PRESS RELEASE
MANCHESTER GETS READY FOR A CITY-WIDE PRIDE CELEBRATION THIS MONTH
Manchester announces its first ever Pride Fringe with community celebrations for Manchester Village Parade, SCENE film and TV festival, cabaret and comedy nights, club nights, tours, hotel offers and more. It’s going to be an unforgettable month of events.
Manchester is preparing for a city-wide Pride celebration this August with Manchester Village Pride and an extensive new Pride Fringe featuring Manchester LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival, SCENE, and performances at HOME and Aviva Studios, family events including Proud Fest at Great Northern Warehouse and Manchester Arndale’s Pose with Pride weekend.
Alongside comedy, club nights, exhibitions and walking tours, venues across the city will come together for a month-long celebration.
Many of these events will be raising vital funds for local LGBTQIA+ charities, with Manchester’s hotels also joining in the celebrations with dedicated Pride packages, parties, free gifts and discounts.
Manchester Village Pride
Friday 28th August – Monday 31st August
With a focus on celebrating community, inclusivity and solidarity across the four-day festival, Manchester Village Pride launches its celebrations on the Main Stage on Friday 28th, showcasing the best of Manchester and the UK’s queer talent.
On Saturday 29th, the iconic Pride Parade returns to the city centre. Taking inspiration from the Wizard of Oz: the theme this year is “No Place Like Home”.
The Community Showcase returns to Sackville Gardens, celebrating representation, culture and grassroots voices and will remain the protected home of the Pride Vigil. The Dance Arena will celebrate queer club culture and Manchester’s LGBTQ+ nightlife. Monday 31st is Family Day, celebrating LGBTQIA+ parents and families in a welcoming, supportive environment. There will also be a free Lifestyle & Community Expo.
Full details on the line-up at Manchester Village Pride can be found here.
Pride Fringe Events
Alongside Manchester Village Pride, a Pride Fringe led by the week-long SCENE festival will see venues across the city will hosting an exciting programme of LGBTQIA+ arts, culture, live entertainment, family events, food, drink and shopping experiences and unforgettable nights out, giving visitors even more reasons to make a weekend – or even a week – of it.
Arts & Culture
SCENE: Manchester LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival
Thursday 20th – Thursday 27th August
Back for its third year, SCENE brings together some of the biggest names in TV, film and queer culture for eight days of screenings, panels, live comedy, parties and premieres. Funded by Manchester Accommodation BID and produced by CityCo, it returns with its most star-studded programme to date.
Highlights include special events at AVIVA Studios – home of Factory International. The opening night is for fans of BBC’s Traitors. Ultimate fanatics can relive the biggest betrayals, banishments and unforgettable moments with favourite players Linda, Wilf, Maddy and Amanda. Followed by a party with DJ bangers from the Turret and lots of fizzy rosé.
Then, don’t miss appearances from Russell T Davies and Nicola Shindler celebrating Tip Toe and It’s A Sin, and a behind-the-scenes look at Disney+’s Rivals. The closing night sees the return of Channel 4 Presents: First for Funny live comedy night – a colourful, eclectic showcase of the most exciting comedy brains in the UK including host Chloe Petts.
Along with a full film and TV programme across 10 Manchester venues – with screenings, documentaries, shorts and events – there are plenty of bold voices and unique perspectives to enjoy.
The full SCENE line-up can be found here.
HOME
The House of Pantha Ferocious Cabaret
Thursday 27th August
Manchester’s vibrant queer cabaret scene will take centre stage at HOME with Ferocious Cabaret, a vibrant evening of burlesque, boylesque, drag and circus performance from the House of Pantha. Celebrating the diversity, creativity and self-expression at the heart of cabaret culture, the show brings together emerging performers from the House of Pantha Act Development Course alongside acclaimed industry professionals and special guest artists for an unforgettable evening.
Created in collaboration with local artist Darren Pritchard of Ghetto Fabulous Manchester and funded by Arts Council England, the production is led by award-winning Manchester-born burlesque performer Cleopantha, who has performed alongside international stars including Cardi B and Fatman Scoop.
Book tickets here.
The Schitt’s Show – A drag celebration of Schitt’s Creek
Friday 28th August
Fans of the hit comedy Schitt’s Creek can enjoy a fabulous drag tribute as The Schitt’s Show arrives at HOME as part of the Manchester Pride fringe. Marking 10 years since the beloved sitcom first introduced audiences to the Rose family, the production reimagines its iconic characters through a spectacular cast of drag performers.
