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Manchester’s firework displays are ‘back with a bang’ as they return from 2026

It's all thanks to new Government funding.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 27th November 2025

Council-organised firework displays in Manchester’s parks are set to return from next year, it has been confirmed.

You may remember that these once-popular events have not been held since 2019, as the COVID-19 pandemic initially prevented them from taking place from 2020 onwards, and then following that, they remained paused on a trial basis while the Manchester City Council sought to ‘reprioritise funding’ to support a wider range of free community events across the city.

But now, as it seems, the door was never shut on their potential return.

An ‘improved financial position’ now means that the Council is in a position to bring firework events back, while also still continuing to support other community events.

Papers setting out the Council’s financial position show that fairer funding being introduced by the Government next year will leave the Council better off than previously anticipated, he the reason firework displays have been brought back into the mix.

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The Council has admitted that ‘pressures remain’ after so many years of financial cuts, but this new funding creates the opportunity to invest in the things residents have said matter the most to them.

“Manchester prides itself on free community events and we know many people have missed Bonfire night firework spectaculars,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council.

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“That’s why we are pleased to confirm they’ll be back by popular demand in 2026.

“We know that generations of Mancunians have enjoyed Council-organised displays and that free family events are a great way to bring people together… [and] now that this Government is actually investing in Councils like ours rather than the cuts we had since 2010, we can bring back Bonfire events.”

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Cllr Craig said that the return of Council-organised firework displays is ‘building up for a spectacular 2026.’

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More information on their return is set to be announced in due course.

Featured Image – Chris Curry (via Unsplash)

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Super League ‘Rivals Round’ fixtures confirmed, with two big North West clashes

Danny Jones Danny Jones Super League Rivals Round games 2026 fixtures

The Betfred Super League (BSL) ‘Rivals Round’ games for 2026 have been confirmed, with two big regional clashes coming in time for the spring.

Returning for 2026, the annual meeting of multiple teams coming up against their fiercest and most historic rivals will land on round seven of the calendar over the traditional Easter weekend.

Despite the competition having sadly lost Salford Red Devils following their forced relegation, local rugby fans will still be glad to see the borough of Wigan, as well as neighbouring Cheshire and nearby Merseyside clubs, coming up against each other in what is a highly anticipated fixture on the calendar.

Announcing the now fully confirmed matches this week, the total of seven matches are set to be played between Friday, 3 April and the following Sunday, 5 April.

In the Super League’s own words, there are few gameweeks more box office than the Rivals Round – “where the games mean more, hit harder and have the ability to divide towns and families.”

After the inaugural edition of the modern round in 2021, this year saw the division record a best-ever attendance of 86,080 across a six-match period, and with an extra game being played next season, we’re expecting more ground to be broken.

“The most intense and historic rivalries will go head-to-head with huge crowds anticipated, emotions running high and everyone expected to bring their A game”, say the BSL.

  • St Helens v Wigan Warriors – Friday, 3 April
  • Hull KR v Hull FC – Friday, 3 April
  • Bradford Bulls v Leeds Rhinos – Friday, 3 April
  • Catalans Dragons v Toulouse Olympique – Saturday, 4 April
  • Warrington Wolves v Leigh Leopards – Saturday, 4 April
  • Huddersfield Giants v York Knights – Saturday, 4 April
  • Castleford Tigers v Wakefield Trinity – Sunday, 5 April

One of the most notable exclusions among the slate, of course, is that of Salford Red Devils, as various players and staff members continue to leave the club during this increasingly concerning and deep period of uncertainty.

Salford supporters have given a clear response following the decisive drop in IMG gradings:

Salford Red Devils supporters meet winding-up adjournment with a petition of their own
SRD RLFC‘s future still hangs in the balance.

Although they are now longer in rugby league’s premier domestic tier, Salford are still expected to take part in the Challenge Cup tournament, which begins in January.

Betfred and the RFL revealed the most recent ties on Monday, 24 November, with the Devils due to face either Royal Navy Rugby or Hammersmith Hills Hoists in the second round.

Meanwhile, with the new campaign kicking off in February, rugby fans will only have to wait a couple of months to witness the upcoming instalments in the various rivalries.

Safe to say it’s going to be a spicy Easter break.

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Featured Images — Fleets (via Wikimedia Commons)

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A Greater Manchester campaigner is calling on the government to get rid of VAT on energy bills

Danny Jones Danny Jones Petition to get rid of VAT on energy bills in the UK

With the colder months now well and truly upon us, a local campaigner is calling on the UK government to scrap VAT on energy bills across the country.

The nation is still in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, and besides grocery shopping, business rates and eating out still climbing, one of the biggest hits to the wallet continues to be at home, thanks to the cost of gas and electricity.

With that in mind, and as we approach the ever-challenging festive period when purse strings feel tighter than ever, industry expert and Bolton-born entrepreneur Corin Dalby is making a fresh push for crucial aid and urging Brits to put digital pen to paper.

Sharing the petition link on social media – which has been taken up by more than 42,000 people online – Dalby is asking others who believe domestic residents deserve a much-needed let-off to sign the Change.org document and help scrap VAT on energy bills in the UK.

Introducing himself and the idea in the description beneath the petition, the Greater Manchester native writes: “My name is Corin Dalby, and last year I successfully campaigned for hospices in the UK to receive an extra £100 million of government funding, with the support of 37,254 signatures.

“Now I’m calling on the Government to axe the 5% VAT we are all forced to pay on our energy bills.”

Dalby, 56, is the co-founder and CEO of non-profit energy company, Box Power CIC (community interest company), and has seen significant money from FCA fines go towards palliative care facilities since December last year.

Pointing out that the current energy secretary and former Prime Ministerial candidate, Ed Miliband, has previously hinted that his party would be open to this possibility, he goes on to add: “It’s vital that we hold them to this, to bring some much-needed relief to millions of households.”

While the initial goal aligned with the hope of getting enough signatures to put this bill forward in time for the most recent Labour budget (revealed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Wednesday, 26 November), the initiative could still provide vital support this winter – especially for those worst off.

As mentioned, the 2025 autumn statement has now been shared publicly following some early leaks, and despite including positives like a lift on minimum wage, as well as benefit increases, there have been much bigger reactions to aspects such as the hits being taken by pensioners and more.

The 2025 autumn budget has been largely underpinned by raising taxes by an estimated £26 billion.

If anything, the announcement has made the plea from Dalby and those in agreement more poignant than ever – and there are, indeed, plenty of people in his camp.

Sharing his most recent update back in October on social media, Corin said: “Overjoyed to see 20,000 signatures in just 3 hours.

“Scrapping the 5% VAT will directly save every hospice [an area he’s already successfully advocated for in the past], house and care home in the country, so who will help us to knock this out of the park and help the most vulnerable in our country and quickly smash 100,000?

“If you wish to help make a difference, please support this petition by just adding your name and [circulating] to like-minded contacts and repost this if possible.”

If you agree with the petition, you can sign via the official Change.org link right HERE.

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Featured Images — Roberta Sant’Anna (via Unsplash)/HM Treasury (via Flickr)

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