Manchester Pride weekend 2025 is nearly upon us – here is how Gaydio is getting involved!
On Saturday 23 Sunday 24 August, Pride celebrations will be held in Manchester’s Gay Village, Mayfield Depot site and in and around Liverpool Road, Deansgate and Whitworth Street, amongst others.
The Pride Parade
Gaydio will be proudly marching in the Pride Parade on Saturday, as we do every year. But this year, we’ll be doing things a little differently: instead of waving the traditional rainbow flag, we’ll be carrying the trans flag — in solidarity with our trans siblings.
Speaking ahead of the parade, Kriss Herbert, Gaydio’s Network Content Director, said:
“The past year, especially, has seen a massive rise in anti-trans rhetoric.
In the UK, we’ve seen the Supreme Court take away legal protections by redefining “sex,” and the NHS has pulled back on key support services. In the US, things have gone even further — with hundreds of laws and federal orders trying to erase trans people from public life completely.
Therefore, it is crucial now more than ever that we stand up for our trans siblings. Pride started as a protest – and that spirit’s still needed. We can’t afford to sit back. We need to stand up, speak out, and show up for trans people now.”
The entire Gaydio team will be marching, and we’re turning up the volume on the parade this year as telly star and all-round trans icon, Ella Morgan joins Gaydio and MUA to march through the streets.
The parade sets off at midday from Castlefield Bowl, making its way through the city centre via Deansgate, Peter Street, St Peter’s Square, Portland Street, and Princess Street, before finishing near Sackville Gardens in the heart of The Village.
The Gaydio Dance Arena
This year, we’ve got not one but two Gaydio Dance Arenas lined up.
The Gaydio Dance Arena will be taking place on Saturday inside the indoor arena – join us from 5pm to Midnight for queer dance beats and electric vibes.
Then on Sunday from 3pm, we’re taking over the Concourse Stage at the Mardi Gras site.
We’ve got a stacked DJ lineup ready to bring the energy — and we’re especially excited to welcome back DJ Paulette as our headliner.
How to keep up from home
We’ll be bringing you all the action on Gaydio across the weekend!
Our coverage kicks off Friday from 4pm, with Brett Harris broadcasting live from Canal Street.
On Saturday from 1pm, Lee Barnes will be covering all the excitement of the Pride Parade as it happens.
Then on Sunday from 1pm, Brett Harris is back — chatting with some of the biggest artists taking to the main stage.
And if you can’t make it to the Gaydio Dance Arena on Saturday, don’t worry — Craig Law will be broadcasting live from 7pm, bringing the party straight to you.