Packed with unforgettable performances and plenty of nods to the award-winning series, the show promises a hilarious celebration for devoted fans.
Book tickets here.
Manchester Art Gallery: LGBTQ+ Tour
Sunday 30th August
Head down to Manchester Art Gallery for a free tour exploring art works related to LGBTQ+ history.
Manchester Art Gallery: Music and Memory Pride Celebration
Sunday 30th August
Celebrate Pride with an uplifting afternoon of free music, art and community at Manchester Art Gallery. The programme includes Vivian Cheung’s What Remains Dear sound installation, a Dementia-Friendly Disco featuring LGBTQ+ DJs and Pride anthems, refreshments and a guided tour of LGBTQ+ themed artworks. The LGBT Foundation will also be on hand throughout the afternoon with information and support.
Events take place at different times – check here for more information.
LGBT Foundation Community Hub: Pride in Ageing Book Club
Monday 24th August
LGBT Foundation’s Pride in Ageing programme brings together different generations of LGBTQ+ readers together to discuss great LGBTQ+ reads.
Taking place every six weeks, tickets for the August event can be booked here.
Walking Tours & Trails
Manchester LGBTQ+ History Trail: Guided Tour
Selected dates from Tuesday 18th – Sunday 30th August
Celebrate SCENE and Manchester Village Pride by exploring the stories that have shaped Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community with a guided walking tour led by local playwright and tour guide Chris Hoyle of What’s The Story?.
From Victorian drag balls and the birth of Canal Street to the Campaign for Homosexual Equality and the city’s iconic Pride Parade, the tour uncovers the people, places and moments that have helped make Manchester one of the world’s leading LGBTQ+ cities.
Tour dates:
Tuesday 18th August @ 6pm
Wednesday 19th August @ 6pm
Thursday 20th August @ 6pm
Saturday 29th August @ 1pm
Sunday 30th August @ 1pm
Tours last approximately two hours, departing from Whitworth Locke Hotel. Comfortable footwear is recommended.
Tickets cost £11 plus booking fee and can be booked here.
People’s History Museum: Re/Assemble Guided Tour
Saturday 22nd August
Join a guided tour of the Re/Assemble exhibition exploring the 1988 Section 28 protest in Manchester, featuring specially commissioned artwork responding to its legacy, and looking at the unexpected ways in which Manchester people have fought to liberate LGBTQIA+ lives.
Spinningfields Square & The Avenue: Manchester LGBTQ+ History Trail
Tuesday 18th August – Tuesday 1st September
Discover more than 80 years of Manchester’s LGBTQ+ history with a 22-stop heritage trail across Spinningfields, charting key moments from 1941 to the present day. Beginning on The Avenue outside The Oast House and continuing through to Spinningfields Square, visitors can follow the timeline through the decades or start in the present day and journey back through the city’s rich LGBTQ+ heritage.
The trail is connected by colourful ‘rainbow rivers’ inspired by the curves of the River Irwell, guiding visitors through the neighbourhood to the striking Spinningfields Pride installation in Hardman Gardens.
Shopping Events
Manchester Arndale: Pose with Pride
Saturday 22nd (12pm – 6pm) – Sunday 23rd August (11.30am – 5.30pm)
Head to Manchester Arndale to enjoy a pre-Pride celebration with live performances, mini-makeovers and a plethora of photo opps. On the “rainbow carpet”, watch Ghetto Fabulous premiere their new ‘Byoncé’ dance routine headed up by Coco Cannelll, with multiple high energy performances taking place each day.
For rainbow glitter makeovers and Pride-inspired face art, head to the Pride beauty stations at Sephora, BPerfect, Kilo Milano and Lush and make sure to have a photo of the completed look taken under the rainbow arch, receiving a digital print for £3 (the donation covers both activities).
Shoppers can also take part in the “Letters to My Younger Self” community project and touring exhibition at Manchester Arndale this year. The project invites LGBTQ+ people and allies to write heartfelt messages of hope, strength and queer joy to their younger selves. Shoppers can pick up a pen and paper during the event, write a letter to their younger selves, and pop it in the box to be shared with others as part of the national exhibition.
Pride at Afflecks
From clothing and accessories to jewellery, grooming or gifts, pick up those last minute Pride essentials from one of the many independent retailers at Afflecks. Make Up or Break Up on the second floor has a vast range of pride accessories including flags, badges and lanyards, as well as the UK’s biggest range of biodegradable glitters, while Dotty Poppy, a queer artists’ retail collective (also on the second floor) features a range of handmade jewellery, prints, accessories, stickers and gifts.
