Liverpool’s Pride 2026 kicks off in spectacular style with the Official Opening Party at the M&S Bank Arena – a bold, high-energy celebration of unity, inclusion and community. Featuring world-class artists, iconic LGBTQ+ performers and a powerful opening ceremony showcasing local talent, this is set to be one of the most unforgettable Pride launch events the city has ever seen.
Featuring Sugababes, Beth Ditto, Tia Kofi and more, alongside local stars Tyler DaClaire, Pam Sandwich & Debbie Darling, plus an Opening Ceremony featuring dozens of Liverpool LGBTQ+ community performers.
The city is set to kick off Liverpool’s Pride 2026 in spectacular style, as organisers Sahir House unveil the first wave of artists for its Official Opening Party at the M&S Bank Arena – a bold, celebratory statement of unity and inclusion wrapped with community performance on a world-class level.
Leading the announcement in truly iconic fashion, Sugababes will headline the night with a full-scale greatest hits set, bringing one of the most beloved pop catalogues of the last two decades to the city’s Pride celebrations.
Joining them is global LGBTQ+ icon Beth Ditto, who will perform her first ever solo show in Liverpool. As the voice of Gossip, she created era-defining anthems that brought identity, freedom and activism into the mainstream, becoming a powerful symbol of self-expression worldwide.
The line-up continues with a vibrant celebration of club culture and self-expression, featuring drag superstar Bimini and the unmistakable RuPaul Drag Race UK Winner Tia Kofi, who will also perform in the city for the first time.
Pride dancefloor euphoria will come courtesy of Harrsn featuring the sensational House Gospel Choir, who return to Liverpool for the first time since their unforgettable headline performance during Liverpool’s Eurovision fan festival at the Pier Head in 2023.
Legendary Glitterbox stalwarts and city-favourites Horse Meat Disco will return to deliver a special Pride disco set to take the arena roof off ahead of the headliners taking to the stage.
Hosting the night is Liverpool’s very own inimitable Tyler DaClaire, joined by beloved scouse Queens Debbie Darling and Pam Sandwich, who will both host and themselves perform across the evening.
The night will begin with a Liverpool’s Pride Opening Ceremony, curated by Debbie Darling herself, bringing together dozens of LGBTQ+ performers and voices from across Liverpool in a powerful, unifying moment on the city’s biggest stage. Details on the Liverpool’s Pride Opening Ceremony performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Opening Party marks the official launch of what promises to be Liverpool’s most exciting Pride in years, setting the tone for a full weekend of celebration including the Liverpool’s Pride March, community-led events, and an expansive city-wide cultural programme to be announced in the coming weeks.
Liverpool’s Pride 2026 is delivered through a landmark collaboration between Sahir House and the LCR Pride Foundation, building on a shared commitment to creating a Pride that is inclusive, representative and rooted in the community.
This strengthened partnership will ensure that Liverpool’s Pride 2026 continues to champion LGBTQ+ voices, celebrate diversity in all its forms, and create meaningful opportunities for communities across the Liverpool City Region to come together.
With a line-up spanning pop icons, LGBTQ+ trailblazers, drag royalty and world-class DJs, and dozens of performers from the Liverpool community, the Official Opening Party promises a high-energy, inclusive and unforgettable start to Liverpool’s Pride weekend.
Proceeds from the Official Opening Party will support the vital work of Sahir House for the LGBTQ+ community, while also contributing to Liverpool’s Pride Saturday programme – a vibrant, community-led celebration taking place across the city, bringing together organisations, performers and audiences from across the region.
Further announcements, including Liverpool’s Pride March 2026, additional events & artists and the wider city programme, will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Under 14's must be accommodated by an adult. No under 14's on the floor.
PREMIUM EXPERIENCES
Experience the golden age of the 1920s - whether you're sipping cocktails in the Premium Live Lounge or living large in a Super Suite, there's a premium package for every budget.
Experience the golden age of the 1920s - whether you're sipping cocktails in the Premium Live Lounge or living large in a Super Suite, there's a premium package for every budget.
Experience the golden age of the 1920s - whether you're sipping cocktails in the Premium Live Lounge or living large in a Super Suite, there's a premium package for every budget.
Experience the golden age of the 1920s - whether you're sipping cocktails in the Premium Live Lounge or living large in a Super Suite, there's a premium package for every budget.
Train
Bus
Car
Plane
From the south...
Avanti West Coast operates hourly, direct services from London Euston to Liverpool Lime Street (with a journey time of just over two hours). Other long-distance rail services also operate into Liverpool Lime Street station.
M&S Bank Arena is a 20-minute walk from Lime Street or a short taxi ride. You can also transfer at Lime Street onto the underground Wirral Line trains to James Street station (10 minute walk) or catch the CityLink Route C4 (7am – 8pm) directly to the venue. If travelling from outside Merseyside, you can catch an underground train to James Street station from Lime Street station, inclusive of the cost of your train ticket.
Most Liverpool city centre bound buses will call at either Queen Square bus station (a 15-minute walk) or Liverpool ONE Bus Station, which is only a five minute walk to M&S Bank Arena.
For further information on bus routes within Merseyside, you can visit https://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/customer-information/routes-and-maps/
For up-to-date information on all bus, train and ferry services, call Traveline Merseyside on 0871 200 22 33, open 8am – 8pm, 364 days a year or visit www.merseytravel.gov.uk
For all car journeys it's best to follow the white on brown tourist route signs for the Waterfront. These signs are visible on the major routes into the city. Exhibition Centre Liverpool is situated on the Kings Dock directly adjacent to the south side of the Albert Dock. Upon arrival, the Kings Dock entrance is clearly sign posted.
From the North...
Leave the M6 at junction 26 and follow signs for M58 Liverpool. Follow to end of M58 and then take signs for A59 Liverpool. Continue to follow Liverpool City Centre until picking up signs for the Waterfront.Â
From the South...
Leave the M6 at junction 21A and take the M62 to Liverpool. At the end of the M62 follow signs for Liverpool City Centre along Edge Lane, picking up and following signs for Waterfront.Â
Flying into Liverpool John Lennon Airport...
A taxi from the airport to the city centre will take approximately 20 minutes or the express bus service Route 500 will take approximately 25 minutes, dropping you off within a five minute walk of M&S Bank Arena, while Manchester’s international airport is just 45 minutes away by car.
Accessible Bookings
To book accessible tickets please call our box office on 0344 8000 400 on the day that the event goes on sale - this applies to both presale and general sale.Â
Our contact centre is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
The M&S Bank Arena has recently partnered with Nimbus Disability and The Access Card to ensure customers' needs are met at events. Nimbus is one of the country’s leading providers of disability-related advice and support to professional organisations and is recognised as a leading authority on accessible ticketing in the UK.
To ensure the right tickets are sold to the right people, we will require all access bookers for events at ACC Liverpool to provide us with a Nimbus registration number to qualify for any accessible tickets or discounts available at the time of booking. Registering is free to Ticket Quarter customers with an option to upgrade for £15 to have access to all participating venues. For more information please visit here.
Our new on-site temporary multi-deck car park is now open.
Kings Dock Car Park
There are 1450 parking spaces available in the on-site Kings Dock Car Park, with accessible bays and electric charging points on every floor.
There is plenty of parking nearby too, more information on driving to the venue and parking can be found here.
Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult
This is a '2/3 Standing' event - this means that two thirds of the arena is in use. This is a layout for guidance only, as each event layout is unique, so please refer to the individual plan provided when booking your tickets online as the actual layout may differ from this image. Â
