Halloween in the City returns next month with its biggest celebration ever to mark a decade of monster mayhem.
Organised by Manchester BID and sponsored by British confectionery maker, Swizzels, Halloween in the City will be back in Manchester city centre next month once the spooky season arrives – bringing a free weekend of family-friendly fun and spectacular street entertainment.
To mark a decade of monster mayhem, the two-day celebration will bring the city to life with walkabout performers, party games, live DJs, spooky storytelling, and a spectacular roaming procession.
There’s also set to be brand-new birthday bake off this year to celebrate the big 10, and everyone is invited to join the party
But, of course, at the heart of the celebrations will be giant inflatable monsters.
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The MCR Monsters are back next month / Credit: CityCo & Manchester BID
The MCR Monsters have been a staple in Manchester’s Halloween celebrations for a decade now, and this year, they’re going all out across the city’s iconic buildings and landmarks.
Created by artists Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas, and brought to life by Designs in Air, the giant inflatable creatures will make their way into the city for their longest trail to date, celebrating eight days of monster mischief over October half term from Saturday 24 to Saturday 31 October.
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Visitors can expect a city-wide monster invasion at locations – including Exchange Square, Manchester Arndale, Selfridges Exchange Square, Corn Exchange Manchester, Printworks, Science and Industry Museum, The Royal Exchange Manchester, Treehouse Hotel Manchester, AO Arena, KAMPUS, Mayfield Park, and Medlock Square.
It’s set to be the biggest celebrations to date to mark a decade of monster mayhem / Credit: Supplied
Then, the big Halloween in the City Weekender will take place on Saturday 24 October from 10am-6pm and Sunday 25 October from 10am-5pm.
Some of the activities on the Weekender lineup this year include a live storytelling performance by Z-Arts in Manchester Arndale, a big Monsters Disco over in Exchange Square, a Rave Yard with resident evil DJs in St Ann’s Square, the Swizzels Spooky Sweet Stop on New Cathedral Street – which is new for 2026 – and then the main event, The Monsters Party Procession.
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Designed and created by Walk the Plank, The Monsters Party Procession will ‘bash, boogie, and stomp’ its way through Market Street and Manchester Arndale, so expect dancing monster puppets, towering stilt walkers, and a six-piece brass band suitably spooky soundtrack.
And, of course, no monster birthday would be complete without a Halloween dress-up, which everyone is encouraged to join in with.
Halloween in the City returns from Saturday 24 October, and you can find out everything happening over the eight-day period online here.
Featured Image – Supplied
City Centre
Manchester’s historic Portico Library secures £6.4m funding grant towards its transformation
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s Portico Library has secured a whopping £6.4 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
In case you missed it, ambitious plans to transform the historic Grade II-listed building on Mosely Street were already unveiled last October… but now, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced it is committing £6.4 million of funding towards the project, hoping that the building thrives as the UK’s most sustainable historic library for generations to come.
The grant is being described as a ‘major milestone’ in the approximately £12 million Portico Reunited project.
The Portico Reunited project will look to ‘reunite’ the historic building’s three floors for the first time in over a century, creating a fully-accessible and sustainable cultural library.
Founded all the way back in 1806, The Portico Library played a central role in Manchester’s rise as the world’s first modern city, and since then has been serving as a window into the past and a providing a place of inspiration for anyone who needs it.
The Portico Library has secured a £6.4m funding grant towards its transformation / Credit: Purcell Architecture (Supplied)
Crucially, plans will see a step-free entrance and lift installed to make the library accessible to all.
There’ll also be new exhibition and event spaces introduced as part of the scheme to explore the stories of Manchester’s communities and the city’s heritage. There will a Northern Bookshop, showcasing regional and emerging writers, and independent publishers, as well as a creative Portico Kitchen, which will celebrate the city’s food culture, writing, and history.
A place for school groups, families, and all people to explore Portico’s collection and experiment creatively also forms part of the plans.
Dr Thom Keep, Librarian and CEO of The Portico Library, called the funding grant a ‘landmark moment’ in the Portico’s ‘rich and complex history’, and a ‘huge achievement’ for its staff, trustees, volunteers, and partners.
“Thanks to National Lottery players, we can reunite this extraordinary building and make room for people to discover, learn and create together,” he added.
“We have listened to thousands of people about what the Portico could become, and their ideas and experiences have helped shape these plans.
“Our ambition is a library that belongs to the whole city – a place to discover remarkable collections, question the stories we have inherited, and create new possibilities together.”
Manchester City Council has granted planning permission and listed building consent for the project, and the building is expected to close for construction in late spring 2028 and reopen once again in early March 2030.
Following reopening, the transformed library is expected to welcome around 95,000 visitors each year.
Featured Image – Purcell Architecture (Supplied)
City Centre
A FREE shopping event dedicated to saving students money is returning to Manchester Arndale
Thomas Melia
One of the city centre’s most popular shopping events helping students save money is returning to Manchester Arndale and the city centre.
MCR Student Socialis heading back to the city with its big discounts, freebies, giveaways and plenty of entertainment to keep you busy while you browse.
This interactive shopping event encourages new and current students to wander roundManchester Arndaleand the surrounding streets while snapping up some seriously good deals.
Expect discounts of up to 50% off at 120 stores including big high street retailers like Champion, Søstrene Grene, Selfridges, Sephora, and Berghaus.
This incredible 50% off deal continues into some of Manchester Arndale’s big-name food vendors like Wingstop, Archie’s, Barburrito, Sides, HOP Vietnamese and more.
If you’re after carrying thatZara Larssonenergy into your next academic year, the Arndale’s Rhinestone Rodeo celebration includes a Charm Bar in Exchange Court, where you can turn photos into personalised charms.
No shopping trip is complete without a matcha in-hand and you can bag yourself a free hot or iced drink in Exchange Court at the Cult Beauty Matcha Station.
Look out for our Audio North truck on Market StreetThe Manchester Arndale MCR Student Social is back
There’s even the Arndale’s Party Tuk Tuk which will be roaming around the city-centre shopping complex blasting out hip-hop tunes and some of your song requests.
Just outside Manchester Arndale on Market Street, there’s plenty of activities split across three dedicated zones, like Food & Drink by familiar foodie faces like Franco Manca and Great British Doner.
The Party Zone will be buzzing as Footasylum, Museum of Illusions and Urban Playground all unite, while there’s plenty of giveaways over at the Info Zone with brands like Science + Industry Museum and RSPB.
And, our very ownAudio North x The Manc DJ Truck is soundtracking Market Street with student DJs playing out everything from dance and funk to classic party anthems.
MCR Student Social is taking place on Thursday 24 September at Manchester Arndale from 12pm to 7pm and you can find more information via its official websiteHERE.
Emily Sergeant -
18th September 2026 
