Thousands Attend 15th Year of Pride Celebrations in Salford as The Pink Picnic Returns to Peel Park

Volunteer-led event reaffirms that Pride is both a celebration and a protest, with support from sponsors and in Partnership with Salford City Council

Salford, UK — 13 June 2026 — Thousands of people gathered in Peel Park on Saturday as The Pink Picnic marked 15 years of Pride in Salford with a vibrant, high-profile celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility, inclusion and community. Organised and delivered by Salford Pride, the event once again demonstrated the power and relevance of grassroots Pride — bringing together attendees from across Salford, Greater Manchester and beyond for a day that balanced celebration with a clear reminder that Pride is, and remains, a protest.

As Salford’s official annual LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, The Pink Picnic has grown significantly since it began in 2011, evolving from a local gathering into what Salford Pride describes as Greater Manchester’s largest grassroots Pride celebration. This year’s event reflected that continued growth, with a strong turnout, a high-energy programme and a visible sense of solidarity across the site.

A defining feature of this year’s Pink Picnic was the scale and range of activity delivered throughout the day. The main stage programme featured headline performers including Boney M, Kyran Thrax, Paige Three, Cheeky Girls, Big Brovaz & Booty Luv, and Baby D, alongside hosts Annabelle Lecter and Lilly SnatchDragon. Community artists — including Miss Chief Cabaret with Banksie, Fear of Marko, John Joseph Thacker, Laeeqa, Tallulah Guard, and Tom Wills — also formed part of the programme, ensuring local and emerging voices remained central to the event, along with DJ Chris Blackmore. 

The 2026 event also featured the Salford 100 Wagon Train stage, showcasing local emerging talent as part of the wider Salford centenary celebrations. Produced by Walk the Plank as part of Salford 100, the Wagon Train has been described as a creative space for communities across Salford and is included within the official cultural programme celebrating one hundred years of the city. Its presence at The Pink Picnic added a significant local dimension to this year’s programme and reinforced the event’s role within the wider cultural life of Salford.

Beyond the performance programme, The Pink Picnic continued to centre community participation and accessibility. The event included an Expo Area and Market Stalls featuring local charities, organisations, small businesses, supporters and sponsors, as well as a dedicated YouthZone, helping create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere across the park.

This year’s event also highlighted the role of partnership, sponsorship and grant support in sustaining Salford’s official Pride celebration. The Pink Picnic is grateful to its sponsors and supporters for helping ensure the longevity of the event and for backing the volunteer-led work that creates positive change for Salford’s LGBTQ+ community.

The Pink Picnic 2026 was proudly supported by sponsors Kellogg’s, Autotrader and Salix Homes, and delivered in Partnership with Salford City Council.

The event was also supported through grants provided by The National Lottery Community Fund, Get Living and The Booth Charities, alongside community sponsors Adoption Counts, Salford CVS and Forbes Solicitors.

Crucially, Salford Pride remains a volunteer-led organisation, with The Pink Picnic run through the commitment, time and energy of dedicated volunteers working year-round and on the day itself. That volunteer commitment is central not only to the delivery of the event, but to its identity as a grassroots Pride rooted in local community, lived experience and collective action.

Scott Turzański, Head of Marketing and Brand, said:“To see thousands of people come together for the 15th year of Pride in Salford was incredibly powerful. The Pink Picnic is a celebration of our communities, but it is also a reminder that Pride began as a protest and that visibility, solidarity and inclusion still matter deeply. What makes this event especially meaningful is that it is delivered by dedicated volunteers, supported by our sponsors and partners, and rooted in the people and communities of Salford. We are proud to have welcomed the Salford 100 Wagon Train stage into this year’s programme and proud to continue building an event that reflects both the energy and the purpose of Pride.”

With its combination of major live entertainment, local talent, community engagement and civic partnership, this year’s Pink Picnic marked another significant milestone for Salford Pride and for Pride in the city more broadly. As the event enters its next chapter, its continued success offers a clear signal of the importance of volunteer-led, community-rooted Pride in Salford and beyond.