Last Updated on 16 March 2026 by Colette
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I am regularly updating this post as information is released about family friendly New Year’s Eve events for 2026 but please do check with individual venues for the most up to date information!
How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve with kids? Do you find a baby sitter and head out for the night, have a house party with friends and let the kids stay up (or even fake celebrate new year at about 9pm and then send them to bed so you’re free to carry on enjoying yourself?) or are you all in bed at 10pm?
I must admit that Dave and I were always in bed fairly early on New Year’s Eve but this is, in part, because my best friend’s birthday is on New Year’s Day so we would usually go out then instead! I recent years we’ve taken the kids to Granny and Grandad’s for the night so what the kids do on New Year’s Eve is someone else’s problem – however this year we’ve decided they are old enough to come out and celebrate with us instead!
New Year’s Eve 2026 falls on a Thursday this year with the bank holiday for New Year’s Day falling on Friday 1st January 2027. (This is my favourite timing as it means plenty of chance to recover before you’re back in work!)
If you’re looking for something to do in Manchester with the kids this New Year’s Eve, check out this list of family friendly New Year’s Eve events! Lots of these are events to take the kids to during the day or early evening – rather than events that will see you through midnight – so do check carefully that the timings of the various events work for your family!
Check out these handy links to plan your next adventure …
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What’s on in Manchester this New Year’s Eve for families?
To compare and find more options, check out hotels on cozycozy.com the accommodation search engine.
I’m steadily updating this article for NYE 2026 – please check with the event holder before booking!
- FREE New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Manchester City Centre, St Peter’s Square
- New Year’s Eve, Albert Square in Manchester City Centre
- Ice skating in Cathedral Gardens
- Dunham Massey Light Trail
- Raver Tots New Years Eve, Freight Island Manchester
- New Year’s Eve at Cockfields Farm
- Our Kids Social NYE Day Party – Stretford Hall, Stretford
- Our Kids Social NYE at Kargo, Media City
- New Year’s Eve Family Party at Best Western Hotel Smokies Park
- New Year’s Eve Family Party at The Ashcroft, Rochdale
- Our Kids Social NYE Day Party – Yes, Manchester
- New Year’s Eve at Tinsel Town at Trafford Centre
- New Year’s Eve Family Rave at The Social, Aviva Studios
- New Year’s Eve Twilight Trail & Fireworks, Mayfield Park, Manchester
- New Year’s Eve Party – Legoland Manchester, Trafford Palazzo
New Year’s Eve Fireworks in Manchester City Centre, St Peter’s Square – NYE 2025 from 10pm
There will be a FREE New Year’s Eve fireworks event in Manchester this year in St Peter’s Square again this year.
This family friendly new year’s eve event be hosted by radio presenter and DJ Joe McGrath and there will of course be a traditional count down to midnight and a huge fireworks display as well as DJ Jimmy the Gent “spinning the tunes”.
This free New Year’s Eve event has a capacity of 20,000 with entry beginning at 10pm on a first come, first served basis. No alcohol will be permitted and for security reasons you are asked to try and avoid taking a bag (any bags must be no bigger than A4 in size and bag searches will be in operation).
(It’s worth noting that this is an outdoor event with no seating available and the weather forecast isn’t looking amazing so be prepared!)
New Year’s Eve, Albert Square in Manchester City Centre
With Albert Square finally back in the game this year, you can enjoy a free to enter New Year’s celebration with Manchester’s giant festive Ferris Wheel (imagine watching the NY fireworks from up there!) and a range of food and drink stalls.
There will be no firework display taking place on Albert Square itself but you should be able to see the St Peter’s Square fireworks from there.
Albert Square will be open as usual through the day on New Year’s Eve however entry through the evening will be on a controlled basis using the existing entry points until it reaches capacity which will be 2,000. The event will end at 12.30am.
Bags must be no bigger than A4 and no glass is allowed. Bag searches will be in operation.
Ice skating in Cathedral Gardens
This year’s Skate Manchester pop up ice rink in Cathedral Gardens is bigger and better than ever before with a large, covered ice rink and twinkly lights.
The Skate Manchester ice rink is open till 9pm on New Year’s Eve with the last available skate session at 8pm making it perfect for a lovely New Year’s Eve adventure with the kids.
Tickets for ice skating in Cathedral Gardens on New Year’s Eve are available to book now: www.skatemanchester.com! (Don’t forget to pre-book your skate support to for little ones!)
You can read more about Ice Skating in Cathedral Gardens here:
Top tips for ice skating in Cathedral Gardens, Manchester
Click through here for alternative places to go ice skating in Manchester this Christmas.
