There’s not long to go until Parklife festival returns to Heaton Park, drawing tens of thousands of music fans to the fields.
This year’s event will be headlined by global talent including 50 Cent, Tyler the Creator, Megan Thee Stallion and Lewis Capaldi, as well as returning festival favourites Chase & Status.
Parklife has taken place at Heaton Park since 2013, when it outgrew its original home in Platt Fields Park.
The massive party is attended by some 80,000 people each day and is one of the biggest events in Manchester’s cultural calendar.
Here’s everything we know about this year’s Parklife so far.
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When is Parklife festival 2022?
Parklife festival. Credit: Parklife
Last year, Parklife had to shift to September because of the restrictions placed on the events industry.
But it’s business as usual this time around, and the festival’s back in its usual June position.
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Parklife 2022 will take place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June.
In Da Club rapper 50 Cent will be performing in a UK festival exclusive, and Tyler, The Creator will make his long-awaited UK headline debut after Parklife’s 2020 edition was cancelled.
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Music heavyweights Lewis Capaldi, Bicep (headlining The Valley for the first time) and Chase & Status (with their largest festival show yet) will all be taking to the stage.
Parklife’s line-up also includes Loyle Carner, Jamie xx, Arlo Parks, Folamour (Live), Headie One, Central Cee, Fred Again.. ArrDee, Caroline Polachek, Tom Misch and PinkPantheress.
DJ sets across the weekend will come from Four Tet, Eric Prydz, Peggy Gou, Carl Cox, Marco Carola, Camelphat, The Blessed Madonna, Andy C, DJ EZ, Sonny Fodera Annie Mac, Jayda G, Mall Grab, Ricardo Villalobos and many more.
You can see the full line-up and stage break downs here.
Can you still get tickets for Parklife?
Parklife festival. Credit: Parklife
Tickets for Saturday – which is headlined by 50 Cent, Chase & Status and Jamie XX – have sold out.
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But you can still grab tickets for the Sunday portion of the festival, with the last few on sale now.
Day tickets are priced at £84.50 plus booking fee for standard admission, or £109.50 for VIP.
You can also pick up the last few tickets for the whole weekend at £155 general admission or £199.50 for VIP.
Extra batches of tickets are still being released in stages – your best bet is to follow Parklife on Twitter for the latest news.
This year’s VIP zone will be called the Luxury Lounge, with all sorts of luxuries to jazz up your festival experience.
As usual, you’ll get fast track through the queues, and access to an exclusive VIP area with luxury loos, a separate street food village, and The Smugglers Inn bar.
Very Important Parklife-goers also have their own DJs and special guests on a dance floor that’s separate from the rest of the festival site.
New this year is the ‘northern lights’, a light tunnel installation, plus VIP lockers and free phone charging points.
Parklife is even adding a ‘Cloud 9 VIP spa’.
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Where is Parklife and how do I get there?
Parklife festival will be back in 2022. Credit: Parklife
Parklife will be back in Heaton Park, to the north of Manchester, taking over a corner of the 600-acre park.
There’s a Metrolink stop right outside the park’s gates at Heaton Park, though most fesitval-goers will be directed home via Bowker Vale instead.
The festival also puts on shuttle buses to help people get back home safely.
This year, there’s a combined Travel Pass which you can use on either the Metrolink or the shuttle buses.
You can also try to book a taxi, but with 80,000 people pouring out of the festival site, things can get busy – and a lot of people end up walking back to town if it’s safe to do so.
Featured image: Parklife
What's On
Less than a month to go until a blockbuster Manchester derby in the WSL at the Etihad Stadium
Danny Jones
We’re just one month out until one of the best games on the football calendar: the Manchester derby in a Barclays Women’s Super League campaign that is shaping up to be one of the most tightly contested in some time, with multiple Lionesses and international stars on show.
Manchester City and Man United are both duking it out at the top of the table already, with the high-flying East Manchester club and last season’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup finalists both boasting plenty of reason to go into the game confident.
With Man City boasting not just the home advantage but the bonus of playing in front of a crowd at the Etihad Stadium, many are already expecting a blue moon to rise once again.
This season may have only just begun, but Man City Women have already shown plenty of promise and signs of early form. Barring an opening day blip against the champions, Andrée Jeglertz’s side have looked pretty prolific; Man United are right up there with them, meaning we’re bound for a good clash.
Netting well over a dozen goals – the most of any team in the league – theCityzens will understandably feel on the offensive when they host the visitors on Saturday, 15 November.
The Etihad recently hosted the Lionesses themselves in a close-fought fixture against Brazil this past October, with City legend Georgia Stanway herself getting on the scoresheet.
