¡Hola! Manchester - get ready for colour, creativity and a Catalan twist as our city comes together for its biggest day of the year.
This year's Manchester Day celebrates our city’s cultural links with Barcelona. Following Manchester’s appearance at Barcelona’s La Mercè festival in 2025, artists from the city will return the visit. For the first time, international talent will bring high‑energy performances and a taste of Catalan culture to Manchester.
At the heart of the day is the Manchester Day Parade, created with communities across the city by outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank. Expect eye-catching costumes, larger‑than‑life characters and show-stopping acts.
Alongside the international line-up, this year’s event also includes a book-inspired theme. As part of the National Year of Reading, storytelling and imagination will be woven through the parade and performances.
Streets and squares across the city will be full of activity, including:
- A spectacular parade at 1pm
- Pop‑up performances and walkabout acts
- Surprising moments throughout the day
- Live music and dance
- Family-friendly activities for all ages
The programme is led by Walk the Plank, working with XTRAX Arts, bringing outdoor arts companies from the UK and Spain to Manchester.
This is a free event. No tickets are needed. Just come along and enjoy the day.
More details on timings and locations will be shared soon.