The countdown is now on to Manchester’s favourite day of the year, with just three weeks to go until the return of the legendary Manchester Day, which this year takes place on Sunday 26 July and comes with a distinctly Catalan twist.
Taking place for the first time on a Sunday instead of its usual Saturday, this year’s fabulous family-friendly free festivities, will have a decidedly Catalan flavour as performers from Barcelona head to Manchester to help the city make it the best Manchester Day yet.
With events kicking off from midday until 5 pm, the city council is working with outdoor arts specialists Walk the Plank, Xtrax Arts, and Global Grooves, along with partners from Barcelona and others, on a programme for the day that has something for everyone – including the ever-popular Manchester Day Parade.
With music, dance, and a whole host of performances and walkabout shows from some of the UK and Spain’s leading outdoor arts companies, curated by Walk the Plank working with Xtrax Arts, the day will see the city’s streets and squares filled with Catalan feels, along with some surprising and full-of-fun links to books and reading along the way to mark this year’s national year of reading.
Activities will be taking place throughout the city and will also see the return to Albert Square of free Manchester Day fun for all the family – including a fabulous finale – for the first time since Manchester’s magnificent Grade I Hall was closed for restoration.
From damsels in distress, mischievous gnomes, a roaming dragon, and unicycling knights on a quest to spread laughter and joy, to a herd of hippos, giant polar bears, acrobatic librarians, and the chance to step inside the belly of a giant inflatable whale – the message to families this year is to expect the unexpected as they explore the city.
A jam-packed programme sees pop-up street theatre fun from start to finish around the city including chaotic comedy from Kill Will – two rival battling bards – and the Oxbridge undergrads drifting through the streets in a punt serenading passers-by, alongside stunning pop-up shows from the likes of Motionhouse with their supercharged outdoor dance-circus show with acrobatics, daring lifts and fast-paced moves, to TS Crew with their show No Sugar No Milk combining martial arts, dance, beatboxing and circus artistry, all inspired by Hong Kong’s dinner culture!
And this year also – for the first time in the history of Manchester Day – the city will be extending the very warmest of Manchester welcomes to some of the best performers and musicians from Barcelona as they come and join us in celebrating Manchester’s favourite day of the year.
The collaboration follows Manchester’s role as Guest City at last year’s iconic La Mercè festival in Barcelona, the first-ever English guest city chosen by Barcelona officials to take part in the annual event, and that saw Manchester artists and performers invited to take part in the world-renowned Catalan festival.
Manchester Day Catalan highlights include The Ultimate Player’s Handbook – a not-to-be-missed dance performance that sees dancers from Manchester’s own Company Chameleon join forces with dancers from Catalan company Clementine & Lisard to perform a vibrant dance piece created and first performed by the two companies last year for Barcelona’s world-famous La Mercè festival.
Get ready also to be amazed by the acrobatics, movement, dance and physical theatre of Catalan performers Elelei with their piece Too Much, alongside an immersive travelling pop-up performance theatre piece from Kamchàtka, and look out for Zum-Zum Theatre’s incredible herd of bright pink inflatable hippos that is sure to be a hit with children of all ages.
And it wouldn’t of course be Manchester Day without the legendary Manchester Day Parade with its cast of hundreds, that every year delights the crowds as it makes its way through the city streets.
Following a brand-new route this year, the parade will set off from St Peter’s Square at 1 pm, travelling down Peter Street onto Deansgate, right onto St Mary’s Gate, right onto Cross Street, then left onto Princess Street, going past Albert Square, and back to St Peter’s Square where it will finish.
This year’s spectacular parade with its Catalan twist will bring together over 500 performers and feature community groups from across the city and beyond all celebrating Manchester’s rich cultural heritage, alongside giant puppets and bold costumes inspired by Catalan tradition.
Brought to life by local people working alongside artists in the lead-up to the event, and with only three weeks now to go until the big day itself, community groups across the city are hard at work helping to create what is set to be a fantastic fun-filled parade from start to finish, filled with music, energy, colour, and Catalan vibes.
Booklovers of all ages are also in for a treat as this year’s parade also has something of a bookish theme for 2026, taking inspiration from the current year-long national celebration of books and reading. Rise to the reading challenge and see how many different books and characters you can spot as the parade makes its way through the city streets.
In keeping with the literary theme of the parade, this year’s Manchester Day also includes a full programme of story-themed activities and free fun for all the family at Manchester Central Library, which will be opening specially for the day.
And young sports enthusiasts will definitely want to get involved in British Cycling and British Taekwondo’s interactive have-a-go activities that taking place throughout the afternoon.
Music has always been a big part of Manchester Day and the city’s streets and squares will once again also be filled with live music and performances to suit every musical taste – from ska infused covers of favourite songs courtesy of Baked A La Ska, the big band swing sounds of Mr Swing’s Dance Orchestra, and Mr Wilson’s Second Liners’ brass rave, to local choirs, ukuleles, high energy Dj-ing and – straight from Barcelona – the Always Drinking Marching Band, with their surreal street music show, combining live music with humour and visual gags.
