Key Points
- Returns Jun 06, 25 Jul, Sep 5 at Hulme Garden Centre and NIAMOS; features DJ Paulette, 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, Blue Lab Beats, BCUC, JayaHadADream; champions global sounds, inclusivity, grassroots music.
- May 3, in Salford across 17 venues; lineup includes Lynks, Moonchild Sanelly, Blue Bendy, Rainy Miller, Sorvina, jasmine.4.t and 100+ artists; curated by The DBA, FIXED ABODE, Steam Radio, SEEN, Gut Level, Now Wave.
- Sep 5,across Manchester Academy, O2 Ritz, Projekts Skate Park, Gorilla, YES, Deaf Institute, Circle Square, Sandbar, Lass O’Gowrie, The Bread Shed; headliners The Beta Band, Stereolab; plus Ty Segall, Working Mens Club, The KVB, Anna von Hausswolff, Allah Las, GHOSTWOMAN.
- Jun 26-28 at B.E.C Arena (Bowlers), Trafford Park; 15th anniversary; headliners Alexisonfire (Crisis full album Sat), Basement (Sun), The Front Bottoms (Fri); also Touché Amoré, La Dispute, PUP, High Vis, Trash Talk, Converge, Balance & Composure.
- Jun 20-21 at Heaton Park; headliners Calvin Harris, Sammi Virji, Skepta; others Zara Larsson, Chris Stussy, Josh Baker, NIA Archives, Rudimental, Wilkinson, East End Dubs, Armand Van Helden, ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, Shy FX.
- 19-21 Mar across Northern Quarter venues like Band on the Wall, Gullivers, Hallé at St Michael’s, Hallé St Peter’s, New Century, Night & Day, RNCM, The Castle; artists Fairport Convention, Seth Lakeman, John Bramwell, Angeline Morrison, The Young’uns, Fanny Lumsden, Skinny Lister.
- May 15-24,across city venues; 30th edition (celebrated last year); first wave announced 13 Feb; focuses on up-and-coming Northern talent and contemporary jazz.
- Apr 3-5, across Easter weekend at The Union, Gorilla, The Bread Shed, YES (Pink Room & Basement), Rebellion, Sandbar, Flour & Flagon, The Salutation; 140 acts including Dead to Me, Strike Anywhere, Laura Jane Grace, Fucked Up, Ignite, Chewie, Dave Hause, Inner Terrestrials; early bird tickets sold out.
- 3-12 Jul 3-12, at Castlefield Bowl; acts The K’s, The Streets, Wet Leg, Johnny Marr, Sex Pistols with Frank Carter, Hacienda Classical.
- Jun : 12-14, at Etherow Country Park, Stockport; lineup TBA later this month; past acts Orbital, Groove Armada, De La Soul; tickets on sale now.
INVERTED PYRAMID STRUCTURE
Manchester (Manchester Mirror) February 05, 2026 – Manchester’s 2026 music festival calendar brims with diverse events celebrating punk, psych, jazz, folk, electronic, and underground scenes, drawing global and local talent to iconic venues across the city and nearby areas. Festival-goers can expect headliners like Calvin Harris at Parklife, Alexisonfire at Outbreak, and Stereolab at Manchester Psych Fest, alongside grassroots showcases at Green Island and multi-venue extravaganzas in Salford. With events from March to September, tickets are already selling fast for these beloved fixtures in Greater Manchester’s vibrant scene.
Which Festivals Headline Manchester’s 2026 Summer?
Parklife stands as a cornerstone of the UK’s mega festivals, returning to Heaton Park on Saturday June 20 , to Sunday June 21. Headliners include Calvin Harris, Sammi Virji, and Skepta, with supporting acts such as Zara Larsson, Chris Stussy, Josh Baker, NIA Archives, Rudimental, Wilkinson, East End Dubs, Armand Van Helden, ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, and Shy FX performing across the weekend. The event at Middleton Road, Higher Blackley, Manchester, M25 2SW, promises a blockbuster lineup for dance and urban music fans.
Outbreak Festival, marking its 15th anniversary, runs from Friday 26 June to Sunday 28 June at the B.E.C Arena (known locally as Bowlers) on Longbridge Rd, Trafford Park, Stretford, Manchester M17 1SN. Headlining are legendary Alexisonfire, performing their seminal record Crisis in its entirety on Saturday night, Ipswich post-hardcore icons Basement on Sunday, and The Front Bottoms topping Friday’s bill. Additional sets come from Touché Amoré, La Dispute, PUP, High Vis, Trash Talk, Converge, and Balance & Composure, cementing its status as the go-to celebration of counterculture and underground music.
