Festivals & Special Events

Community Events

September 20, 2025 - September 20, 2025 Various Locations

Default festival category for community submitted events. This serves as the main container for general community events.

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Universally Manchester Festival

June 13, 2026 - June 13, 2026 The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL

Free one-day festival with interactive activities, science, creative sessions, heritage tours, talks and performances for all ages.

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Festival of Libraries 2026

June 10, 2026 - June 14, 2026 Manchester Central Library, St Peters Square, Manchester, M2 5PD

Manchester City of Literature’s Festival of Libraries returns for 2026 as a county-wide celebration of Greater Manchester’s libraries, with programmes across heritage and local libraries. (Manchester…

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Horizons Festival 2026

June 12, 2026 - June 13, 2026 HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester M15 4FN

A free global arts festival in the heart of Manchester Delivered in partnership with HOME and CAN Horizons Festival is a free 2-day global arts festival in the heart of Manchester. A summer weekend…

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Parklife Festival 2026

June 20, 2026 - June 21, 2026 Heaton Park, Manchester M25 2SW

Pepsi MAX presents Parklife Festival 2026 The largest metropolitan music festival in the UK, Parklife is held at Manchester's Heaton Park. The annual event features beats from multiple music genre…

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Greater Manchester Fringe 2026

July 1, 2026 - July 31, 2026 Various venues across Greater Manchester

A community-led arts festival celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2026, with artists and audiences across Greater Manchester transforming pubs, theatres and basements into festival venues throughout …

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Sounds of the City

July 2, 2026 - July 12, 2026 Castlefield Bowl in the heart of Manchester City Centre

Located in the heart of Manchester City Centre, Castlefield Bowl has hosted a series of sold-out performances from renowned artists including Sam Fender, Chic, New Order, Arcade Fire, Noel Gallagher’…

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Electric Heart Festival 2026

July 5, 2026 - July 5, 2026 Barton Aerodrome, Liverpool Road, Manchester, M30 7SA

Electric Heart Festival lands in Manchester on Sunday 5th July 2026, bringing a brand-new indie festival to the city for one unforgettable summer day. From 2PM–10:30PM, the iconic Manchester Barto…

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Festwich 2026

July 11, 2026 - July 12, 2026 Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Higher Blackley, Manchester M25 2SW

Festwich 2026 is described as the UK’s biggest tribute festival, returning to Heaton Park with over 30 live bands across multiple arena areas, food, bars, thrill rides and a weekend of live rock anth…

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Craic by the Creek 2026

July 17, 2026 - July 19, 2026 Whitebottom Farm, Etherow Country Park, Compstall, Stockport, SK6 5JQ

Craic by the Creek returns to Manchester as an award-winning Irish music festival known for incredible live performances and an atmosphere like no other 🙏🏼 Celebrating the very best of Irish music…

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Road to Nashville Festival Manchester 2026

July 18, 2026 - July 18, 2026 O2 Victoria Warehouse, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester, M17 1AB

A boot-stompin' country tribute festival at O2 Victoria Warehouse, featuring line dancing, axe throwing, a rodeo bull, BBQ, and acts honouring Nashville's biggest stars.

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Offal Fest 2026

July 24, 2026 - July 26, 2026 Boundary, 21 Higher Cambridge Street, Manchester M15 6AD

A 3 day Brutal Death Metal, Grind & Slam festival in Manchester. By the scene, for the scene.

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Country Club Manchester 2026

July 25, 2026 - July 25, 2026 Freight Island, Manchester, M1 2PZ

Saddle up cowboys & cowgirls The UK’s biggest country music party is riding into town for the ultimate hoedown. Expect Non-stop country music hits all night long, Line dancing, Cowboy & Cowgirl ha…

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Manchester Craft Brew Festival 2026

July 25, 2026 - July 25, 2026 Manchester Academy, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR

A five-hour bottomless craft beer, cider, wine and prosecco festival at Manchester Academy featuring 50+ drinks from 15+ breweries, live music, and meet-the-brewer sessions.

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RADAR Festival 2026

July 31, 2026 - August 2, 2026 O2 Victoria Warehouse, Trafford Wharf Road, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester, M17 1AB

The UK’s premier progressive music festival, showcasing the best in contemporary prog, tech-metal, and math-rock across three days.