For those looking for fancy dress or retro clothing for the weekend, head to American Graffiti, and for those wanting to pick up a keepsake to remember the weekend, make sure to visit Becky Kayll Designs.
For visitors after a fresh trim to look at the part, head to Palace Barbers on the second floor.
Once the shopping trip to Afflecks is complete, make sure to leave a message on the Community Pride Wall. From words of encouragement to a note to someone who needs it, this is a space to celebrate the community Pride was built on.
Afflecks: Candle Holder Making Workshop
Friday August 21st, 12pm – 4pm
Ahead of the annual Candlelit Vigil in Sackville Gardens on Monday 31st August, head to Afflecks to create a bespoke candle holder, giving visitors the chance to make something personal to take to the vigil, which is delivered in partnership with George House Trust.
Music & Parties
The Refuge at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel: COME AS YOU ARE
Sunday 29th August
The Refuge’s annual celebration of love, music and inclusivity returns for its 10th anniversary outing. A free event, COME AS YOU ARE features an incredible line-up of DJs including Joe Goddard (Hot Chip), as well as an action-packed production of dance and moments curated by Manchester Drag Queens Anna Phylatic and Liquorice Black.
The full line-up can be found here.
Aviva Studios/ Factory International: Liberation Pride Pageant
Thursday 27th August
Aviva Studios will host the inaugural Liberation Pride Pageant, a free-to-attend showcase of bold artistry, jaw-dropping runway looks and pure drag energy. Held in The Social and hosted by acclaimed artist Rikki Beadle-Blair, the high-energy event marks the official launch of Liberation Pride, formerly Black Pride MCR. Audiences can expect electrifying performances and fierce competition as performers battle to be crowned the next POC Drag Superstar.
Free to attend, advance booking is required here.
Aviva Studios/ Factory International: Fatt Butcher’s Congregational
Saturday 22nd August
Artist and vocalist Fatt Butcher invites audiences to Congregational, a powerful new performance that blends live music, theatre and nightlife into a unique ceremony for the dancefloor. Described as a newly composed choral service for the nightclub, the production reflects on the changing face of queer nightlife while celebrating the enduring power of community and togetherness.
Featuring a live choir of professional queer vocalists, a superstar DJ, virtuosic piano accompaniment and an original score inspired by house, trance, gospel, classical and experimental music, Congregational promises an uplifting and unforgettable experience. Tickets are priced at £16.50 with a limited number of £10 Aviva tickets available.
Book tickets here.
53Two: Grindr: The Opera
Wednesday 5th – Saturday 29th August
This musical parody throws the most notorious gay hook-up app into the exaggerated world of opera. Think catchy songs, witty dialogue and colourful characters with this unique and ground-breaking production exploring the impact of technology on human connection and the search for meaningful relationships.
Suitable for those aged 16+, tickets can be booked here.
Freight Island: We Love Pop Fest
Saturday 22nd August
Celebrate late 90s and 00s pop classics with an incredible line-up of world-renowned pop stars including Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud, A1, Bradley from S Club 7, Amelle from Sugarbabes and Liberty X. Alongside feel-good anthems and throwback bangers, there’ll be roaming entertainment, hair & glitter stations and a range of street food vendors serving all day.
Taking place from 2pm – 10pm, tickets for this unforgettable day party can be booked here.
Via Manchester: Claire Richards Live
Wednesday 26th August
Claire Richards makes a welcome return to Via Manchester for an exclusive one-night-only performance, featuring solo favourites and unforgettable Steps anthems, creating the perfect party atmosphere in the run-up to Manchester Village Pride.
Last seen at Via in 2023, tickets for Claire Richards 2026 performance can be booked here.
Joshua Brooks: Manchester Pride Weekender
Friday 28th – Monday 31st August
A three night, three floor pop takeover of Joshua Brooks is set to take place over the Pride weekend, featuring Girls Night Out, Pop Curious? Bar Minogue and Madonna Made Me Gay.
Tickets are available to book here.
Brickhouse + VADA VADA: DILF Party
Saturday 29th August
Taking over not one but two newly refurbished venues, this year’s DILF Party at Brickhouse and VADA VADA features six DJs and nine performers, across five bars and four dance floors!
Tickets can be booked here.
