Parklife, the biggest party in Manchester, has announced its 2025 festival line-up, with massive headline performances from Charli XCX, 50 Cent, Jorja Smith, Peggy Gou and Confidence Man.
Now celebrating its 15th year, Parklife will be back at Heaton Park between Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 June.
They’re promising a weekend packed with jaw-dropping live shows and the best global talent across dance, electronic, house, hip-hop and more.
Since originating in Platt Fields in 2010, Parklife has grown to become one of the biggest events in Manchester’s cultural calendar every single year since.
And for 2025, Parklife is going bigger than ever, looking forward and bringing some of the globe’s hottest names to our city.
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There’ll be some big changes on the actual festival site too – Parklife will have a brand-new stage, Matinee, featuring a 360° DJ booth, and both VIP and Backstage will move to a more central location.
The festival’s headliners this year are BIG – the iconic rapper 50 Cent will be back in Heaton Park with his hits like In Da Club, P.I.M.P and Candy Shop.
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The woman who dominated dancefloors and charts (and our hearts) last summer, Charli XCX, is also turning Heaton Park back into a Brat summer, with her floor-filling hits like Apple, 360, and Guess.
The beautiful, incredible voice of Jorja Smith will be on the Parklife stage this year – expect to hear spell-binding tracks like Blue Lights, Be Honest, and Little Things.
Interplanetary Criminal will perform at Parklife 2025 as line-up revealed. Credit: Jody HartleyPosters teasing Charli XCX as a Parklife 2025 headliner. Credit: The Manc Group
Firm Parklife and Warehouse Project favourite Peggy Gou will be back behind the decks, and PAWSA will be continuing the massive scenes seen at Parklife 2024 with another appearance this summer.
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BICEP will be soundtracking Heaton Park with their Chroma AV DJ show, and chart-topping artist of the moment Lola Young (she’s the one who did that Messy song you can’t get out of your head) will take to the stage for her biggest-ever festival slot.
The Parklife 2025 line-up also includes Confidence Man, Chris Stussy, Steve Angello, Hybrid Minds, Andy C, Hedex, Bou, RUDIM3NTAL, Girls Don’t Sync, Ewan McVicar, Skream & Benga, Flo, DJ Heartstring, salute (presenting their True Vision show), Marc Rebillet, Interplanetary Criminal, MOCHAKK, Rossi., Partiboi69, and Prospa, alongside many others.
There’ll be more than 100 names across multiple stages, some of which are hosted by the likes of WHP & Teletech’s XXL Techno, DnB heavyweights Worried About Henry, Manchester’s beloved venue YES and forward-thinking crew Ghosts Of Garage.
Now we just wait for Aitch to make his annual ‘surprise’ appearance…
Rockstar Energy presents Parklife 2025 tickets will go back on general sale at 10am on Friday 31 January, with a limited Parklife sign-up pre-sale at 10am on Thursday 30 January.
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Weekend tickets start from just £135 plus booking fee, with day tickets from £85 plus booking fees.
Rockstar Energy presents Parklife Festival 2025 – Full Lineup
Olivia Dean to play intimate Manchester gig as part of BRITs Week 26 for War Child
Clementine Hall
Morehuge names have been added to the line-up of intimate charity shows ahead of the BRIT Awards coming to Manchester.
BRITs Week 26 for War Child will see major artists playing their most intimate shows, taking over grassroots venues across the UK.
These exclusive shows are in aid of War Child, to help fund aid, education, and specialist mental health support for the rights of children whose lives have been affected by war.
Already announced are Fatboy Slim, Myles Smith, and Josh Baker who will be performing at intimate venues in cities such as Manchester, Nottingham, and Newcastle.
And now, another wave of acts have been announced for BRITs Week 26 including the lady of the moment, Olivia Dean, who will be performing at the Albert Hall.
Image: The Manc Group
Also joining the gig series is Spiritualized who will be taking to the stage in London, and The K’s who will be performing at our very own Gorilla.
