Manchester Pride has officially gone into voluntary liquidation, ending four decades of one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ events.
The charity blamed rising costs, falling ticket sales, and a failed Euro Pride bid for its financial collapse. Despite efforts to find a solution, organisers said they could no longer sustain the event.
The liquidation has left many artists and freelancers unpaid, with performers reportedly owed thousands. Some have said they received only automated replies when chasing overdue payments. Equity, the performers’ union, confirmed it has been supporting affected members, some of whom now face difficulty paying for essentials like rent and prescriptions.
The most recent accounts show Manchester Pride made £2.7m in revenue in 2023 but still lost nearly £500,000, continuing a trend of financial struggle.
Manchester City Council says the Pride parade will still go ahead next August in some form, despite the charity’s collapse.