Kampus: Love Party 2026
Saturday 29th August
Love Party returns to Kampus for its much-loved annual Pay What You Can Pride fundraiser, bringing together some of Manchester’s top queer DJs and performers for nine hours of music, entertainment and celebration. Taking over the gardens, bungalow and surrounding spaces, all profits from the event will support LGBTQIA+ charities, with this year’s beneficiaries being Trans Mutual Aid and the LGBT Foundation.
Festival-goers can donate whatever they can afford, with tickets available on a pay-what-you-can basis (a suggested donation of £10), making it an accessible way to celebrate Pride while supporting two important causes.
Book tickets here.
Fairfield Social Club: Red Rodeo Queer Line Dancing Club
Thursday 20th August
Red Rodeo Club brings its unique blend of queer line dancing and high-energy party vibes to Fairfield Social Club. Expect easy-to-follow line dance tutorials led by award-winning choreographer Shanika Sunrise, alongside an upbeat soundtrack spanning country classics to modern pop favourites. Hosted by Violet Blonde and featuring performances from local drag queens, kings and cabaret artists, the inclusive event welcomes dancers of all abilities to pull on their boots – or trainers – and join the celebration, with no previous line dancing experience required.
Book tickets here.
Comedy & Quizzes
Social Refuge: Ancoats Quiz Night Pride Special
Thursday 27th August
Put your knowledge to the test at a special Manchester Pride edition of Ancoats Quiz Night at Social Refuge. Teams of up to six can compete across a variety of rounds, including general knowledge, music, picture, geography and history, with prizes including a £150 cash prize for the winning team and a bottle of wine or round of shots for the runners-up. Entry costs just £2.50 per person, with extra prizes also up for grabs for the most iconic team names.
Book tickets here.
Social Refuge: Pride Queer Comedy Night
Friday 28th August
Kick off the Manchester Pride Bank Holiday weekend with an evening of laughter at this queer stand-up comedy night hosted by Ben Hodge. Featuring four of Manchester’s finest queer comedians, audiences can expect an entertaining night of sharp wit, hilarious storytelling and unapologetic queer joy. Guests can also make the most of 2-for-1 cocktails available all day before the show.
Tickets are priced at £10 and can be booked here.
VADA VADA: VADA HAHA Vol 2, Manchester’s Queer Comedy Club
Wednesday 26th August
Manchester’s Queer Comedy Club at Vada Vada – returns for its second event with a special Manchester Pride edition. The evening will showcase a stellar line-up of LGBTQ+ comedy talent, including award-winning performers, rising stars and even a headline TV comedian.
Book tickets here.
Families
Aviva Studios/ Factory International: Factory Pride – Family
Saturday 22nd August
Celebrate Pride with a day of free family fun at The Social at Aviva Studios, packed with creative activities and entertainment for all ages. Join Ghetto Fabulous for the Feeling Fabulous Workshop and learn some runway moves to a feel-good soundtrack or take centre stage as the host of a special Play Your Cards Right game show with Creative Confidence CIC. Families can also enjoy badge making, face painting with Cookie Love and a LEGO station, making it the perfect place to celebrate Pride together. Free to attend and no booking required.
Manchester Central Library: Pride Storytime and Craft Session
Thursday 27th August
Head to Manchester Central Library for a special family story and craft session, featuring songs, rhymes and Pride-themed picture books. There’ll also be the opportunity to get crafty, creating protest signs and noise makers, providing the perfect start to the Pride weekend! Free to attend and suitable for children aged 4 – 7 and their families.
More info can be found here.
Great Northern Warehouse: Proud Fest
Saturday 29th August
Created by Proud 2 b Parents, this free annual family-friendly festival returns to Great Northern Warehouse, welcoming LGBTQ+ parents, carers, children, prospective parents, friends and allies for a day filled with entertainment, creativity and community connection.
Hosted by the fabulous Aida H Dee (Drag Queen Story Hour UK) and Sara Gosney-Hughes (Greatest Hits Radio / Hits Radio Pride) and featuring live performances, arts and crafts, family entertainment, play activities and community stalls, the festival is free to attend, although donation tickets are available.
More info can be found here.
Hotels
Visitors planning to experience Manchester Village Pride, SCENE and the wider programme of Pride Fringe events can take advantage of a range of exclusive hotel offers, with many hotels hosting parties, drag brunches, complimentary experiences, and special surprises throughout the celebrations.
Offers include:
City Suites: 20% off stay and 20% off dining at Embankment Kitchen throughout Manchester Village Pride weekend.
Crowne Plaza Manchester: 20% discount, free welcome cocktail and 10% off food and drink.
DoubleTree by Hilton: 20% off food & drink (28–31 August) for anyone that shows a Pride wristband.
