Sandwich Technician
AJ Handley-Rowe -
10th November 2021
AJ Handley-Rowe -
10th November 2021 Secret stages, surprise sets and non-stop sunshine – here’s what went down at Parklife 2026
Clementine Hall
Parklife 2026 has officially wrapped up, and dare we say it might have been the best one yet?
Well, that’s it folks. One of the biggest weekends on Manchester’s musical calendar has been ticked off, and what a time we had.
The rolling hills of Heaton Park welcomed thousands of ravers who two-stepped from the moment the gates opened until the final vibrations echoed from the speakers.
So, while we nurse our sore feet and slap on the aftersun, let’s reflect on Parklife 2026 and catch you up on what you might have missed.
For once, the weather actually delivered.
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Blue skies and glorious sunshine stuck around all weekend, giving festival-goers the perfect excuse to stay out from open to close and making Heaton Park look more like Ibiza than north Manchester. We’re exaggerating, of course, but you get the picture.
While headline sets from pop princess Zara Larsson and grime MC Skepta drew huge crowds, some of the biggest moments happened away from the main stages.
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After all, when else can you watch Manc icon Bez DJing on a rooftop at a secret garden party? It truly was a sight to behold.
The festival introduced three brand-new secret stages this year, which we think were a fantastic addition. Our favourite was the Bossmans Tent – an exclusive stage hidden behind the facade of a corner shop, where festival-goers had to enter through a fridge to discover the music inside.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a festival without a few cheeky surprise sets thrown into the mix. Enter Aitch.
At this point, the Manchester rapper is basically a Parklife resident, popping up each year to surprise crowds with a song or two. This year, our hometown hero joined Bou on stage, sending fans into a complete and utter meltdown.
The city was also well represented through a number of stage takeovers across the weekend. Ghosts of Garage, the Manchester-born brand that has built a loyal following across the region, brought together a host of local DJs on Sunday for a takeover that felt like a celebration of the city’s thriving dance music scene.
One of the most anticipated additions for 2026, the new Panorama stage was a real standout. Featuring a belting 100m LED screen, huge dance platforms and behind-the-booth access, there wasn’t a quiet moment there all weekend – and it’s not hard to see why.
Sheffield DJ Silva Bumpa drew one of the busiest crowds of the weekend at Panorama, creating relentless energy from start to finish. Fans were packed shoulder-to-shoulder as one of the UK’s fastest-rising names delivered a set worthy of all the hype.
Parklife 2026, you’ve set the bar very high.
We’ll see you next year.
Featured image – The Manc
A rosé festival where your ticket includes unlimited wine is returning to Manchester
Lydia Mastrolonardo
A festival dedicated to rosé wine is making a return to Manchester this summer – and your ticket includes unlimited wine.
This year marks the third year of The Beeswing’s Rosé Festival, which has quickly become a staple for all Mancunian wine-lovers.
This outdoor festival will transport you to a French vineyard, with acoustic live music from La Chanteuse, and a setting in amongst the leaft Kampus gardens. Even your four-legged friends are invited to the party.
Head on down to absorb some of that sunshine and get your hands on unlimited glasses of more than 20 different rosés, orange and sparkling wines, sourced from across the world.
Whether you consider yourself a connoisseur or just like the sound of some fizz in the sun, this garden party has plenty of new wines for you to try.
Sit back and relax, chat with suppliers, and if you choose to, you can purchase bottles of some seriously top-notch wines at exclusive reduced rates.
You can expect wines from Raymond Reynolds (Portuguese Wines), Alliance Wines, Hammonds of Knutsford, and Boutinot.
In the run-up to the festival, The Beeswing are also holding various other opportunities for us to try some delicious wines, including an English Wine Tasting next Sunday.
Wine Tasting with Gusbourne – 28 June – Celebrate English Wine Week at an exclusive tasting experience from 4-6pm, with five Gusbourne wines and some nibbles. Tickets cost £40.
Click HERE to secure your Wine Tasting with Gusbourne tickets.
The Rosé Festival – 4 July – Hosted on the Kampus gardens in Manchester from 12.30pm-3pm. Tickets cost £35 and include unlimited wine and a welcome drink.
Tickets sold out quickly last year and booking in advance is necessary to attend.
Click HERE to secure your Rosé Festival tickets.
Read more
- Manchester’s tiniest coffee shop has opened in Ancoats serving £2.50 flat whites
- Manchester cocktail bar added to Michelin Guide in ‘incredible surprise’
- 12 new openings to still look forward to this year in Greater Manchester
Featured image: The Manc Group
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