Man United are right up there with them, though, meaning we’ve got a derby day that shouldn’t disappoint. Let’s be honest, it rarely does.
Don’t you just love it when two rivals go into a clash in strong spirits?
Now both full England internationals are arguably fighting for the same position, too, you can expect the pair to get a rousing reception when they rock up/return to the Etihad.
All eyes will be on this WSL fixture, especially with members of the back-to-back Euros-winning Lionesses squad taking to the pitch on both sides.
Clinton, Park; Lauren Hemp, Ella Toone, as well as more international stars such as Viv Miedema and Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw – there’s going to be so much talent on show.
Speaking to The Manc ahead of the match, first-team star and City vice-captain, Kerstin Casparij, gave us their thoughts on the historic and always hard-fought rivalry…
What does the Manchester derby mean to you?
The derby means more to me every year. It’s not just 3 important points, but also pride and bragging/banter rights. This year, I’d say it’s also about redemption for me, considering our home loss last season.
Are there any standout memories of derby day that come to mind?
I think the away win at Old Trafford two years ago is a nice memory. Being booed for the full 90 minutes and coming away with a win feels extra satisfying.
It really is set up to be an unmissable meeting between the two heavyweights of the female football world, with a 1:30pm kick-off leaving plenty of time for added fanfare before and after either whistle.
Promising plenty of activities in and around the stadium, as well as the dedicated Man City Kids Fan Zone, a completely free event that runs for four hours before kick off on the indoor pitch of the City Football Academy, the ‘Blue Carpet’ experience, where you can see players arrive 90 minutes before the game and plenty more, there’s so much going on.
As well as fun games at half-time, live entertainment, not to mention a wide range of food and drink around the concourse, it’s going to be a great day out.
Best of all, tickets are super affordable: general admission for adults starts from only £15 and £5 for under 16s. If you grab two adult passes and one U16 ticket, you can get any additional U16 tickets for just £1 each.
If you want to enjoy Hospitality at the Etihad Stadium, packages start from as little as £35. From the Sports Bar experience and the Tunnel Club, where you can see players getting read on the way to the dugout and pitch, or even a bottomless brunch before the game with your friends.
Whatever offer best suits you, fans can grab tickets right to see Manchester City Women, Man United, Lionesses stars and more right HERE.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 – dates, locations, and essential information
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 are upon us, bringing festive cheer, seasonal shopping and winter warmer food and drink to the city centre.
The massive annual event attracts tens of thousands of visitors to the city, with the streets filled with wooden sheds and glittering lights.
Alongside all the food, drink and shopping that the event brings, there’s an ice rink over at Cathedral Gardens and a brand-new big wheel with views of the Manchester Town Hall.
The light installations will also be returning to St Peter’s Square this year.
The Manchester Christmas Markets will return to Albert Square for its 2025 instalment, for the first time in six years.
There’ll be more than 200 stalls to explore across the city centre selling everything from traditional bratwurst and gluhwein to more local and viral treats from familiar independent businesses.
Read on for your essential information for the 2025 Manchester Christmas Markets.
Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 dates
This year’s Manchester Christmas Markets will take place from Friday 7 November to Monday 22 December 2025.
Manchester’s Christmas Markets will open at ten locations across the city on Friday 7 November and close on Monday 22 December, except for A Taste of Christmas on Albert Square and the stalls at Cathedral Gardens which will remain open throughout the Christmas period until 4 January 2026.
Christmas in Manchester will also see the Skate Manchester Ice Rink in Cathedral Gardens open for Christmas skaters from Friday 7 November until Sunday 4 January, and the magical Manchester Christmas Parade which will take place on Sunday 7 December.
The Manchester Christmas Markets will finally return to their home at Albert Square this winter, but it’ll look a little different to in previous years.
‘A Taste of Christmas’ will include a 50-metre-high Ferris wheel, as well as a bespoke market with twinkling lights and covered seating.
There’ll be traditional food and drink like a German swing grill, German beers, waffles and pancakes, as well as loaded hash browns from Wrap Up, and stalls selling a range of crafts, including jewellery, clothing and handmade decorations.
Piccadilly Gardens
Piccadilly Gardens will again be the main hub of the Manchester Christmas Markets, transforming into the Winter Gardens.
There’ll be global flavours from the traders here, like Greek gyros, British comfort food, Brazilian street food and Korean hot dogs.
And Crimble Crumbles will be back again with their famous fruit crumble desserts, served with lashings of custard.
There’ll be covered seating areas, as well as karaoke huts from Bar Hutte.