As reported by contributors at Manchester Wire, Sounds of the City returns 3-12 July at Castlefield Bowl, 101 Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4JN, featuring The K’s, The Streets, Wet Leg, hometown hero Johnny Marr, Sex Pistols with guest vocalist Frank Carter, and Hacienda Classical in a series of open-air concerts.
What Makes Green Island Festival a Must-Visit?
Green Island Festival adopts a unique three-chapter format on Saturday June 6, Saturday July 25 , and Saturday September 5, set against the backdrop of Hulme Garden Centre and cultural institution NIAMOS at Hulme Community Garden Centre, 28 Old Birley Street, M15 5RG. Renowned for showcasing sounds of the globe, community-led programming, accessibility, inclusivity, and championing grassroots music culture, confirmed names include local legends DJ Paulette, 808 State, and A Guy Called Gerald, Grammy Award-winning duo Blue Lab Beats, acclaimed South African band BCUC (Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness), DJ Mag Awards Breakthrough Vocalist of the year JayaHadADream, and loads more. It has become a beloved fixture in Manchester’s music calendar.
When Is Sounds From the Other City Happening?
The 21st edition of Sounds From The Other City (SFTOC) occurs on Sunday 3 May over the May Bank Holiday, with Lynks, Moonchild Sanelly, Blue Bendy, Rainy Miller, Sorvina, jasmine.4.t, and over 100 other artists across 17 stages in Salford, from pubs and churches to historic concert halls and galleries. Curated by exciting Northern promoters including community music venue The DBA, record label FIXED ABODE, DIY station Steam Radio, music magazine SEEN, queer Sheffield venue Gut Level, and Manchester’s Now Wave, it spans various Salford venues.
Which Psych and Punk Fans Should Target?
Manchester Psych Fest on Saturday 5 September boasts a growing lineup headlined by The Beta Band and Stereolab, plus Ty Segall, Working Mens Club, The KVB, Anna von Hausswolff, Allah Las, and GHOSTWOMAN across venues like Manchester Academy, O2 Ritz, Projekts Skate Park, Gorilla, YES, Deaf Institute, Circle Square, Sandbar, Lass O’Gowrie, and The Bread Shed. Organisers deserve praise for this impressive city-centre takeover.
Manchester Punk Festival spans Friday 3 April to Sunday 5 April over Easter weekend, packing 140 acts into seven venues: The Union, Gorilla, The Bread Shed, YES (Pink Room & Basement), Rebellion, Sandbar, Flour & Flagon, and The Salutation. Acts include Dead to Me, Strike Anywhere, Laura Jane Grace, Fucked Up, Ignite, Chewie, Dave Hause, and Inner Terrestrials; early bird tickets are gone, but standard ones remain.
Are Folk and Jazz Festivals on the Calendar?
Manchester Folk Festival runs Thursday 19 March to Saturday 21 March across the Northern Quarter, uniting diverse contemporary folk artists worldwide at Band on the Wall, Gullivers, Hallé at St Michael’s, Hallé St Peter’s, New Century, Night & Day, RNCM, and The Castle. Announced names: Fairport Convention, Seth Lakeman, John Bramwell, Angeline Morrison, The Young’uns, Fanny Lumsden, Skinny Lister, and more.
Staged since 1996, Manchester Jazz Festival celebrates its 30th birthday legacy from May 15-24 ,across legendary city venues, spotlighting up-and-coming Northern talent and top contemporary jazz. The first wave of acts for 2026 is expected on Friday February 13.
What’s Moovin’s Appeal Near Manchester?
Moovin Festival at Whitebottom Farm, Compstall, Etherow Country Park, Stockport SK6 5JQ, from Friday June, 12 to Sunday June 14, offers a three-day music, arts, and culture celebration in picturesque surroundings. While the 2026 lineup is expected later this month, past artists include Orbital, Groove Armada, De La Soul, Basement Jaxx, Laurent Garnier, Leftfield, Lee Scratch Perry, Big Daddy Kane, Moodymann, Naughty By Nature, Sampa The Great, Morcheeba, Soul II Soul, Jazzy Jeff, Yellowman, Souls Of Mischief, and Sister Nancy. Tickets are on sale now.
Manchester’s festival scene thrives on its eclectic mix, from Heaton Park blockbusters to intimate Salford stages, ensuring options for every taste in 2026. Punters should check official sites promptly as sell-outs loom early
