Middlesbrough Pride 2025 returns later this month with a West End star and a dance legend among the headliners.
The popular event returns on Saturday, September 27, with a full day of parades, music, creative workshops and community celebration in the heart of the town, with West End star Kerry Ellis and dance music legend Angie Brown set to headline on the Pride stage.
Across the day Middlesbrough Pride will take over venues including the Town Hall, Holiday Inn Express, Orange Pip Market, MIMA and Centre Square, creating a vibrant festival atmosphere with something for all ages.
Headline acts:
• West End star Kerry Ellis - best known for her powerhouse roles in Wicked, We Will Rock You and Les Misérables - will bring her extraordinary vocal talent to the Pride stage.
• Dance music legend Angie Brown, whose vocals lit up the charts with classics like I’m Gonna Get You and Took My Love
At Middlesbrough Town Hall, the day begins with a Performing Arts Workshop for young people (9am - 12.30pm), while families can enjoy crafts in the Family Arts Zone from 11am to 4pm.
Visitors will also be able to create their own symbols of identity at the Pride Flags Workshop (1pm - 3pm) or enjoy a calm moment in Quiet Pride, complete with rainbow weaving.
The Market Stage (1pm - 5pm) will showcase local poets and singers, celebrating community voices.
The Holiday Inn Express will serve up a Pre-Parade Breakfast (9am - 11am) before the Middlesbrough Pride Parade sets off at noon, filling the streets with colour, solidarity and joy.
The Pride Market (11am - 5pm) will be alive with stalls from artists, makers and community groups, while the Pride Stage (12.30pm - 6pm) will be the place to see this year’s headline acts including West End star Kerry Ellis, dance legend Angie Brown, Anna Phylactic, That Clare, Jake Holt and Sapphires Drag Hour.
A Time to Talk space (1pm - 3pm) will also provide an inclusive and safe environment for trans and non-binary people, their families and allies.
Cultural venues across the town are also joining the celebrations. MIMA will proudly display the Progress Pride Flag in its Atrium, as well as hosting the Family Art Trolley & Picnic (11am - 3pm) and We Are Family exhibition (10am - 4.30pm), celebrating diverse children’s literature and poetry.
In Centre Square, brand new outdoor theatre show The Turkey & The Caterpillar (1pm, 2.15pm, 3.30pm) will share a story of friendship, identity and resilience, while Orange Pip Market will run from noon to 7pm with artisan food, stalls and live entertainment on the Orange Pip Stage (noon - 6pm).
In a first for the festival, one lucky LGBTQIA+ couple will tie the knot during Pride itself, making their big day part of the wider celebration of love and inclusion.
And as night falls, the official Pride After Parties take over Middlesbrough’s nightlife, with Sapphires, Club XS and Mardi Gras hosting cabaret, DJs and dancing until the early hours.
Curious Arts CEO Phil Douglas said: “Pride is about joy, visibility and togetherness and this year’s programme captures that spirit perfectly.
“From world-class performers to a community parade, family activities and even a wedding, Middlesbrough Pride 2025 will be a celebration for everyone.
“Whether you’re here for the music, the crafts, or to march in solidarity, Pride is a day for the whole town to come together and celebrate everything that makes our corner of the world a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work and visit.”
More than 5,000 people enjoyed live entertainment, activities and markets at Middlesbrough Pride in 2024 and organisers predict that this year’s celebration will see even more of the local community coming together to be part of the experience.
Phil continued: “Whether you’re here for a talented performances, fun crafts, or just an amazing atmosphere, we’ve filled the programme with something for everyone and we’re looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting new friends in 2025.
“Pride is not just about the acts, it’s about uplifting community spirit and creating meaningful connections in a landscape that is currently unsettling for a lot of our community.
“This event has been designed to bring people together, create conversations and celebrate!”
Councillor Philippa Storey, Middlesbrough Deputy Mayor and Executive member for Education & Culture, said: “Middlesbrough has a fantastic track record of celebrating difference and diversity, and the events we host here are rightly renowned across the region and beyond.
“Middlesbrough Pride is vibrant, welcoming and inclusive, and this year’s event looks certain to be bigger and better than ever.”
Middlesbrough Pride is presented by Pride in Tees Valley and coordinated by Curious Arts in partnership with Middlesbrough Town Hall and Middlesbrough Council.
This celebration is made possible by support from Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Foster with North East, Sapphires Middlesbrough, Cleveland Fire Brigade, MIMA, Holiday Inn Express, Club XS Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough Cultural Ambassador Programme and Orange Pip Market.
• For updates on the full line-up, times, and activities, follow Curious Arts on social media or visit www.curiousarts.org.uk
Listen to the audio version of the full programme online here: https://linktr.ee/prideinteesvalley
