Last Updated on 2 September 2026 by Colette
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Manchester has a long and proud musical history – it’s what we’re famous for (amongst other things). So it should come as no surprise that Manchester and the surrounding area plays host to a significant number of music festivals throughout the summer months and beyond.
From big events like Parklife and Neighbourhood Weekender with line ups featuring some of the biggest names drawing the crowds to smaller more intimate festivals and one day music events showcasing local talents and tribute bands.
There’s family festivals, genre specific festivals for country music lovers, jazz folk music, festivals in fields and urban multi-venue festival events across Manchester city centre.
If you’re looking for a music festival in Manchester this year, here’s what’s on:
If you’re looking to try out a Manchester music festival in 2026, in pays to be prepared as ticket prices generally increase nearer the time and, with lots of these events being fairly intimate, the chances of them selling out ahead of time are much greater!
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Manchester Folk Festival – Thursday 19th / Friday 20th / Saturday 21st March 2026
October 2023 saw Manchester Folk Festival move to the Northern Quarter and some of the most well established and iconic music venues in Manchester, including Band on the Wall, New Century Hall, Hallé St Peters, Night and Day, Hallé at St Michaels and Soup Kitchen.
Wristbands for the 2026 Manchester Folk Festival are on sale now!
Manchester Folk Festival pass holders are able to dip in and out of the Northern Quarter’s legendary music venues through the three days of the festival, enjoying the very best in English Folk and Acoustic music.
6 Music Festival, venues across the city – Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th March 2026
BBC has announced that its hugely popular 6 Music Festival is now permanently based in Greater Manchester!
The music festival, which has previously featured the likes of Depeche Mode, Royal Blood, Christine and the Queens, Idles and Belle and Sebastian, will take place across the city from Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th March 2026 – you can find all the details about this year’s event here.
The four-day festival will feature a mix of daytime, evening and late-night events from some of the most legendary and emerging venues across Greater Manchester – I’m super excited to have tickets for Bloc Party at Band on the Wall!
Book tickets for 6 Music Festival.
Wigan Live Festival – Saturday 28th March 2026
Wigan Live forms part of Wigan Arts Festival this year and will take place across eight venues with 25+ acts, and importantly it is free!
Manchester Punk Festival, various venues – Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th April 2026
Manchester Punk Festival is a proper three-day, multi-venue Manchester festival, with 140-ish acts across seven venues. The 2026 venues included The Union, Gorilla, YES, Bread Shed, Rebellion, Sandbar and The Salutation, with punk, ska and hardcore plus comedy and poetry.
Manchester Jazz Festival, various venues across the city – Friday 15th to Sunday 24th May 2026
Each year, MJF works with some of Manchester’s finest, loudest and above all coolest music venues integral to the jazz community and scene to bring you a ten day celebration of Jazz Music. Manchester Jazz Festival is set to return for May 2026.
Tickets for Manchester Jazz Festival 2026 are on sale now.
Buckle & Boots, Whitebottom Farm, Stockport – Thursday 21st / Friday 22nd / Saturday 23rd / Sunday 24th May 2026
Buckle & Boots is an award winning country music festival showcasing the best in country music in the beautiful setting of Whitebottom Farm on the spring bank holiday weekend.
Tickets for Buckle & Books 2026 are available to book now priced from £140 for an Early Bird weekend camping ticket. Payment plans are available.
Neighbourhood Weekender, Victoria Park, Warrington – Saturday 23rd / Sunday 24th May 2026
After taking a year off in 2024, Neighbourhood Weekend rose like a phoenix from the flames with an absolutely cracking line up for their 2025 May bank holiday event and they’re keeping it going into 2026.
Neighbourhood Weekender has been on my festival wish list for a while now – the line up always seems to hit the mark for us as a family. 2026 sees headline acts Richard Ashcroft and Blossoms supported by The Kaiser Chiefs and Jamie Webster to name but a few!
