SCENE: Manchester’s LGBTQ+ Film and TV Festival will return this summer for a week-long programme of screenings, panels, parties and queer storytelling across the city, running from 20 to 27 August.
The 2026 edition will form part of the new Manchester Village Pride Fringe, with events taking place at venues including Aviva Studios, New Century Hall, HOME, CULTPLEX and sites across the Gay Village.
As an official fringe partner, the festival will support Manchester Village Pride, the community interest company behind the city’s Pride celebrations this year.
Profits from event and screening ticket sales will be donated to the CIC, alongside 25% of booking fees from ticketing partner Skiddle, with funds going to George House Trust, akt, The Proud Trust, LGBT Foundation and Sparkle.
Highlights from last year’s edition included screenings of Departures and What It Feels Like for a Girl, a 10th anniversary celebration of Cucumber with Russell T Davies, and a showing of Beautiful Thing.
The wider programme also featured live events including An Altogether Different Comedy Night, a Victoria Wood-A-Thon, a tribute to Meredith Monk with Manchester Camerata, and free musical screenings on the outdoor screen at First Street.
Accessibility remains a central part of the festival, with many tickets priced at £5 and some events free to attend. City centre hotel offers and packages are also expected to be available for visitors making a longer trip of it.
Gary Williams, Head of Events at CityCo, said: “We’re thrilled to be back for a third annual edition of SCENE, which has been such a hit with audiences and has firmly embedded itself as a mainstay of the cultural calendar.
“Last year we doubled our festival attendance and we’re excited to invite a melting pot of people from Manchester and across the UK and beyond to come and take a walk in the shoes of our community through powerful storytelling.”
Andrew Underwood, Manchester Village Pride Volunteer and Board Member, said: “We are delighted to work with SCENE as one of our fringe partners. Working together to create a citywide celebration highlighting our stories and ensuring our creatives have a platform of LGBTQ+ events culminating with the village festival.”
The full SCENE Festival programme is due in the coming months.
Read more:
Help raise money for late Stone Roses legend Mani
Bar Shrimp launches Sunday sessions
May’s best gigs and club nights