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Heaton Park Food & Drink Festival 2026

August 1, 2026 - August 2, 2026 Heaton Park, Middleton Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 2SW

A full weekend celebration featuring international street food, artisan markets, live chef demonstrations, and a vibrant live music lineup in one of Manchester's most iconic green spaces.

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Manchester Mega Mela

August 1, 2026 - August 2, 2026 Platt Fields Park, Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6LA

A free community festival celebrating South Asian culture with live music, dance, food, arts and crafts, and fairground rides.

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Teletech Festival 2026

August 1, 2026 - August 1, 2026 Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester, M17 1SN

Teletech Festival 2026 is the brand’s fourth edition and returns to its home Manchester’s BEC Warehouse on 1 August 2026 with an 18 hour format that pushes the festival’s scale, reach, and programmin…

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Manchester Caribbean Carnival 2026

August 8, 2026 - August 9, 2026 Alexandra Park, 180 Russell Street, Whalley Range, Manchester, M16 7JL

From J’ouvert to international stage acts, Manchester Caribbean Carnival has it all. Running since 1972, Manchester Caribbean Carnival has grown into a symbol of culture, a celebration of Caribbean a…

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Magic of Thailand Festival in Manchester

August 22, 2026 - August 23, 2026 Platt Fields Park, Wilmslow Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6LA

A two-day Thai Festival previously known as Manchester Thai Festival. Experience Thai culture with traditional music, dancing, Muay Thai boxing, ladyboy shows, and authentic Thai food.

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Manchester Village Pride 2026

August 28, 2026 - August 31, 2026 Canal Street, Manchester, M1 3HN

A flagship LGBTQ+ celebration featuring the Gay Village Party, the Manchester Pride Parade, and a candlelit vigil to close the festivities.

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Festa Italiana Manchester 2026

August 28, 2026 - August 30, 2026 Cathedral Gardens, Corporation St, Manchester, M4 3BG

A free, weekend-long celebration of all things Italian, featuring a vibrant marketplace, authentic street food, live music, and masterclasses from top chefs in the heart of Manchester.

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Manchester Psych Fest 2026

September 5, 2026 - September 6, 2026 Various venues, Oxford Road Corridor, Manchester

The UK’s leading psychedelic festival, featuring a diverse lineup of live music, art installations, workshops, and DJs across multiple iconic Manchester venues.

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Manchester Literature Festival 2026 (MLF2026)

October 9, 2026 - October 25, 2026 5 Oak Street, Manchester M4 5JD

Manchester Literature Festival (MLF) is a celebration of imagination, ideas, stories, and voices from around the world. It is part of Manchester’s rich cultural tapestry and is committed to bringing …

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Neighbourhood Festival 2026

October 17, 2026 - October 17, 2026 Various Venues, Manchester, M1

A one-day, multi-venue festival in Manchester city centre dedicated to new music discoveries.

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Damnation Festival 2026

November 7, 2026 - November 8, 2026 Bowlers Exhibition Centre, Manchester, M17 1SN

Damnation Festival stands as a cornerstone of the UK extreme metal scene, delivering two days of unrelenting heaviness since its inception in 2005. Now in its 21st year, the 2026 edition promises to …

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Hits Radio Live 2026

November 21, 2026 - November 21, 2026 Co-op Live, East Manchester

Its official, Birmingham’s biggest pop party is back in 2026. Hits Radio Live returns to bp pulse LIVE on the 20 November 2026. Previous artists include Lewis Capaldi, Sugababes, Busted, Anne Marie, …

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North West Calling 2026

June 6, 2026 - June 6, 2026 Manchester Academy, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9NE

North West Calling 2026! We’re delighted to announce North West Calling 2026 will be held on Saturday 6th June at Manchester Academy with: The Exploited, UK SUBS, GBH, Peter And The Test Tube B…

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Manchester Histories Festival 2026

June 4, 2026 - June 6, 2026 Manchester Central Library, St Peters Square, City Centre, Manchester, M2 5PD

The 10th edition of Manchester Histories Festival takes place in and around Manchester Central Library, celebrating Civic Pride and community collaboration across Greater Manchester. The programme in…

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