Manchester Pride Parade returns post-COVID to ‘March for Peace’

Manchester Pride has announced the return of its parade for 2022 following a two-year break due to the COVID pandemic, with a brand new theme promoting unity and hope.

The Parade, which will take place on Saturday 27 August, is the city’s biggest, with tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ people and allies gathering to march through the city for equality, with thousands more lining the streets to take in the spectacular sea of colours.

The theme for the official 2022 parade is ‘March for Peace’, with the importance of peace in a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to live and love without prejudice at its heart.

Mark Fletcher, CEO at Manchester Pride, said: “In 2020 we had decided to theme the parade as our March for Peace.

“Sadly the pandemic took hold and we were unable to take to the streets. As we look around the world today, this theme has become even more relevant. Conflict within and outside of our communities is rife and we are calling on our LGBTQ+ communities and allies around Greater Manchester to join in and support us as we March for Peace.”

Returning after Covid restrictions prevented the Parade for two years, organisers promise the event will be “a show-stopping, feel good procession” that organisers say will wow crowds across Manchester and “send the world a big, bright, colourful message that everyone deserves to live and love with peace”.

“LGBTQ+ people have achieved so much in recent history, however, homophobic and transphobic hate crimes have increased in recent years, with many people still facing discrimination because of their identity,” added Fletcher.

“We are calling on our communities and its allies to come together, embrace differences, and to recognise that everyone deserves the right to be who they are and live their lives in peace.

“Our Parade message is loud and clear this year: No one is really free unless we are all free, and no one gets left behind.”

How to join the Manchester Pride 2022 parade

Registration is open for organisations to take part in the Parade, with entry categories refreshed in 2022 to enable more LGBTQ+ organisations and groups to participate for free, subsidised by larger organisations to wish to participate.

Entry categories for Manchester Pride Parade 2022:

LGBTQ+ Organisations (new category)
Non LGBTQ+ Not-for-profit
Public Sector
Greater Manchester Independent Business (new category)
Small Business
Commercial Organisation

Unlike previous years, all LGBTQ+ organisations are categorised together whether they receive funding or not, and can apply to participate in the parade free of charge if they apply during the first application wave.

According to organisers, Manchester Pride is also striving to make its events greener, and so are encouraging groups to register the parade as walking entries rather than floats.

For more information can be found at www.manchesterpride.com/parade.