Manchester Pride collapse: "We will have Pride next year"
Manchester Pride has confirmed that it's going into liquidation
LGBTQ entertainers in Liverpool say the collapse of Manchester Pride is part of a worrying pattern.
Liquidation was confirmed in Manchester after complaints from this year's performers that they still haven't been paid - months after the event took place.
In a statement, the organisation said the move came as a result of rising costs and an unsuccessful bid to host Euro Pride.
Pride in Liverpool was initially cancelled because of what the LCR Pride Foundation's Board of Directors called 'significant financial and organisational challenges'.
However, Liverpool LGBTQ+ and HIV charity Sahir House stepped in to make sure the event went ahead.
Linda Gold from Funnyboyz owns five gay bars in Liverpool and Manchester and won LGBTQ Entrepreneur of the Year in 2025 at the Collaborative Network awards last week.
Linda said:
"It's very similar to the situation in Liverpool which also didn't have a Pride in Liverpool this year. They didn't go into liquidation, but they couldn't raise enough funds and that's the way it's going.
"It has just got too big. They're paying artists far too much money to perform when the main focus should be around bringing the gay community together.
"I think it's very important that we have a Pride next year and we will have one because the entire street of Canal Street will pull it all together - the bars, the community.
"If we have to do this ourselves, we'll do it ourselves, which is exactly what we did in Liverpool and it was bigger and better than when it was organised by the committees."