Dunham Massey Light Trail
The Dunham Massey Light Trail is a family-friendly one-mile magical festive trail of illuminations is a festive family tradition for many sells out every year so you need to plan ahead for this one – especially if you want to book a popular night like New Year’s Eve.
It is recommended that you book your tickets early to avoid disappointment. For best prices book online (National Trust members will receive free car parking this year but you must select this at the time of booking and show your membership card on the night. Non-National Trust members are advised to book their parking when purchasing tickets – this is priced at £8 per car)
You can read more about visiting the Dunham Massey Christmas Light Trail here:
Christmas at Dunham Massey [2024]
Christmas at Dunham Massey [2023]
Christmas at Dunham Massey – Review & Tips [2021]
or find out about other Christmas light trails in Manchester here.
Northern Lights Manchester at Heaton Park
From the creators of Kendal Calling and Bluedot, Northern Lights is new to Heaton Park this year. This glowing mile-long trail of light, sound and festive magic is gorgeous and would be a lovely way to spend New Year’s Eve with the kids.
Expect a 90-minute journey through immersive installations, firelit festive villages, mulled wine, marshmallows and vintage fairground fun.
Book tickets for Northern Lights Manchester.
You can read more about Northern Lights Manchester here:
Northern Lights Manchester Review & Tips
Raver Tots New Years Eve, Freight Island Manchester
This New Year’s Eve, Raver Tots returns to Manchester to bring you a family friendly dance party during the daytime! With confetti blasts, multi coloured lasers and light, giant balloons, face painting and a licensed bar – Raver Tots is bringing all the party you need! For New Year’s Eve, the special guest DJ has yet to be announced but you can expect the best in house, garage and drum and bass to get you in the party mood!
Tickets for Raver Tots New Year’s Eve party are available to book online now priced at £15 for children (babies under 18 months go free) and £17 for adults / over 12s.
New Year’s Eve at Cockfields Farm
After a sell-out event last year, Cockfields Farm are back with all the New Year’s Eve Fun at the Farm bringing you and your little ones an exciting New Year’s Eve celebration without the late bedtime!
With the event starting at 3pm, you can enjoy all the usual Cockfields Farm fun with cuddle corner, animal feeding, carousel rides and the bouncy pillow followed by a fabulous disco countdown from 5.30pm – as the clock strikes six, you’ll dance and sing in the New Year with confetti cannons.
Book tickets for NYE at Cockfields Farm priced at £13.95 per person
Our Kids Social NYE Day Party – Stretford Hall, Stretford
This New Year’s Eve, Our Kids Social is back with a NYE daytime party for families. Taking over Stretford Hall in Sretford, OKS are planning to raise the roof with two hours and four floors of family friendly New Year’s Eve fun including a silent disco, arts & crafts and a glitter bar on the roof terrace!
Tickets for the OKS New Year’s Eve family party are on sale now priced at £12.50 per child and £10 for adults. This event sold out ahead of time last year so do get your tickets booked if you plan on attending.
Our Kids Social NYE at Kargo, Media City
OKS are taking over KARGO on the morning on 31st December to bring you two hours of NYE fun – of course there will be a silent disco (it would be an OKS bash without one!) as well as circus tricks, arts and crafts and a glitter bar to add that bit of NYE sparkle to the proceedings!
Tickets for the OKS NYE party at KARGO are on sale now priced at £10 per person – everyone coming to the event needs a ticket! This was as sell out event last year so it pays to plan ahead.
New Year’s Eve Family Party at Best Western Hotel Smokies Park
If you want a fabulous evening with family and friends that is suitable for the children then New Year’s Eve in the Crompton Suite at Best Western Hotel Smokies Park is offering great live entertainment, games, disco and a tasty family buffet guaranteed to help you bring in the New Year in style. The event starts at 7pm with a buffet at 8pm and the night ends at 1am.
You can book tickets for the New Year’s Eve family party at Smokies Park online. Tickets are priced at £55 per adult and £30 per child (which is about £5 per person up on last year)
New Year’s Eve Family Party at The Ashcroft, Rochdale
Say goodbye to 2025 this New Year’s Eve with a family party at The Ashcroft. Your ticket prices includes party games, games, music, and a hot supper.
You can book your tickets for the New Year’s Eve family party at The Ashcroft now priced at £19 for adults and £14 for children (this is the same price as last year!)
New Year’s Eve Tots Party with Louby Lou at RHS Bridgewater
At RHS Garden Bridgewater you can celebrate New Year’s Eve with Louby Lou’s New Years Eve Tots Party. Dance the morning away with Louby Lou’s unforgettable entertainment and celebrate New Year’s Eve at 12 noon!