Unfortunately it’s a bit of an expensive one to take the kids to as there are no children’s tickets – just a flat fee. This is a two day festival with no camping available (though, from Manchester I reckon it’s pretty doable to just drive there and back).
You can book tickets for Neighbourhood Weekender now priced at £149.50 for a two day ticket. Individual day tickets are also available.
Made in Manchester, Bolton Arena, Bolton – Saturday 13th June 2026
Established in 2018 Made In Manchester Festival is now a firm favourite on the small festival circuit at one point hosting three separate events through the festival season but this year scaling it back to focus on just one event in Bolton.
Celebrating the fantastic Manchester music scene, Made in Manchester bring you some of the best tributes to the iconic music of Manchester, plus some of the best local homegrown talent Greater Manchester has to offer!
Tickets for Made in Manchester festival 2026 are on sale now.
Parklife, Heaton Park, Manchester – Saturday 20th / Sunday 21st June 2026
Parklife Festival in Heaton Park, Manchester is a two day festival typically held in mid-June.
Parklife is brought to you by the same people behind the Warehouse Project and as such has played host to a wide range of big names across a range of musical genres. The line up for 2025 included Charli XCX and Confidence Man.
It’s worth noting that this a non-camping festival and if you’re not local to Manchester, you’re going to need to sort some accommodation separately. Public transport is recommended (though having experienced this first hand – getting the tram to and from Manchester Victoria is a challenge so be prepared!)
General release tickets for Parklife 2026 are available to book now. There is typically a payment plan available if you want to spread the cost of your tickets!
We Invented the Weekend, Media City and Salford Quays – June 2026 TBC
We Invented the Weekend is relatively new two-day event in Salford taking place in the middle of June offering a wide range of free activities to celebrate the differences in how people spend their free time, situated where the weekend was originally invented in Greater Manchester!
We Invented the Weekend will take place across both MediaCity and Salford Quays, including a main stage on MediaCity’s main piazza, satellite stages and a dedicated BBC stage across the festival site, activities on the water and a whole host of indoor spaces, including the newly announced Central Bay waterfront food and drink destination.
Green Island Festival 2026, Hulme Community Garden Centre & NIAMOS, Manchester – Saturday 6th June / Saturday 25th July / Saturday 5th September 2026
Hulme’s Community Garden Centre will be transformed into Green Island Festival three times over in 2026!
Green Island Festival is a three-part series of day festivals, Green Island (which turns 6 this year) is a celebration of the creative spirit, a melting pot of talent, flavours, and experiences that make this city truly unique. A festival stripped back to its most authentic form, with community at its core.
Book tickets for Green Island Festival
Moovin Festival, Etherow Country Park, Stockport – Friday 12th / Saturday 13th / Sunday 14th June 2026
Moovin Festival is back for 2026 and promises to get you dancing to a music lover’s mix of bass, funk, soul, reggae, house and d&b until the cows come home.
Not far from Manchester, yet feeling like another world, Moovin takes place at the eco-friendly Whitebottom farm in the stunning countryside in Compstall. Through a magical canopy of trees, past lakes with waterfowl to greet you and with a breath-taking gorge welcoming you at the entrance, and that’s when the special weekend adventures really begin.
Tickets for Moovin 2026 are on sale now. There is also a payment plan available to help you spread the cost. This festival is strictly 18+
Sounds of the City 2026, Castlefield Bowl, Manchester – Friday 3rd to Saturday 11th July 2026
Does Sounds of the City really constitute a festival or is it more a series of gigs happening around the same time? I’m not really sure but we’ll stick it in here anyway!
Sounds of the City at Castlefield Bowl in the heart of Manchester City Centre is now an established part of the Manchester music scene playing host to sell out shows from a range of big name performers – previous years have seen performances from Chic, New Order, Arcade Fire, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Rag N Bone Man, Last Shadow Puppets, Paolo Nutini, James, and The Courteeners.
