The LGBTQ+ festival returns for another bank holiday bonanza this August

Adam Lambert, who has today announced a European tour and a Las Vegas residency, is the first artist to be announced for Manchester Pride Festival’s live music extravaganza, Manchester Pride Live, this year.

Lambert, whose new single Roses featuring Nile Rodgers is out now, will play Pride as part of his European Velvet Tour in support of new album Velvet, set for release on March 20th. The show is one of two UK dates, and will take place at Mayfield on Sunday 30th August. 

Adam Lambert is an openly gay American singer, songwriter and actor. Since rising to fame in 2009, on the eighth season of American Idol, he’s sold over 3 million albums and 5 million singles worldwide and is now renowned as the frontman for Queen.

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Adam Lambert will play this year’s Pride Live

Mark Fletcher, chief executive for Manchester Pride, said: “We are beyond thrilled that Adam has created a space in his tour to join in our celebrations of LGBTQ+ life in Manchester.

“As a charity that campaigns for LGBTQ+ equality all year round it’s incredibly important to us that we showcase the breadth of LGBTQ+ artists who provide inspiration to all.

“To have such an influential LGBTQ activist as Adam choose to perform at Manchester Pride Live is testament to the reputation that Manchester has as a leading city, worldwide in the advancement of LGBTQ+ equality. 

“Adam is the first of many more artist announcements to come. Watch this space for more great LGBTQ+ performers and allies when we release our line-up in February.”

Manchester Pride Festival - which announced its new headline sponsor, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays, earlier this year - will return for another weekend of campaigning, celebrating and fundraising for LGBTQ+ life in Greater Manchester over the August Bank Holiday 2020. 

Organisers have announced some changes for 2020 following audience feedback in 2019. Pride Live, which returns to Mayfield for a second year, will see reduced capacity and more toilets onsite to ensure a more comfortable experience for those attending. Meanwhile, festival tickets will also be available to buy through Klarna, meaning that buyers can split the cost over three instalments if they wish.  

Pride, which has raised almost £1.5m for LGBTQ+ causes since 2003, will also be hosting community listening groups and seeking expert advice from disability charities to ensure the festival is its most accessible yet - while partners Attitude is Everything will be providing accessibility accreditation across the weekend. The festival will also see a programme that appeals to many different audiences, as per the charity's year-round focus on inclusivity: current initiatives include a 'Voices for All' conference in March and two post-graduate Superbia scholarships in partnership with Manchester University's Sexuality Summer School. 

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Pride Live will again be held at Mayfield, a growing cultural neighbourhood that’s undergoing a £1.4bn regeneration

Tickets to Manchester Pride Festival are available now. Rainbow passes start at £35 for a day pass and £65 for the whole weekend, entitling festival goers to access to two days at Manchester Pride Live and four days at the Gay Village Party over the bank holiday weekend. Tickets for the Gay Village Party only start from £5. 

The festival takes place over bank holiday weekend, 28th - 31st August. Visit the website to find out more. 

Manchester Pride Festival 2020 listings

The Superbia Weekend, 28th - 30th August

The Superbia Weekend is Manchester Pride Festival's free-to-attend, alcohol-free space offering a weekend of culturally rich LGBTQ+ celebrations spanning, art, film, performance, conversation and more.

Gay Village Party, 28th - 31st August

As always, the heart of Manchester Pride Festival remains firmly in The Gay Village, where Manchester Pride will celebrate LGBTQ+ life with an incredible line-up of community talent, performances, The Expo, markets, food and drink, parties amongst the Village venues much more.

Manchester Pride Parade, Saturday 29th August

The annual Manchester Pride Parade will fill the streets with colour on Saturday as Manchester marches and protests for LGBTQ+ equality, with hundreds of thousands gathering to cheer them on along the way. Theme TBA.

Manchester Pride Live, 29th - 30th August

After a phenomenal inaugural year, Manchester Pride Live will return with another line-up of international talent across multiple stages, food and drink and lots more to be announced.

Youth Pride MCR, 29th - 30th August

Youth Pride MCR is especially curated for LGBTQ+ young people aged 16 to 25, aimed at creating a safe space with a variety of exciting performances and activities.

The Candlelit Vigil, 31st August

The Candlelit Vigil will continue to close the four days with a moment of reflection in Sackville Gardens. The home of Alan Turing and the Beacon of Hope will again be turned into a sea of flickering candles as Manchester remembers those lost to HIV as well as those still suffering and persecuted, and recognise the many challenges that are still faced by LGBTQ+ communities here and around the world.