Parade – Manchester Pride

Queerly beloved, we are gathered here today to spread love and bring the dance floor to these streets!

This year, we made history with the most vibrant and impactful parade in the city! The Manchester Pride Parade, part of the renowned Manchester Pride Festival, took place on Saturday, 26th August, and this year's theme was "Queerly Beloved." This year's parade was a celebration of love, community, self-expression, and the transformative power of dance.

Love is powerful! Acts of love and kindness, for ourselves and one another, has the power to resist hate against our communities and drive real change as we strive for LGBTQ+ liberation.

We called upon our communities to celebrate love in all its forms. By choosing love over hate, especially for those more marginalised within our communities, we sent a powerful message against the negativity reflected within politics, the media and harmful legislation.

The power of love was demonstrated when the Marriage Equality Act was passed a decade ago. The theme "Queerly Beloved" aimed to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of marriage equality in England and Wales. On 17th July 2013 (2014 in Scotland, and 2020 in Northern Ireland), the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act became law, granting civil partners the opportunity to convert their partnerships into marriages and enabling individuals to change their legal gender without ending their marriages.

While we celebrate these monumental victories, it's important to question how far we have truly come. Globally, only 32 countries have legal recognition of same-sex marriage, and recent statistics reveal a significant rise in hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals in Greater Manchester alone. The Manchester Pride Parade is a platform to not only celebrate our achievements but also to raise awareness, challenge discrimination, and advocate for a world where love knows no boundaries.

About this year's theme, Queerly Beloved

Our parade theme, "Queerly Beloved," delves into the transformative power of the dance floor, highlighting its pivotal role in fostering self-acceptance and igniting a sense of empowerment and liberation. This year, we brought the dance floor to the streets! Get ready to let loose, express yourself, and dance like nobody's watching.

The dance floor is a space where queer individuals can shed societal expectations and norms, stepping into their power and reclaiming their bodies and identities. The ballroom scene served as a safe haven for the community, particularly for those who faced additional discrimination and marginalisation, such as queer, trans, and intersectional people of colour (QTIPOC) and the wider trans communities. Amidst the ongoing fight against racism and for trans rights, it provided a platform for individuals to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

The ballroom scene continues to be a powerful force, centring trans and QTIPOC voices and experiences, challenging norms, and redefining notions of beauty, artistry, and self-expression. The dance floor has always been a sacred space for the LGBTQ+ community, and now, it's time to embrace it on the Parade route!

The Manchester Pride Parade honoured the rich history of ballroom culture and recognize its profound impact on our community. As we celebrated "Queerly Beloved," we paid tribute to the dance floor as a transformative space where love, self-expression, and acceptance intertwine.

About the Manchester Pride Parade

The Manchester Pride Parade is the city's biggest parade, with tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ people and allies gathering to march through the city for equality, grinding the city to a halt with thousands of people lining the streets to take in the spectacular sea of colours. If there is ever an opportunity to shout loud and proud about who we are and what our values are, it is at the Parade!

When was the first Manchester Pride Parade?

On 20th February 1988, a huge anti-Section 28 protest was held in Manchester. Over 20,000 people took to the streets to let their disquiet be heard.

At the time, it was one of the largest LGBTQ+ demonstrations ever to take place in the UK! This and many other protests around the globe paved the way for the Pride Parades we see around the world today.

Fast forward to present day, and Manchester continues to lead the way in the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation.

Manchester Pride Parade entrant FAQs

When is the Parade?+

The Parade takes place on Saturday 26th August and commences at midday.

Where does the Parade take place?+

The Parade takes place each year within the heart of Manchester City Centre starting at the junction of Liverpool Road and Deansgate and ending on Fairfield Street. We will release a map of the route on our website ahead of the Parade.

What is this year’s theme?+

This year’s theme will be Queerly Beloved, highlighting the power of love and celebrating 10 years of marriage equality, whilst posing the question: How far have we come?

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act was passed on 17th July 2013 (2014 in Scotland, and 2020 in Northern Ireland), enabling civil partners to convert their partnership to a marriage if they wish; and enabled individuals to change their legal gender without having to end their marriage.

Can I walk on my own?+

We don’t facilitate individual entries, but we can support you in finding an organisation for you to join and walk with. Alternatively, you can join the Manchester Pride Parade Entry as a Parade Trouper as a Volunteer and we will be announcing details shortly.

How do I take part in the Parade?+

Applications are now closed for 2023.

What time does the Parade start?+

The Parade usually commences at 12pm. Depending on your position within the Parade you may be waiting up to 90 minutes after this before leaving the assembly area.

How long is the Manchester Pride Parade?+

Once you’ve set off on the route, it usually takes each entry 60-90 minutes to travel the route.

How is my Parade entry categorised?+

We want to invite more LGBTQ+ organisations to join us to march through the streets of Manchester and so we have reviewed our entry categories for 2022 which will mean more LGBTQ+ organisations and groups will be able to participate for free.

When applying, please review the different categories below to see which category you should apply for:

New Category: LGBTQ+ Organisations:
Previously we had differentiated between LGBT+ or HIV community groups or organisations that do not receive any funding from any source and those that do. From 2022, all LGBTQ+ groups will be categorised as such where they receive funding or not. There has been a slight increase in cost to Commercial entries to subsidise smaller LGBTQ+ organisations taking part.

Non LGBTQ+ or Not for Profit:
A not-for-profit organisation or community group whose vision and mission is not focussed specifically around supporting LGBTQ+ people.

Public Sector:
Organisations providing all public services in the UK, from the emergency services and healthcare, education and social care to housing and refuse collection.

New Category: Greater Manchester Independent Business
We want to encourage our local communities to join the Parade but understand that there have been financial barriers in the past for small businesses based on Manchester to take part. Therefore, we have introduced a new category for Greater Manchester Independent Businesses and if you are unsure if you qualify then please contact us before applying.

Small Business:
Businesses that employ less than 50 people.

Commercial organisation:
Businesses that employ more than 50 people.

What information do we need to provide to get accepted into the Parade?+

The online application form will ask questions including who is completing the application, whether you intend to walk or have a vehicle as part of the entry and if you plan on having music. We are also asking organisations to let us know how they support LGBTQ+ people year-round aside from taking part in the Parade, to ensure that organisers are genuinely supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

Are there any age restrictions?+

No, there are no age restrictions for people to join our Parade but under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Can anyone turn up on the day to take part?+

All participants in the Manchester Pride Parade must be a part of a registered group. We cannot facilitate people arriving on the day with previously registering. Please fill out an application form here.

When will I receive information about what to do?+

You’ll receive an information pack as we get closer to the time and we have confirmed all the details of the Parade that we can then share with you. Please expect the information pack no later than 6 weeks prior to the date of the Parade but we will aim to get it to your as soon as possible.