter for Manchester Pride weekend… to ensure a bright and thriving future.”
What It Means for the LGBTQ Community
The fallout from Manchester Pride’s financial implosion hits deeper than the lost paychecks. Pride events are not just parades—they’re lifelines for visibility, solidarity, and joy in a world where queer spaces remain under threat. When an institution like Manchester Pride falters, it reverberates through the entire LGBTQ ecosystem.
Still, the spirit of Pride is not easily extinguished. Manchester’s queer community—resilient as ever—is already rallying to rebuild. The glitter may have settled for now, but in true queer fashion, it’s only a matter of time before the sparkle returns.