Manchester Pride is one of the biggest events of the Summer. Taking place on the August bank holiday weekend, Manchester Pride has become a staple of the city's calendar and is a must-attend event for many. Every year the city is covered in rainbows and filled with joy as people come together to celebrate love, friendship and solidarity against hate. 

This year marks 50 years since the first ever Pride took place in the UK, held in London on 1 July 1972, to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York just three years earlier. Therefore, you can expect Pride events to be bigger and better than ever before. 

But, celebrating 50 years of pride won’t just mean more rainbow flags, it’s also an important chance to educate people on the history of the LGBTQ+ community, support charities, celebrate how far we’ve come and understand the progress that needs to be made. 

Greater Manchester will be ramping up the Pride celebrations for 2022 and we’re rounding up some of the most inspirational and entertaining events taking place across the city centre to make Manchester Pride a city-wide celebration to remember.
 

Pride Celebrations at Kimpton Clock Tower Hotel 
 

The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel’s latest exhibition in collaboration with arts partner British Culture Archive is called ‘Together As One – A Celebration Of Manchester’s LGBTQIA+ Community’. The exhibition captures two iconic moments in Manchester’s vibrant history, displayed for visitors to enjoy on the walls of the hotel’s restaurant and bar, Refuge. Photography by Peter J Walsh documents the anti-Clause 28 protest, which was held in Manchester and saw over 20,000 people take to the streets to protest Clause 28 - an attempt to suppress the gay community at a time when it was already struggling to deal with the HIV & AIDS epidemic and the backlash towards the community driven by media. Jon Shard’s imagery captures The Hacienda’s hallowed dancefloor club night, Flesh. Launched in October 1991, Flesh was the flamboyant mid-week night at The Haçienda, which welcomed everyone, black, white, gay, or straight and was also the home of the clubs’ first female resident DJs, Paulette and Kath McDermott.  

Manchester’s iconic Come As You Are Weekender will be back to celebrate Manchester Pride on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August. This free-of-charge, non-ticketed two-day event will feature iconic DJs and entertainment including The Reflex and John Morales. The weekend will celebrate music, love and inclusivity all with high energy and Manchester swagger. The diverse line-up includes The Hush Club, Jimmy Turnbull, Sticky Heat, Cheddar Gorgeous and Liquorice Black. 
 

HOME’s Pride Festival 
 

Throughout August, HOME will be celebrating Pride by showcasing a series of films which explore the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community across different generations. The Pride 2022 festival will run until Thursday 25 August showcasing some eye-opening movies. From comedies to intriguing documentaries, the films on show will inspire and open your eyes to a new perspective, showing life for LGBTQ+ people from all walks of life.  

Also, as part of Art Show 9, HOME Will be hosting a free live art extravaganza on Thursday 25 August. Art’s A Drag – Inventing New Futures, is the perfect event to get you in the mood for a weekend of Pride celebrations. Expect drag, queerness and creativity at its finest as some of Manchester’s greatest performance artists come together for an evening of entertainment. The theme of the show is “Inventing New Futures” and stars including Cheddar Gorgeous, House of Spice and OOrya will be presenting their interpretation of the theme in an exclusive showcase for one night only. 
 

Manchester Pride Festival 
 

Manchester’s biggest and most prestigious Pride event is back for the August Bank Holiday weekend, and it’s definitely worth the wait. Events throughout the weekend will celebrate equality, arts and culture, community, activism, youth and family but of course, it will be a huge party and celebration of love. There are too many events to name, but there is guaranteed to be something for everyone, of all ages and all tastes. Highlights include the much-loved Manchester Pride Parade which will be back after a two-year hiatus and the streets will once again be filled with colour. The weekend will also see the return of the hugely popular Gay Village Party and the closing Candlelit Vigil, a gathering in Sackville Gardens to remember those lost to HIV, and those still facing LGBTQ+ persecution globally as the festival returns to its activism roots. Manchester Pride Festival will run from Friday 26 August to Monday 29 August, day tickets cost £19 and weekend tickets are £35. 
 

Superbia Weekend 
 

As part of the Manchester Pride Festival, Superbia Weekend is a series of free arts and culture events celebrating Manchester’s queer talent and offering an alternative celebration. Many of the events are alcohol-free and family-friendly. The series of events opens with a Pride Special of Superbia Cinema at Ducie Street Warehouse on Wednesday 24 August which will be showing a series of short films by North-West based queer filmmakers. Events will then continue throughout the week with everything from queer kids' music workshops, to a Manchester is Queer art exhibition and even a makeup masterclass with international makeup artist Patti Baston. Superbia's event series will end on Sunday 28 August with a Disabled, Queer & Hear Drop-in Social & Show at Feel Good Club in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. View the full Superbia Weekend line-up here, some events are ticketed. 
 

Big Hands Alternative Pride 
 

On the same weekend as Manchester Pride Festival, Big Hands on Oxford Road likes to present a more alternative offering. If you’re more into punk, rock, garage or grunge, Big Hands Alt Pride could be the event for you. In this third edition of Big Hands‘ take on Pride expect alt-DJ sets and live music from the queer community covering a range of genres that more alternative tastes will love and it’s all free. 
 

Love is the Message at Escape to Freight Island 
 

To celebrate Manchester Pride Weekend and the august bank holiday, Escape to Freight Island will be hosting some incredible events across the weekend. Expect the best DJs, artists and acts to take over the venue. From She’s in Control to The Little Disco by La Discotheque and Ghetto Fabulous & Mix Stress, the street food and festival venue is creating a weekend-long party celebrating love, individuality and solidarity. Let your hair down, get your best dance moves ready and get ready for a weekend of fun under the disco ball. 

Plus, on Sunday 28 August, Escape to Freight Island is hosting a Pride Rocks Family Party from 11 am to 1 pm. Hosted by Born To Be Wild Child, the Pride Rocks Family Party will feature rock ‘n’ roll anthems, pride-themed crafts, face painting, entertainment and lots more to keep little ones entertained. Pride is a celebration for everyone, and this is a great event kids will love. There will also be delicious food available. Tickets cost £7 and every child must be accompanied by at least one adult. 
 

Ride for Pride 
 

Join Trek Bicycle Manchester Piccadilly for a cycling tour which celebrates Manchester’s LGBTQ+ history on Sunday, August 28. Manchester Pride Ride 2022 is a wonderful way to take in the city and learn more about Manchester’s heritage. Take in the sites where the first LGBTQ+ meetings were held braving conventions and making decisions that changed history. Take a tour of canal street and some of Manchester’s iconic venues. And celebrate the city’s LGBTQ+ legends from Alan Turing to Emmeline Pankhurst. The tour begins at 10:15 am and finishes at 12:30 pm, it will also be as inclusive as possible, offering all bike types and cycling at a leisurely pace. The only requirement is you’re comfortable on the roads and wear a helmet for safety.

Queer Parties
 

Outside of the Village, there are so many parties taking place across Manchester City Centre this bank holiday weekend. The whole city is turning into a celebration of love, individuality and self expression with plenty of safe spaces for everyone to let their hair down and dance the night away. If you can’t attend Manchester Pride Weekend or fancy trying something a little different this year, you’ll be spoilt for choice with a range of events. Queer parties include Homoelectric at Hidden, Bollox Queer Pride at Deaf Institute, High Hoops Pride Weekender at the White Hotel and Adelphi Lads Club, Kiss Me Again at Soup which promises a surprise guest, Love Party at Kampus, What Do I Tell My Friends at Retro. These parties will take your pride celebrations to another level, so let the drinks flow and get ready to celebrate in style. 

View more events in Greater Manchester this summer by visiting our What’s On page.