The gig series, delivered by DHL, will be the biggest yet and offers fans a chance to see one-off performances from some of the most exciting names in music in smaller, iconic venues, with all proceeds going towards War Child’s vital work.
BRITs Week will take place around The BRIT Awards 2026 with Mastercard, taking place on Saturday 28 February at the Co-op Live – the first time in the awards’ 50-year-history that it’s left the capital city behind.
The very special opening night show on 12 February will see Grammy Award-winning Fatboy Slim performing at the Boiler Shop in Newcastle.
And up here in Manchester, War Child has teamed up with The Warehouse Project to put on two nights at YES – one with Mixmag’s Year Defining DJ Josh Baker, and the other with DJ Mag’s One to Watch Rossi.
The full lineup for BRITs Week 26 for War Child is below
12th February – Fatboy Slim – Boiler Shop, Newcastle, supported by Max Jones
16th February – Lambrini Girls – The Garage, London, supported by Bimini
18th February – Spiritualized – EartH Theatre, London
20th February – The K’s – Gorilla, Manchester
24th February – Myles Smith – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, supported by Saint Raymond
25th February – Jack Savoretti and Katherine Jenkins OBE – Emerald Theatre, London, supported by Gabriella Cilmi
25th February – kwn – Patterns, Brighton, supported by CARI
25th February – Josh Baker – YES, Manchester, supported by Deliah and Alexandria
26th February – Rossi. – YES, Manchester, supported by Olive F
26th February – Olivia Dean – Albert Hall, Manchester
27th February – Jacob Alon – Music Hall at Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh
Clare Sanders-Wright, Head of Live Music at War Child, said,“This year’s BRITs Week shows are off to yet another brilliant start and we’re thrilled to add these new names, including three more headliners in Olivia Dean, Spiritualized, and The K’s to our lineup as well as some really exciting support acts for the gigs.
“BRITs Week for War Child wouldn’t be possible without the incredible generosity of the artists, their teams, and our partners, including DHL and we couldn’t be more grateful. 20% of the world’s children are living through conflict right now, and the money raised from these unforgettable shows will help War Child continue our vital work to protect, educate and stand up for as many of these children as possible. Because no child should be a part of war. Ever.”
Fans can sign up to the War Child pre-sale HERE, which closes at 3pm Wednesday 28 January. Pre-sale begins 10am on Thursday 15 January.
General on-sale begins at 10am on Friday 30th January HERE.
There are also £10 prize draws to win tickets to all shows open HERE.
Ne-Yo and Akon announce huge joint arena show in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Two R&B greats are heading out on a joint headline tour for the first time, as Ne-Yo and Akon announced the Nights Like This global tour.
Both artists are Grammy Award winners, and each has a formidable back catalogue of chart-topping hits.
For Ne-Yo, that includes songs like Miss Independent, So Sick, and Closer; while for Akon, he’s responsible for huge tracks like Smack That, Lonelty, and Right Now (Na Na Na).
Between them, they’ve shaped and defined radio, nightlife, and pop culture for decades.
This newly-announced tour will see the pair performing on the same stage – for Manchester, that’s the Co-op Live arena – for a co-headline Nights Like This tour.
They’ll perform in a unique back-and-forth set throughout the show, visiting venues right across the UK and Europe, as well as heading across to the USA and Canada.
The nostalgic gigs will feature everything from slow jams to club anthems, with a party atmosphere throughout.
Ne-Yo and Akon will perform at the Co-op Live in Manchester on Friday 1 May 2026, with tickets on sale from Friday 30 January at 10am.
There will be an artist pre-sale on Wednesday 28 January at 10am.
Nights Like This EU/UK 2026 tour dates
Fri 24 Apr – Dublin, IE – 3Arena
Mon 27 Apr – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena Newcastle
Tue 28 Apr – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
Thu 30 Apr – Leeds, UK – First Direct Bank Arena
Fri 1 May – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
Mon 4 May – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena Birmingham
Daisy Jackson -
28th January 2025 