Sounds of the City tickets are purchased for individual shows: Hacienda Classical | Johnny Marr | Sex Pistols | The K’s – SOLD OUT | The Streets Friday – SOLD OUT | The Streets Saturday – SOLD OUT | Wet Leg
The Brit Fest, Ashley Hall & Showground, Altrincham – Thursday 2nd / Friday 3rd / Saturday 4th / Sunday 5th July 2026
Brit Fest was brand new for summer 2024 offering three days of the best of British music acts. The Brit Fest music festival is set to return for 2026 with an extra night!.
The Brit Fest Cheshire boasts an outstanding line-up of live music from artists hailing from the shores of Great Britain including Razorlight, UB40, 10CC and Midge Ure.
Tickets for The Brit Fest are on sale now with day tickets start from £60 plus booking fee and full weekend tickets from £145 plus booking fee.
Hits On The Pitch, Stockport Rugby Club, Bramhall – Saturday 11th July 2026
Last summer, Hits On The Pitch brought an epic 80’s, 90’s and 00’s throwback line up to Stockport Rugby Club including Toyah, Chesney Hawkes, Haircut One Hundred, Liberty X and D:Ream! This year’s line up has yet to be announced.
This one day event is strictly over 18s.
Book tickets for Hits On The Pitch
Festwich, Heaton Park, Prestwich – Saturday 11th / Sunday 12th July 2026
Festwich is billed as “The UK’s biggest tribute festival” and having grown from strength to strength from its original conception, Festwich made a big move last year, relocating from St Mary’s Park in Prestwich to the iconic Heaton Park – who, let’s face it, are no strangers to hosting big music events!
This year’s Festwich line up includes tributes to Some 41, Machine Head, Amy Winehouse and Green Day to name but a few – essentially you’re getting a right mix of music at this event so there should be something for everyone!
Tickets for Festwich must be pre-booked and will not be available to purchase on the gate. Tickets will be on sale from Friday 19th January at 9am. Last year tickets were priced at just £12 for adults and children’s tickets are from £3.
Craic by the Creek Festival, Whitebottom Farm, Stockport – Friday 17th / Saturday 18th / Sunday 19th July 2026
If you love St Patrick’s Day, you’ll love Craic by The Creek. Craic by The Creek is an Irish and Country music festival held at Whitebottom Farm, Stockport.
Onsite camping and glamping is available – tickets must be purchased alongside a standard entry ticket.
Craic by the Creek is an event aimed at an adult audience however children are welcome. Under 12s must be accompanied by an adult and must their own ticket.
Book tickets for Craic by the Creek Festival 2026
Rochdale Feel Good Festival, Rochdale Town Hall Square, Rochdale – Saturday 8th August 2026
Rochdale Feel Good Festival returns for August 2026 with a line up of top class entertainment, food and culture across a range of indoor venues and a main stage against the backdrop of the grade 1-listed town hall.
The 2026 Feel Good Festival line up includes Gabrielle, Ash and Starsailor.
The festival is funded by the council together with ticket sales and sponsorship from local businesses.
For festival updates on Facebook, go to facebook.com/feelgoodfestival and connect with @FeelGoodFest on Twitter. On all social media search #FeelGoodFest24
Tickets for Rochdale Feel Good Festival main stage are on sale now priced from £15 per person.
Firevolt Rock Festival, Etherow Country Park, Stockport – Thursday 6th / Friday 7th / Saturday 8th / Sunday 9th August 2026
Now I don’t know what Face Melting Rock is but apparently you’ll find it at Firevolt Rock Festival . . .
Book tickets for Firevolt Rock Festival
Norden Cricket Club Festival, Rochdale – Saturday 15th August 2026
This August, Norden Cricket Club will host a one day family music festival in partnership with Adored Events.
Book tickets for Norden Cricket Club Festival – last year’s event was a sell out so don’t sleep on this one!