Hampton by Hilton Manchester: 20% discount, complimentary breakfast, celebratory Pride Cocktail and 1pm late check-out.
Heathcote Hotel: Glass of prosecco on arrival, 2-for-1 cocktails, and free late check-out until 2pm until 31st August if you tag the hotel on Instagram.
Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre: 20% off food and beverage. With every Pride Cocktail purchased from the 20-31 August, £1 donated to The LGBTQ+ foundation.
Hotel Indigo, Mamucium: 25% off food & drink across the Manchester Village Pride weekend. Just show a festival wristband.
Hyatt Hotels: 20% off the Best Available Rate for stays booked from 17-31 August using the promotional code PRIDE.
Innside by Melia: Up to 20% off best available rates using code 321497UEC when booking online at melia.com
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel. Stay with Pride package available when booking Best Flex Rate. Pride Cocktail on arrival and a specially curated Pride Gift Box. COME AS YOU ARE annual party at the bar Refuge, Sunday 29th August.
Leven. Stay in the heart of the Manchester Village Pride celebrations. 20% off all drinks for hotel guests. Book Now
Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly: 15% off spa treatments, Pride Selfie Station, late breakfast. Book the spa experience online.
Maldron Hotel: Manchester Village Pride Wristband Package (27-31 August) includes an individual weekend wristband per person, arrival drink, full breakfast or weekend brunch.
Moxy Manchester: ‘No Place Like Home’’ package includes breakfast, bottle of Prosecco, Hangover Goodie Bag and 2pm late check-out. Use the Code E6469 when booking online.
Pendulum Hotel & Conference Centre: Pride package includes breakfast, a complimentary drink and a 12pm check-out. Use code PENPRIDE26 when booking.
The Alan: Celebrate with Pride package includes breakfast, a cocktail, and Manchester Village Pride festival wristband.
The Manchester Deansgate Hotel, by ING: Pride package for two includes breakfast and a drinks voucher to spend at Cloud 23 or Podium restaurant.
Treehouse Hotel: Party with Pride package includes up to 40% off stay (28-31 August), complimentary access to Gaydio Pride Party, Pride Cocktail in Pip and access to The Good Sauna. £10 donation to The LGBTQ+ Foundation.
Whitworth Locke: Saturday 29th August Pride party with RuPaul’s Drag Race acts, DJs, cocktails, and entertainment.
Yotel: Motley: Bottomless Brunch x Mac Make-Overs on Saturday 29th August. Get Pride-ready.
Carl Austin-Behan, Spokesperson for Manchester Village Pride says: “We have been genuinely overwhelmed by the incredible support Manchester Village Pride has received from right across our city. People often say, ‘It Takes A Village,’ and this year Manchester has proved exactly that. From hotels and independent businesses to cultural venues, retailers, community organisations and countless individuals, all creating their own events, offers and celebrations alongside Manchester Village Pride, people have come together to show what Manchester does best: supporting one another.
“This year’s theme, ‘No Place Like Home,’ couldn’t be more fitting. Manchester has always been a city that welcomes people for who they are, and over the August Bank Holiday weekend we’re seeing that spirit come to life.
“It’s a powerful reminder that Pride belongs to the whole community. Whether you’re visiting the Gay Village, attending an exhibition, supporting a local business, enjoying live entertainment or simply showing your support, every single person is helping make this year’s Pride something truly special.”
Kumar Mishra, Chair of Manchester Accommodation BID, said: “It is fantastic to see Pride celebrations extended throughout August, offering visitors even more reasons to book a stay in Manchester and explore the city’s outstanding programme of LGBTQ+ events. Manchester Accommodation BID is proud to fund and deliver SCENE for the third year running, bringing LGBTQ+ film and television to venues across the city, and helping build excitement and momentum ahead of Manchester Village Pride.”
To book a hotel in Manchester, go to visitmanchester.com/stay
ENDS
For more media information contact Anoushka or Hannah at ECHO PR – anoushka@echo-pr.co.uk / hannah@echo-pr.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
Manchester Accommodation BID
The Manchester Accommodation BID is a ground-breaking initiative led by the city’s hotel and serviced apartment providers to help create new events and additional activities that will attract more people to visit and stay in Manchester and Salford.
At its core, the Accommodation BID aims to deliver better visitor experiences and additional activity to drive more staying visitors. It allows Manchester to better compete in a global market and grow overnight visits at a time when an unprecedented level of supply is set to join Greater Manchester’s accommodation market, with an additional 6,000 confirmed new bedrooms incoming across the city-region.
