Halloween is soon set to return to the city, and dozens of huge inflatable monsters will be invading Manchester next month.
Yes, it’s that time of year yet again… the monsters are back.
After several years of looming over Manchester‘s most-notable rooftops and lurking around famous city centre sites, it’s been revealed that the iconic MCR Monsters will be returning for another year of spooky celebrations next month, along with loads of other terrifying tricks and treats – with something for the whole family to get involved with.
Organisers Manchester BID are set to turn the city centre into a ‘monstrous playground’ once the free two-day festival of frightful fun returns.
Halloween in the City will return to Manchester with iconic inflatable monsters and loads more / Credit: Manchester BID | CityCo
This year’s annual Halloween in the City celebrations will feature a week-long colourful invasion of the MCR Monsters, following the two-day family festival across the city’s popular shopping destinations.
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For the first time ever, the epic MCR Monsters – which are created by talented local artists, Filthy Luker and Pedro Estrellas – will invade the city’s rooftops and buildings on the opening day of the Halloween in the City festival.
They’ll be taking over leading locations including Manchester Arndale, Selfridges, The Royal Exchange, KAMPUS, and AO Arena – with more terrifying takeovers yet to be announced.
A slimy creature will also be on the loose across the city centre, as ‘The Leech’ – a wriggling eight metre-long monster, created and produced by Walk the Plank – makes its anticipated return.
As for other spine-chilling activities over the weekend-long festival, you can expect family games, storytelling, and the bone-rattling Monster Party Procession, complete with giant puppet monsters, stilt walkers, and a live band.
Then as night falls, the city will glow ‘eerie green’ as iconic buildings light up in spooky style.
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To finish things off, thousands of pumpkin lanterns will, once again, line the city’s shopping streets to add a ‘flicker of fun’ to the festival celebrations.
Halloween in the City festival will take over Manchester city centre on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October, and MCR Monsters will be in town from Saturday 25 – Friday 31 October.
The pumpkins may potentially appear even earlier, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2026 – prices for beer, mulled wine, bratwurst, and more
Emily Sergeant
It’s timeeeeee… Manchester Christmas Markets are officially open for 2026.
Now in their 27th year, Manchester Christmas Markets are known and loved for bringing thousands of people into the city centre each year to fill up on the fantastic festive treats and soak up all the Christmas atmosphere.
This year sees an even bigger return of Albert Square, and there’s also some new locations too for 2026. Lincoln Square has joined in on the action, and there’s also some big changes to St Ann’s Square – with what is being described as a ‘brand new layout’, bringing in a bigger number of market stalls.
There’s a total of 210 stalls spread out across the city centre, but we know there’s one question on everyone’s lips… ‘what’s it gonna cost me?’.
We’ve been running around the markets this morning checking out all the prices on things like beer, mulled wine, bratwurst, and more, so without further ado, here’s everything you need to know.
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Average food and drink prices at Manchester Christmas Markets 2026
Mulled wine – £6.50
Beer – £7
Prosecco – £7
Hot chocolate – £5
Bratwurst – £8
Albert Square
Bratwurst King on Albert SquareThe North Pole pub at Albert Square
Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Emily Sergeant -
8th September 2025 
