Pride in Trafford announces 2026 festival celebrating LGBTQ+ artists,  stories and communities

Now in its eighth year, Pride in Trafford returns this May with an ambitious, jam-packed six-day programme, uniting artists, performers and audiences for a dynamic celebration of LGBTQ+ arts, creativity and community.

Taking place across Waterside in Sale, Trafford, the six-day festival running from Tuesday 12 – Sunday 17 May, brings together an exciting line-up of performances, exhibitions and events that explore identity, creativity and belonging. From powerful theatre and cabaret to family celebrations and community gatherings, Pride in Trafford continues to champion queer voices while creating welcoming spaces for everyone to celebrate Pride together.

The official festival launch for Pride in Trafford will take place on Waterside Plaza on Tuesday 12 May with speeches, poetry and song as the Pride Flag is raised to mark the beginning of Pride in Trafford 2026.

Youth Pride on Wednesday 13 May is a creative celebration for young people from across Trafford to take part in activities designed to amplify youth voices and create welcoming spaces for connection and expression.

The festival’s performance programme celebrates both local talent and nationally recognised artists. Acclaimed performer Jonny Woo brings Suburbia, an electrifying performance combining spoken word, storytelling and rave culture. Other performances include Love Me Like a Chai Tea Latte, a powerful one person theatre show exploring themes of racism, love and family; Hasbian, a sharp and funny queer coming of-age comedy and Copla: A Spanish Cabaret – drama, humour and musical flair combine to present a celebration of Spain’s iconic song tradition. HomoGrown brings together an exciting showcase of LGBTQ+ performers from Greater Manchester, creating a platform for homegrown artists to share their work and celebrate the creativity within the region’s queer communities. Artists performing at HomoGrown will be: Aisha Akram, Bay Bryan, AJ LeRoy, SEZBENNY, Lauren Temple, Tom Wills, ZOLATEC and hosted by comedian Ciara O’Connor.

Also returning to Pride in Trafford is A Northern Tr*nny Hootenanny by Hunter King, a Waterside Arts & Creative Industries Trafford commission. This uplifting queer parody musical invites audiences on Hunter’s gender journey of self-discovery through humour, music and storytelling. 

Queer and autistic author, Anna Zoe Quirke, will be talking about their book Something to be Proud Of in Sale Library on Thursday 14 May. They write about mental health, disability, and everything LGBTQ+. Their debut novel, Something to be Proud Of, was published with Little Tiger in 2024 and nominated for the Carnegie Award in 2025.

Alongside performances, Pride in Trafford provides opportunities for creatives and communities to connect. The Queer Arts North Open Forum on Friday 15 May invites artists, organisations and audiences to join conversations about LGBTQ+ arts and culture across the region, with panellists Maz Hedgehog and Ben Saunders.

For those looking to take part themselves, the festival will host a Queer Diary Open Mic night, inviting audiences to step up and share their voices in a supportive and celebratory environment, while the Adult Open Level Dance Workshop led by the incredible Night People will encourage participants to celebrate Pride through movement and dance.

The festival’s much-loved Block Party returns on Saturday 16 May for a full day of free outdoor and indoor celebrations in the heart of Sale. The event will feature live music performances on the Village Green including Queen Bayard, The Cequin Circus, Claire Pilling and Ruth Welch; Mini Pride for LGBTQ+ families; Lip Sync Brawl – an unforgettable competition combining the spectacle of live music with the fun of lip sync performance; as well as The Village – packed with charities, organisations and community groups supporting LGBTQ+ people across Trafford and Greater Manchester.

Inside, a Drag King Workshop will invite participants to learn the fundamentals of drag king performance, exploring character creation, movement and confidence on stage in a fun and supportive environment; zine making workshops offer the chance to take part in something creative inspired by Pride, identity and community; and the Manchester Queer Art Market will showcase stalls from talented queer artists and makers.

The Saturday festivities will conclude with a celebratory club night, The Stretford Wives Club – a vibrant party celebrating lesbian culture across generations and featuring Gay*Ls and Saturday Night Diva as well as DJs Sequinella and Susan Kerr. In an exciting addition to Pride in Trafford will be a new collaboration with The Northern Lights Cinema to present special film screenings of Departures and The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert at their cinemas in Sale and Stretford on Friday 15, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May.

Throughout the festival, visitors can also experience a programme of exhibitions exploring LGBTQ+ history, activism and identity, including Before We Were Proud, highlighting the personal histories of LGBTQ+ people before decriminalisation; The Pansy Project, documenting acts of resistance against homophobic and transphobic abuse; and Transitions in Thread, an exhibition celebrating trans identity through textile art. 

Producer for Pride in Trafford and Venue Manager, Waterside, Darren Adams comments: 

“Supporting LGBTQ+ artists and providing platforms for queer stories has always been at the heart of Pride in Trafford. Eight years of queer joy, eight years of LGBTQ+ creativity, and eight years of putting artists at the centre of everything we do have shaped the festival into what it is today. Each year, we bring together an inspiring mix of performances, creative activity and community celebration that reflects the richness and diversity of LGBTQ+ culture.” 

Councillor Eve Parker, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Arts, Culture & Heritage adds: 

“Pride in Trafford is a powerful celebration of our borough’s diversity, creativity and community spirit. I am  proud to support a festival that not only champions LGBTQ+ voices and talent but also brings people together  in a shared message of inclusion, respect and joy. At a time when visibility and allyship matter more than ever,  Pride in Trafford plays a vital role in creating a welcoming space for everyone, and I encourage residents and  visitors alike to be part of this vibrant programme.” 

Pride in Trafford runs at Waterside Arts from Tuesday 12 May until Sunday 17 May 2026. Tickets and full programme details are available at prideintrafford.org