Accommodation BID activities are funded by aCity Visitor Charge; a supplementary £1 Charge per room/unit per night for guests, added to final accommodation bills. The Charge is collected from all paid accommodation establishments that fall into the Accommodation BID zone.
Funds are used to: amplify marketing campaigns that drive overnight stays; help secure and deliver large-scale events, conferences, and festivals in low-season months; improve guest welcome and street cleanliness; and provide opportunities to future-proof the city’s growing accommodation sector.
Marketing Manchester delivers the Marketing and Business Conferencing streams of work. CityCo delivers on the Public Events and City Welcome strands. Accommodation BID-funded events are SCENE: Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival and The Super Duper Family Festival. The Accommodation BID also helps to attract major events to Manchester, such as The Brit Awards, NBAs, Country to Country music event, and World Climbing Series. https://manchesterabid.com
Manchester Village Pride
With a focus on celebrating community, inclusivity and solidarity across the four-day festival, Manchester Village Pride, which runs from Friday 28th August to Monday 31st August, launches its celebrations on the Main Stage on Friday 28th, showcasing the very best of Manchester and the UK’s queer talent.
On Saturday 29th, Pride’s iconic parade returns, creating a kaleidoscope of colour marching through the city centre. Taking inspiration from the Wizard of Oz with the theme ‘No Place Like Home’, this year’s Parade will finish in style in the village.
The Community Showcase also returns to Sackville Gardens, celebrating representation, culture and grassroots voices and will remain the protected home of the Pride Vigil – a central and respected moment of remembrance.
Curated by the legends of Manchester’s nightlife, The Dance Arena will celebrate queer club culture and Manchester’s LGBTQ+ nightlife.
Monday 31st is Family Day, celebrating LGBTQIA+ parents and families in a welcoming, supportive environment. There will also be a free Lifestyle & Community Expo, with activities including Drag Story Time, face-painting, bouncy castles and a youth workshop.
Full details on the line-up at Manchester Village Pride can be found here.
SCENE: Manchester LGBTQ+ Film & TV Festival
Back for its third year, SCENE brings together some of the biggest names in television, film and queer culture for eight days of screenings, panels, live comedy, parties and premieres across Manchester from 20th – 27th August. Funded by Manchester Accommodation BID and produced by CityCo, it returns with its most star-studded programme to date. Tickets start at just £5, with many events free of charge. Profits from ticket sales will be donated to Manchester Village Pride LGBTQ+ Charities.
Highlights include:
- The SCENE 2026 Opening Event where Traitors’ fans can relive the biggest betrayals, banishments and unforgettable moments, featuring TV journalist Scott Bryan and some of the show’s most memorable players: Linda, Amanda, Wilf and Maddy
- Exclusive appearances from Russell T Davies and Nicola Shindler celebrating the year’s most talked-about new drama, Tip Toe and revisiting the landmark series It’s A Sin
- An exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Disney+’s Rivals with cast members Gary Lamont and Hubert Burton alongside executive producer Alexander Lamb
- An intimate in-conversation with Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman, reflecting on the profound impact the books and series have had on the LGBTQIA+ community worldwide
- A celebration of BBC’s groundbreaking series I Kissed A Boy and I Kissed A Girl hosted by Charley Marlowe
- Channel 4’s First for Funny: Live Comedy Night with bold voices, unique perspectives and a line-up packed with talent
- Preview screenings of Pedro Almodóvar’s Bitter Christmas, Jane Schoenbrun’s Cannes Queer Palm-winning Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex, Neil Ely and Lloyd Eyre-Morgan’s Closing Night film Chatlines – plus a special screening of Adam Shankman’s wildly anticipated drag comedy Stop! That! Train!
- Documentaries celebrating Patrick Wolf, Barbara Hammer and NOFX, plus the announcement of Iris Prize Best British Short nominees, SCENE’s Northern Shorts programme and guest programmers TITE, Aks, GASP!, Queer Filmmakers Network and IAP:MCR.
- An Ab Fab-Athon, a tribute night to comedy icon Caroline Aherne, the 25th anniversary of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, a St Trinian’s screening party and free screenings of Clueless, Grease and The Wizard of Oz.
- The SCENE 2026 Closing Party, sponsored by Screen Manchester, at Campfield, where guests can dance out the final night of the festival
- Plus dozens more screenings, panels, parties, exhibitions and free events taking place across the city throughout the festival week.
The full SCENE line-up can be found here.
