The all-day queer block party returns with new stage Vault and a 35 Years of FLESH takeover...
Homobloc will return to Depot Mayfield this September for its seventh edition, with Kim Petras, Honey Dijon b2b Derrick Carter, S.A.S.S., Cobrah and DJ Paulette among the names announced.
Taking place on Saturday 26 September, the queer block party will run from 5pm until 4am, marking its first summertime edition and bringing its most club-focused line-up to date to the former railway depot.
Grammy-winning pop artist Kim Petras will headline the event, joining a bill that also includes Job Jobse, Palms Trax, Girls Don’t Sync, Horse Meat Disco, Fat Tony, Erol Alkan, I.Jordan, LSDXOXO, BASHKKA, Gina Breeze and Hannah Holland.
S.A.S.S., the quartet of Saoirse, Moxie, Peach and Shanti Celeste, will appear in Manchester for the first time as a collective, closing the Concourse stage. Cobrah will also perform a special hybrid DJ and live set in the Archive, as part of a stage hosted by independent label and artist collective Live From Earth, with a Berlin-heavy line-up including DJ Gigola, Perra Inmunda, Alcatraz, MCR-T and Miss Bashful.
This year’s event will also introduce Vault, a new 1,000-capacity stage in Depot Mayfield’s former ticket hall. The space will be curated by Ponyboy, the Glasgow-based queer club night known for platforming trans and nonbinary artists.
The Vault line-up includes Afro Pasifika DJ Lady Shaka, New York-based DJ and activist Armana Khan, Berlin artists Meg10 and Luca Eck, I.Jordan and a rare DJ set from Dorian Electra.
On curating the new stage, Ponyboy said: “Our nights are always a cultural happening, but with new eyes on us and a brand new stage to break in, we’re turning up the juice and seeing what shakes loose, to quote a wise poet. We’ve admired what Homobloc does for years, and debuting a new stage isn’t an undertaking we take lightly, so everyone kindly relax your throats and glue down your lace because we’re about to shut Manchester down.”
Homobloc will once again take over the full Depot Mayfield site, including the Depot, Concourse and Archive stages, as well as additional spaces across the nearby Star & Garter.
The 2026 edition will also celebrate 35 years of FLESH, the LGBTQ+ club night which launched at The Haçienda and became one of Manchester’s defining queer nights of the 1990s.
FLESH will take over the upstairs of the Star & Garter, with residents including Tim Lennox, Kath McDermott, Guy Williams, DJ Paulette and Mike Hux, alongside a special appearance from Adeva.
Downstairs, Manchester dyke party Butch Revival will be joined by Islington Mill’s trans-centred pop club collective T4T, with further appearances from Jamie Bull, Flygirl$, Bruk Out, Dandy, Hello Darling and Mixfag.
Beyond the music, Homobloc will also bring back its queer performance programme, The Homodolls, curated by creative director Sophie Bee. More than 150 performers will appear across the site through drag, dance, theatre and immersive performance.
Highlights include We Were Always Here, a new dance collaboration from Maisha Kungu Dance celebrating FLINTA identities, PU RAUL’S SUPERMODELS from Club Rat Entertainment, featuring Drag Race UK stars Banksie, Awhora, Black Peppa and Marmalade, Shrek 666’s immersive new work Putting the T in Trade, Angel Bella Presents: The Strippers of MCR and Blackstage Pole.
Rod Connolly from Homobloc said: “We are excited to present our first ever summertime edition of Homobloc, bringing together global queer icons, underground heroes, and the next generation of artists who we trust in pushing queer culture and electronic music forward.
“In times like these, the connection felt at large-scale events like Homobloc are absolutely crucial for the community. A sea of 10,000 souls all under one roof, dancing ‘til we are free. It’s so powerful. You leave knowing that we are the many, and the people who demonise us are the few.”
Pre-sale tickets go live at 10am on Thursday 9 July, with general sale from 10am on Friday 10 July. Tickets will be available via homobloc.co.uk.
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