Organizers of Manchester Pride have announced the event’s insolvency, casting uncertainty over the future of one of the UK’s premier LGBT celebrations.
The announcement follows reports by BBC Newsbeat that at least one of this year’s headline performers had not received payment for their appearance in August.
Numerous businesses and performers have stated that requests for payments, amounting to thousands of pounds, have gone unanswered.
The charity responsible for Manchester Pride has now confirmed it has entered voluntary liquidation, a formal procedure for dissolving organizations facing financial collapse.
In a statement addressed to “Pride artists, contractors, and suppliers,” Manchester Pride expressed “enormous sadness” in making the announcement.
The organization cited “a combination of rising costs, declining ticket sales, and an ambitious refresh of the format aimed to challenge these issues” as factors contributing to its financial unsustainability.
“We regret the delays in communicating the current situation.”
“We had hoped to be able to find a way to continue, and, most importantly, to support our artists, contractors and partners.”
“We are sincerely sorry for those who will now lose out financially from the current situation,” the statement continued.
The organization had previously announced plans to hold the 2026 event over the August bank holiday weekend, adhering to tradition.
Equity, the union representing entertainers and performers, informed Newsbeat that it had received an influx of inquiries regarding outstanding payments after Manchester Pride announced on social media that it was seeking legal and financial counsel to determine “the best way forward.”
The Charity Commission, the government regulator for charities, stated that it was “assessing concerns” about the organization, which had submitted a “serious incident report relating to its finances.”
Manchester City Council has affirmed to Newsbeat its commitment to “support a new chapter for Manchester Pride weekend, which will take place next August.”
The council added: “We understood the ongoing financial struggles and did everything we could to provide support and help keep the show on the road this year.”
“However, the company’s position had become unsustainable and it’s disappointing to see that they have entered liquidation.”
Saki Yew, a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2024, reported having received “no communication and no answer” regarding her fee.
“It’s gone too far,” Saki told Newsbeat.
“As performers, we’re used to waiting for money, but a lot of performers are starting to give up hope of being paid.”
Saki stated that she typically anticipates payment for similar engagements within two weeks and expressed frustration at “hearing nothing” from the organizers.
While current financial information for Manchester Pride is not yet publicly available, official documents indicate a loss of approximately £468,000 in 2023.
LGBT groups and organizations received a portion of over £105,000 in funding from Manchester Pride that year.
The organization’s website claims it has contributed over £104 million to Manchester’s economy since Covid restrictions were lifted.
Typically, only Pride events in London and Brighton attract larger crowds in the UK than Manchester Pride.
While some Manchester Pride events were free to attend, ticket prices for others ranged from £15 to over £200 for “VIP experiences.”
This year’s headliners included former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne, Nelly Furtado, and Olly Alexander.
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