Roe Green Cricket Club Festival 2026, Worsley – Saturday 22nd August 2026
Roe Green cricket Club festival returns this August in collaboration with Adored Events, raising funds for Roe Green Cricket Club.
Book tickets for Roe Green Cricket Club Festival
Just So Festival, Rode Hall Estate, Cheshire – Friday 21st / Saturday 22nd / Sunday 23rd August 2026
After taking a pause for 2025, Just So Festival returns to Rode Hall Estate, Cheshire for August 2026.
Within easy driving distance of Manchester and making it perfectly doable just for the day if you wish is Just So Festival in Cheshire.
Just So Festival was one of the very first festivals we took our children to and offers up a weekend of very random but entirely magical family fun with theatre, live music and fancy dress. Just So Festival is absolutely one of the best festivals for young children and home to some of our best summer memories.
Tickets for Just So Festival 2026 are now on sale.
You can read more about Just So Festival here:
Just So Festival – Our Highlights
20 Things we did at Just So Festival
Manchester Pride Festival, Manchester City Centre – August 2026 TBC
The Manchester Pride charity entered the legal process of voluntary liquidation claiming the organisation no longer being financially viable leaving the future of Manchester Pride unclear. Since then, Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community has stepped up to reclaim their Pride with the Manchester Village Pride CIC. Run by unpaid volunteers. Owned by the community. Back in the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village where it all began.
You can find out more about how this year’s Pride event will run here!
Tickets for Manchester Village Pride are on sale now with various ticket options.
Made in Manchester, Waterside Farm, Romiley, Stockport – Saturday 29th / Sunday 30th August 2026
Established in 2018 Made In Manchester Festival is now a firm favourite on the small festival circuit at one point hosting three separate events through the festival season. This year the festival is under new ownership and hits the August bank holiday weekend with a two day event in Stockport.
Celebrating the fantastic Manchester music scene, Made in Manchester bring you some of the best tributes to the iconic music of Manchester, plus some of the best local homegrown talent Greater Manchester has to offer and special guests including Judge Jules (which frankly I’m expecting to be something of a highlight for our family!)
Tickets for Made in Manchester festival 2026 are on sale now.
You can read more about Made in Manchester Festival here:
Made in Manchester Festival – Review
Venture Fest, Woodhouses Cricket Club, Failsworth – Sunday 30th August 2026
This August bank holiday, Woodhouses Cricket Club play host to Venture Fest with a line up including N-Trance, Northside, Andrew Cushin and Rowetta as well as some of the best local up and coming talent.
I would suggest parking for this is going to be a complete nightmare so if you can get to the event by public transport I would do! Failsworth is accessible by both bus and tram (though Woodhouses Cricket Club is about a 30 – 40 minute walk from the Hollinwood tram stop whereas it would be about a 20 minute walk from the bus stop on Ashton Road East).
Book tickets for Venture Fest 2026 from £15 per person.
Westhoughton Cricket Club Festival 2026, Bolton – Saturday 5th September 2026
This August sees the very first Westhoughton Cricket Club Festival 2026 in partnership with Adored Events who are well experienced with putting on events of this type!
Book tickets for Westhoughton Cricket Club Festival 2026
Manchester Psych Fest 2026, various venues across Manchester city centre – Saturday 5th September 2026
Manchester Psych Fest will be held at various venues across Manchester including Albert Hall, O2 Ritz, Gorilla, Canvas, YES & Deaf Institute (these are all within reasonable walking distance of each other).
This event is for over 14s.
Book tickets for Manchester Pysch Fest priced from £40.68
Fields of Gold Festival, Ashton Cricket Club, Manchester – Friday 4th / Saturday 5th September 2026
Fields Of Gold Festival is a small two day music festival taking place in Ashton under Lyne Greater Manchester. The festival celebrates your most loved music recreated by some of the UK`s best tribute bands with Clint Boon and Bez!