Book tickets for Louby Lou’s New Year’s Eve Party at RHS Bridgewater priced at £10 per child (recommended for children between 2 and 8) and £5 per adult. Any children that participate will need a ticket. Babes in Arms are free. Children must be accompanied by at least one adult.
Below you’ll find NYE events for families in Manchester which have not yet confirmed for New Year’s Eve 2026
New Year’s Eve Twilight Trail & Fireworks, Mayfield Park, Manchester – NYE 2025 TBC
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
Marking the end of the festive season and celebrating bringing in the a brand spanking new year, The Twilight Trail are hosting a NYE closing party with an enchanting light show and fireworks display at Mayfield Park.
Enjoy free sparklers for kids as well as marshmallow toasting and a Kids Eat Free deal before 8pm.
The fireworks will be set off at 8.30pm for around 10 minutes.
Book tickets for the NYE Closing Party priced at £12 for adults (including guaranteed entry to The Little Disco NYE party at Freight Island) and £10 for children. The NYE Party at Freight Island is 18+
New Year’s Eve Family Rave at The Hall, Aviva Studios – NYE 2025 TBC
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
Celebrate the New Year with a Family Rave from The Playhouse Project running from 3.30pm to 6pm.
With plenty for the kids to do (think glitter bar, circus skills, bubble making, hoop workshops and parachute games) and a soundtrack to keep the grown ups happy!
Add in balloons, free glow sticks, bubble machines, snow machines and a playdoh station – and you’ve got a recipe for a New Year’s Eve to remember.
This family friendly new year’s eve rave is put together by The Playhouse Project – a unique family-friendly social event, organised by a crew of seasoned clubbers and DJs from Manchester who are now parents.
The New Year’s Eve Family Rave at Factory International is priced at £6.50 per person and tickets must be pre-booked.
Family Friendly New Years Eve Party at the Irish World Heritage Centre
This New Year’s Eve, the IWHC are hosting a family friendly NYE Party with a kids disco and entertainment from 6-9pm. Then from 9pm-1am, the DJ will keep the party going! Children of all ages are welcome at this event.
Tickets are priced at £10 per person and must be pre-booked. This event is expected to sell out.
Book tickets for the IWHC New Year’s Eve Party by calling into the IWHC or phoning 0161 697 4105 between 9am-5pm weekdays. Alternatively, you can email your contact details to bookings@iwhc.com and they will call you back to make the booking.
New Year’s Eve Party – Legoland Manchester, Trafford Palazzo – NYE 2025 TBC
The information below relates to last year’s event and will be updated as soon as details become available.
Join the hottest party on the block this New Year’s Eve! On 31st December 2024, Legoland Manchester will be holding two awesome party sessions (one starting at 9.30am and one starting at 1.30pm), with LEGO character mascots, mocktails, a DJ, balloon modelling and more! Dance your way out of 2024 with the LEGO mascots and celebrate the New Year with a ‘midnight style” countdown and balloon drop!
Of course, don’t forget to enjoy the usual LEGOLAND Discovery Centre fun while you’re there!
Tickets for the family New Year’s Eve Party at Legoland are available to book online now priced at £25 per person.
New Year’s Eve at Tinsel Town at Trafford Centre
This New Year’s Eve, why not enjoy all all the glitz and glamour you’d expect of a festive event at The Trafford Centre with a sensational outdoor experience. Wrap up warm and explore a winter wonderland of rides and festive fayre. There will be fairground rides, a big wheel and a magical ice rink as well as a range of independent food vendors serving mulled wine, hot dogs, pizza and other festive treats. The last ice skating session on New Year’s Eve is 6pm.
You can book your tickets for New Year’s Eve at Tinsel Town online now.
Below you’ll find events which have taken place in Manchester previously but have not yet been confirmed for 2024 – this might be because they aren’t happening or it might just be that I’m being too keen and they’ve not announced yet! Of course, if you know otherwise, do let me know!
What to go watch at the theatre with kids on New Year’s Eve?
For something a bit different, and infinitely more relaxed) than a big New Year’s Eve party, why not book tickets for the theatre on New Year’s Eve?
I’ve pulled together a quick list of suggestions for family friendly shows in Manchester theatres on New Year’s Eve:
Robin Hood at Opera House Manchester
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at the Lowry
Little Bear and the Christmas Lights at the Lowry
(You’ll find all the details you need for parking near The Palace Theatre or parking near Manchester Opera House here)
What is there to do with the kids on New Year’s Eve in Manchester?
If you have any recommendations for family friendly New Year’s Eve events in the Manchester area, I’d love to hear them!
Please note that, to the best of my knowledge, all information is correct at time of publishing but do check directly with individual venues to confirm!
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