Market Street
Manchester’s bustling main shopping street will be filled with more than 40 different stalls selling bespoke crafts, gifts and produce, like crowd favourites of freshly baked coconut macaroons and cheese truckles.
The beautiful Cathedral Gardens is home to Skate Manchester again, a huge ice rink where you can whizz around beneath a towering Christmas tree.
This is the most family-friendly corner of the Manchester Christmas Markets, with plenty of activities to entertain little ones all the way into the New Year.
This part of the markets also stays open until 4 January 2026, and there’s a hub of authentic food and drink.
St Ann’s Square
St Ann’s Square is the original home of the Manchester Christmas Markets, and it still keeps that traditional atmosphere alive and well.
There’ll be music from singers and community choirs, and an undercover bar where you can fill up on German beers and gluhwein.
Exchange Street
Last year’s viral melted chocolate taps will be back this year on Exchange Street, free-poured over strawberries, brownies, or straight into miniature chocolate cups.
There’ll also be new loaded hash browns, and stalls selling lovely festive gifts too.
New Cathedral Street
Manchester Christmas Markets 2025The Flat Baker will return to the Manchester Christmas Markets 2025
Nothing signals the start of the Manchester Christmas Markets quite like the arrival of the giant sausage statue on New Cathedral Street, which will be back for 2025 at the iconic Witch House.
As well as those traditional German bratwurst and beers, you can buy rum, leather goods and other keepsakes all the way down the row of huts.
There’ll also be steak frites, burittos from Mango Rays, and craft drinks at Bar 3.
Exchange Square
Exchange Square is one of the largest sites in the city, home to the legendary The Mill Exchange bar with a whole host of homemade mulled wine flavours.
This is also where you’ll find the always-popular Porky Pig and their Yorkshire pudding wraps, as well as loads and loads of other food and drink.
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And as for the shopping, expect everything from soaps to Turkish delight.
King Street
This is always one of the cosiest and most traditional corners of the Manchester Christmas Markets, a row of wooden huts tucked in between the high-end shops and restaurants of King Street.
There are two new bars this year offering an upmarket drinking experience, plus food stalls selling chicken and waffles, mac and cheese, Greek gyros and plenty more.
And this is the home of picky bits, with an Italian deli selling gourmet meats and cheeses.
The Corn Exchange
Last but not least will be a huddle of craft stalls between the Corn Exchange and Shambles Square, where you can purchase pork pies, artisan cheeses, and handmade truffles.
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Manchester Christmas Markets 2025 opening and closing times
Albert Square
7 November to 23 December: 10am to 9pm
24 December (Christmas Eve): 10am to 5pm
25 December (Christmas Day): closed
26 to 30 December: 10am to 6pm
31 December (New Year’s Eve): 10–12.30am
1 to 4 January: 10am to 6pm
Cathedral Gardens
24 October to 6 November: 10am to 8pm
7 November to 23 December: 10am to 9pm
24 December (Christmas Eve): 10am to 5pm
25 December (Christmas Day): closed
26 December to 4 January: 10am to 5pm
Other locations
Piccadilly Gardens – 10am to 9pm daily from 7 November to 22 December
Market Street – 10am to 9pm every day except Sundays, when the market will close at 6pm
St Ann’s Square – every day between 10am and 9pm
Exchange Street – 10am to 9pm daily
New Cathedral Street – 10am to 8pm daily
Exchange Square – daily from 10am to 9pm
King Street – every day 10am to 9pm
Corn Exchange – open daily from 10am to 8pm
Manchester Christmas Markets mug design and price
The design and price for the Manchester Christmas Markets mugs 2025 has been revealed. Credit: Manchester City Council
Festive, collectible, colourful mugs are a huge staple of the Manchester Christmas Markets – and the designs for 2025 are a true Mancunian affair, capturing several festive landmarks in the style of a colourful toy town.
That includes illustrations of the iconic windmill bar, a huge Christmas tree, and a neat row of Christmas Markets huts, complete with traders and (of course) a gigantic bratwurst statue.
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The Manchester Christmas Markets mugs deposit remains at £3.50 for 2025, which you can sacrifice to take your mug home as a keepsake or have refunded when you return your mug to the bar.
The mugs will be available at all 10 market locations from opening day on Friday 7 November, while stocks last (and they have sold out in the previous three years).
Travel advice and how to get to the Manchester Christmas Markets
The city centre gets busy during November and December, so people are urged to use public transport wherever possible to travel in and out of the city centre for the Manchester Christmas Markets.
There are plenty of other events running alongside the festivities, from huge football matches to gigs at the AO Arena to Black Friday sales.
Daisy Jackson -
8th June 2022 
