Huge Sum Manchester Pride Owes Acts Like Nelly Furtado and Olly Alexander Revealed in Report

Manchester Pride owes more than £1.3m to performers, venues, and suppliers following this year’s festival, documents obtained by the Manchester Evening News show.

via: Pink News

In October, bosses behind the charity that runs Manchester Pride confirmed that it had entered voluntary liquidation due it no longer being “financially viable”.

Now, a report by business restructuring organisation KR8 Advisory, which is overseeing the charity’s liquidation, has revealed the extent of the charity’s financial woes.

The report indicates, as first reported by Manchester Evening News, that almost 200 individuals and companies are owed debts amounting to £1.3 million, with the range of amounts owed varying between £30 and £330,000.

Nelstar Touring Inc, the indie label owned by Manchester Pride 2025 headline act Nelly Furtado, is owed £145,755.75, according to the report.

A company linked to queer singer and Eurovision star Olly Alexander is owed £48,000.

Mayfield Depot, the venue which hosted this year’s performers as part of the Mardi Gras festival, is owed £330,329.

Charity St John’s Ambulance, which provided medical support at the event, is owed more than £47,000, while events security company Practical Event Solutions is owed £167,000.

Suspicions around Manchester Pride’s financial situation were raised in October after a number of Drag Race UK performers, including Zahirah Zapanta, Banksie, Saki Yew and Lill, claimed on social media that they were still waiting to be paid for performances at the August Bank Holiday weekend event.

On 22 October, the company behind the event confirmed that it had entered voluntary liquidation, leaving a lingering question mark over the future of one of the UK’s largest Pride events.

“A combination of rising costs, which are affecting the entire events and hospitality industries, declining ticket sales and an ambitious refresh of the format aimed to challenge these issues, along with an unsuccessful bid to host EuroPride, has led to the organisation no longer being financially viable,” wrote Manchester Pride’s Board of Trustees in a statement.

It was confirmed last month that Ireland would host EuroPride 2028 over Manchester.

The financial report also details how the organisation attempted to escape its financial struggles prior to entering voluntary liquidation.

After unexpectedly low ticket sales, and a financial loss for the third year in a row, the organisation sought legal and financial advice and explored a number of “rescue proposals” which ultimately proved unsuccessful.

The charity also attempted to seek support from Manchester City Council but the local authority declared, after deliberation, that it could not assist.

Manchester Pride is attended by hundreds of thousands of revellers each year and is considered one of the biggest annual LGBTQ+ events in the UK. This year, alongside Furtado, Alexander and a slew of Drag Race stars, performers included Little Mix star Leigh-Anne, Pose actor Billy Porter, and Sister Sledge.