Tickets for Fields of Gold Festival are available to book online now. This is an over 18s festival and tickets start at £10.99 for a Friday night ticket, £21.99 for a Saturday ticket and £27.49 for a full weekend ticket (these prices will increase nearer the time so do book earlier to secure the best prices).
Leigh Cricket Club Festival, Leigh Cricket Club, Leigh – Saturday 19th September 2026
Leigh Cricket club Festival returns for it’s 5th year this September with a one day festival.
Book tickets for Leigh Cricket Club Festival 2026
Heyside Cricket Club Festival, Oldham – Saturday 12th September 2026
Heyside Cricket Club Festival is a one day festival and returns this September with the best tribute bands for 2026 as well as a fairground, food court, outside bars and bouncy castle.
Tickets for Heyside Cricket Club Festival are priced from £22.50 per person. This is a really popular event which always sells out well ahead of time so get your tickets booked sooner rather than later.
Paddock Fest at Royton Cricket Club – Saturday 19th September 2026 | CANCELLED
Last year’s Paddock Fest line up featured Scouting for Girls (who are a brilliant festival band), 911, Ultrabeat, Flip & Fill and Phats & Small – we had tickets but between shocking weather and Amy needing a trip to hospital after falling at Scout Camp, we didn’t make it!
Ramsbottom Cricket Club Festival 2026, Ramsbottom – Saturday 26th September 2026 | SOLD OUT
After a sell-out event last year, Ramsbottom Cricket Club Festival returns for September 2026!
Book tickets for Ramsbottom Cricket Club Festival 2026
MCR ROCKS at Clifton Cricket Club – Saturday 26th September 2026
”MCR ROCKS” Proudly presents a family music festival at Clifton Cricket Club – enjoy live tributes and local bands as well as a DJ set from Manchester legend Clint Boon.
Book tickets for MCR ROCKS priced from £10 for children and £18 for adults. Family tickets are also available.
Festivals that either won’t be happening in Manchester this year or have not yet been confirmed:
Below you’ll find details of festivals that have previously happened in Manchester, but who are not holding events in 2026.
- Classic Ibiza, Tatton Park – A one off event held in 2024
- Retro in the Park, Towneley Park, Burnley – Last held in 2023 with no further updates.
- Made in Manchester, Astley Sports Village, Dukinfield – Last held in 2023 with no further updates. There are two remaining Made in Manchester festivals taking place in Bolton and Stockport this year.
- Manchester Balloon Festival, Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield – this looks to have been a one off event in 2025
- Loaded Festival, Sedgley Park Rugby Club, Whitefield – was initially postponed and then the new date cancelled in 2024 so it seems unlikely it will rear it’s head in 2025!
- Neighbourhood Festival, Manchester City Centre – This appears to have been a one off event last held in October 2024
- Bluedot, Jodrell Bank, Cheshire | Last held in 2023. Bluedot announced there would be no festival in 2024 and that they planned to return in 2025 however there have been no further updates.
Milnrow Cricket Club Festival, Milnrow | No event 2026
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
Milnrow Cricket Club are excited to bring back their sell out one-day family music festival this year in partnership with Adored Events who are well experienced in putting on events of this type.
Book tickets for Milnrow Cricket Club Festival
Rochdale Mayfield Rugby Club Festival, Rochdale | No event 2026
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
Returning for summer 2025, Rochdale Mayfield Rugby Club will host a one day family music festival in partnership with Adored Events.
Book tickets for Rochdale Mayfield Rugby Club Festival – tickets not yet available.
Flixton Festival, Flixton Cricket Club, Manchester | No event 2026
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
Enjoy a family fun filled day at Flixton Festival. This year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever before.
Book tickets for Flixton Festival priced at £22.50 for adults and £14.55 for children.
Of course, as ever, if you know of music festivals in Manchester that I’ve missed off this list then please do let me know and I’ll add them in! Colette@goingonanadventure.co.uk
Have a read of these posts next:
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