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Homobloc will return to Manchester’s Depot Mayfield on Saturday, September 26(Image: Jody Hartley)
The UK’s leading LGBTQ+ nightlife festival is returning to Manchester this September with a club-ready line-up of international acts.
Now in its seventh year, Homobloc has become known on a global scale for its celebration of unity, inclusivity and love having hosted big names over the years including Sugababes, Beth Ditto, Honey Dijon, Jessie Ware, and David Morales.
On Saturday, September 26, the queer block party will return to Depot Mayfield for its ‘most club-focused programme to date’ with a line-up fronted by trans pop star Kim Petras, who previously performed at Manchester Pride in 2019 and performed alongside Sam Smith in their 2022 number one hit Unholy.
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American DJ and record producer Derrick Carter, considered to be one of the best underground house key players in the world, will also play the large-scale event as part of a B2B session with the returning Honey Dijon. Tickets will go on sale next week via Ticketmaster and Homobloc.
Also joining the line-up will be Swedish singer COBRAH, DJ Job Jobse, Hacienda DJ and Manchester legend DJ Paulette, renowned London-based DJ Fat Tony, and Horse Meat Disco. Other acts include the likes of S.A.S.S. (Shanti Celeste, Moxie, Peach & Saoirse) and all-female DJ collective Girls Don’t Sync.
Kim Petras will perform at Homobloc 2026, marking seven years since she appeared at Manchester Pride(Image: Getty Images)
The event – which will run from 5pm to 4am – will take place across the three main stages of Depot Mayfield – Depot, Concourse and Archive – as well as the historical Star & Garter pub and new 1000-capacity Vault venue set within the former Depot Mayfield ticket hall.
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK stars Banskie, Lill, Awhora, Black Peppa, Marmalade, Cheddar Gorgeous, and Zahirh Zapanta will also perform throughout the night as part of the event’s ‘Homodolls’, as will the likes of Sam Buttery, David Hoyle, Willow Stone, House of Spice, Anna Phylactic, and dance collective Ghetto Fabulous.
The 2026 edition will also mark 35 years of Manchester’s pioneering LGBTQ+ club night FLESH, which made its debut at the Hacienda in December 1991. A special anniversary event at the upstairs of Star & Garter pub will feature the likes of legendary FLESH names like Kath McDermott, Tim Lennox, Guy Williams, Mike Hux, DJ Paulette and Adeva.
Hacienda icon DJ Paulette will play at Homobloc 2026 as part of a special anniversary celebration of Manchester club night FLESH(Image: FilmMagic)
Downstairs at the Star & Garter, there will be ‘big lesbian energy’ from Butch Revival, including the likes of nightlife collective T4T, as well as Jamie Bull, Flygirl$, Bruk Out, Dandy and Hello Darling.
Acclaimed Glasgow-based collective Ponyboy, which started life in 2022 and has gone on to become regarded as a haven for queer and trans people ‘to dance, explore their identities and experiment’, will take over the new Vault space across the evening with their curated offering.
“Our nights are always a cultural happening, but with new eyes on us and a brand new stage to break in, we’re turning up the juice and seeing what shakes loose, to quote a wise poet,” Ponyboy said. “We’ve admired what Homobloc does for years, and debuting a new stage isn’t an undertaking we take lightly, so everyone kindly relax your throats and glue down your lace because we’re about to shut Manchester down.”
The first Homobloc took place in 2019 and has become the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ nightlife festival (Image: Jody Hartley)
The Ponyboy line-up will include the likes of Afro Pasifika DJ Lady Shaka, NYC-based DJ and activist Armana Khan, Berlin-based artists Meg10 and Luca Eck, and London DJ I.Jordan. There will also be a rare DJ set from American artist Dorian Electra.
Rod Connolly, from Homobloc, said: “We are excited to present our first ever summertime edition of Homobloc, bringing together global queer icons, underground heroes, and the next generation of artists who we trust in pushing queer culture and electronic music forward.
In times like these, the connection felt at large-scale events like Homobloc are absolutely crucial for the community. A sea of 10,000 souls all under one roof, dancing ‘til we are free. It’s so powerful. You leave knowing that we are the many, and the people who demonise us are the few.”
Pre-sale tickets for Homobloc 2026 will be available from Thursday (July 9) at 10am, with general sale beginning on Friday (July 10) at 10am via Ticketmaster and the Homobloc website.