Key Points
- Man City parade on Monday 25 May 2026 to celebrate the achievements of the men’s, women’s and academy teams during the 25/26 season.
- The celebrations will also pay tribute to departing manager Pep Guardiola.
- Build-up in the Northern Quarter begins at 4 pm, with the bus parade scheduled to set off at 5 pm.
- The parade route will move through the city, including Ancoats and Ashton Old Road, before ending outside the Colin Bell West Stand Reception at the Etihad Stadium.
- Manchester City also plan an after-party event at Co-op Live.
- BBC reported that the parade was set for 25 May and would begin in Manchester’s Northern Quarter at 16:00 BST, ending outside the Colin Bell Stand reception at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester (Manchester Mirror )May 25, 2026 – Manchester City are preparing for a city-centre victory parade as thousands of supporters are expected to line the streets for an open-top celebration marking the club’s latest season achievements.
The parade, organised to honour the men’s, women’s and academy sides, comes with special recognition for Pep Guardiola, whose departure is being marked as part of the day’s celebrations. City said the event will begin with a build-up in the uk/local/northern-quarter/">Northern Quarter before the buses move through the centre of Manchester and towards the Etihad Stadium.
The club’s announcement places the start of the parade at 5 pm after a 4 pm build-up in the Northern Quarter, while BBC reporting said the festivities would begin at 16:00 BST and end outside the Colin Bell Stand reception. That means fans attending the event will need to be aware of road closures, crowd management measures and changes to movement around the city centre.
According to the council notice carried in Manchester City coverage, the route will take in parts of the Northern Quarter, Ancoats and Ashton Old Road before concluding at the stadium. The club also plans a separate after-party at Co-op Live, extending the celebrations beyond the parade itself.
How will the route work?
The parade is set to begin with a kick-off moment involving all teams at the start point before the buses move through the city. Manchester City’s official notice said the procession would pass through the Northern Quarter, then continue through Ancoats and on to Ashton Old Road.
BBC’s report confirmed the parade will finish outside the Colin Bell Stand reception at the Etihad Stadium. That ending point suggests the route is being designed to bring the celebration back to the club’s home area, rather than finishing in the city centre.
Why is Pep Guardiola being honoured?
Manchester City said the 25 May celebration is not only for the team’s season achievements but also to pay tribute to Pep Guardiola. That makes the parade a farewell-style event as well as a trophy celebration.
Pep Guardiola has been central to City’s success across several seasons, and the club’s framing of the day shows that his departure is part of the wider story being marked. The parade therefore serves two purposes: recognising the 25/26 campaign and acknowledging a major managerial change.
What did the club say?
The club’s announcement said “true-blue footballing fans are expected to turn out in their thousands” for the Monday 25 May celebrations. It added that the parade would be followed by an after-party at Co-op Live.
BBC’s reporting echoed the timing and confirmed that the parade would start in Manchester’s Northern Quarter and end at the Etihad Stadium. Together, the two reports establish the main public details of the event: date, start time, route, finish point and the added tribute to Guardiola.
Background to this development
Manchester City have made a habit of staging large public celebrations after major successes, with previous parades used to mark league triumphs and trophy-winning seasons. The 2026 event follows that pattern, but with a broader focus because it includes the men’s, women’s and academy teams.
The club has also used parade events before to create a citywide celebration rather than a stadium-only ceremony. This year’s timing, route and after-party continue that approach while adding the departure tribute to Guardiola.
What could this mean for fans?
For Manchester City supporters, the parade is likely to be a high-turnout public celebration that offers a chance to see the team and manager send-off in person. It may also create busy transport conditions and restricted access in parts of Manchester city centre and around the Etihad Stadium.
For local businesses and residents, the event can bring heavier footfall, stronger demand for travel services and more disruption around the route. In practical terms, the biggest impact is likely to be on people travelling through the Northern Quarter, Ancoats, Ashton Old Road and the stadium area during the afternoon and evening.
