Returning to the city after a 16-month absence, organisers of the Great Manchester Run are preparing to welcome thousands to the tarmac for 10Ks and half marathons this Sunday 26 September on what is promised to be a “special day”.
Famous for its central route weaving around the city’s iconic landmarks, the Great Manchester Run 2021 will feature live music, entertainment zones that celebrate local character and culture, and a boisterous crowd roaring on the participants.
There’ll be non-stop entertainment from start to finish, with all the action from the day set to be televised live on BBC.
Thinking of signing up for this year’s event last minute, but haven’t yet got your name down? This is your chance to be a part of “something really special,” event organisers said.
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So whether you’ve already secured your place on the start line, or you’re looking for your next challenge, then here’s the run-down on what you can expect from the Great Manchester Run on Sunday 26 September.
15,000 runners will line up on the 10K and Half Marathon start lines on Portland Street, before setting off on a running tour of the city.
On the 10K route, you can take in views of Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, the award-winning Imperial War Museum North at Salford Quays, and The Lowry theatre.
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The Half Marathon route takes runners past both iconic football stadiums, joining the 10K route in exploring the famous cobbles of Coronation Street’s new set, and right past Beetham Tower – the 47-storey skyscraper which almost marks the finish line on Deansgate in the heart of Manchester city centre.
The Great Manchester Run 2021 is back on Sunday 26 September.
Rocking Music and Entertainment
The Great Manchester Run is famous for its buzzing atmosphere, iconic music, and Mancunian spirit in abundance, so runners can prepare to be entertained from start to finish by a host of live music and local legends – including Clint Boon – the event’s very-own ‘Beats Boost’ and ‘Hacienda’ zones, the high-energy ‘Hits Radio Motivation Zone’, and much more.
With 24 entertainment zones for the Half Marathon, and 21 on the 10K course, even if you’re not taking part and are just cheering on the runners instead, there’s still plenty happening that’ll have you rocking from start to finish.
Here’s what’s on the line-up:
Bands on the Run – Some of the very best bands and local musical artists are lined-up to provide the soundtrack to the run. From Clint Boon to DJ Helen Stelling Holt and of course The Halle, they’ll have you bopping, clapping, singing and running to the beat.
Beats Boost – The Great Manchester Run’s very-own music zone will raise your running to the next level with the Tune Tunes DJ truck providing the beats with bubbles blowing everywhere, making it a great selfie spot and an experience to remember.
Hacienda – The party is back to give runners that much needed boost just as the finish comes into view. With a Hacienda inspired playlist, a massive sound system and disco lights, event organisers “want to see those hands up until you’re right across the finish line.”
Hits Radio Motivation Zone – The Hits Radio crew will add an extra skip to your step with their upbeat support zone at Castle Quay.
Charity Cheering Buses – The charity cheering buses provide instant motivation and inspiration for runners, and this year’s five representing charities are Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Macmillan Cancer Support, The Christie, and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
The LGBTQ+ Cheer Point – Sponsored by Nissan, this dedicated cheer point will bring the colour and a wall of noise to the run.
Thousands will hit the tarmac for 10Ks and half marathons on what is promised to be a “special day” / Credit: Great Manchester RunThe Great Manchester Run is famous for its buzzing atmosphere, iconic music, and Mancunian spirit in abundance / Credit: Great Manchester Run
Personal Best & Pacers
Renowned for being a fast and flat route, the Great Manchester Run offers a great opportunity for keen runners to try and achieve a personal best, especially as there’s always crowds lining the streets cheering and fellow runners spurring each other on.
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Race day always lends itself to personal records.
And if you’re looking to make it to the finish line in a particular time, the Great Manchester Run’s team of pacers will be on hand to help you achieve your goal.
There’ll be 14 pacers in the 10K that will pace runners from 40 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, and the Half Marathon will then have a team of 11 pacers, pacing runners from 1 hour 30 mins to 2 hours 30 mins, all depending on your wave allocation.
A Very Big Thank You
This year, the Great Manchester Run will be welcoming runners back to the start-line after one of the most challenging experiences in living memory, and as the city celebrates the return of running together again, event organisers are also keen to say “a very important thank you” to those who went above and beyond to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We will be recognising the incredible efforts with our ‘thank you mile’,” event organisers explain.
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Signs of thanks and appreciation will single out NHS heroes, fundraisers, teachers, supermarket workers, care home carers, sports coaches, mental health guardians, and many more all along the routes.
This year’s event is shaping up to be an action-packed celebration of running / Credit: Great Manchester Run
The Finish Line Feeling & A Worthy Reward
Runners are likely to be feeling a mix of elation, exhaustion and joy as they complete the challenge and cross the finish line on Deansgate to cheering crowds, and many previous participants have called this sense of achievement as the greatest reward in taking part.
A shiny new medal, finishers t-shirt and bag filled with goodies await all participants at the end of the Greater Manchester Run.
This year’s event is shaping up to be an action-packed celebration of running, so whether you do it for the challenge, to fundraise for charity, or simply for fun, there’s still time to sign-up and take your place on the start line to be a part of something really special.
You can find out more and stick your name down for the Great Manchester Run 2021 here.
Featured Image – Great Manchester Run
What's On
Manchester Museum’s iconic T-Rex Stan is moving for the first time over 20 years
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum’s iconic T-Rex Stan is moving locations for the first time over 20 years.
Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex at the heart of Manchester Museum’s Fossils Gallery, is on the move from one historic building to another, as he leaves his home in the Museum next spring for a spectacular residency in a Grade II-listed Edwardian swimming pool.
That’s right – the famous dinosaur is heading on holiday to Victoria Baths, where he’ll be on display in the Gala Pool, marking the first time he has left Manchester Museum since arriving there in 2004.
The process of moving Stan to Victoria Baths is already being tipped as a ‘gargantuan task’.
Manchester Museum’s iconic T-Rex Stan is moving for the first time over 20 years / Credit: The Manc Group
It’s expected that the move will take a team of specialists a full week, as at 12-metres long and 3.7-metres tall, big boy Stan is roughly the size of a double decker bus and his bones must be dismantled and reassembled in a strict order to ensure counterbalance and stop him from toppling over.
During the residency at Victoria Baths, Stan will be on display to the public but will also act as the centrepiece for a full programme of events – with more details set to be announced soon.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for people to experience this incredible Tyrannosaurus rex in an entirely different context,” explained Georgina Young, who is the Acting Director at Manchester Museum.
“Not only is Victoria Baths breathtakingly beautiful, but their team will bring renewed creativity to encounters with Stan.”
Anthony Baker, CEO of the Victoria Baths Trust, added: “Victoria Baths would like to state for the record that we did not invite a T-Rex skeleton into our Grade II-listed swimming pool. Stan has made his own arrangements and we are simply going along with it.
“He is insisting that we open our doors for free so that as many people can visit him as possible and it is very difficult to say no to a giant dinosaur, especially when he asked so nicely.”
Stan the T-Rex will be at Victoria Baths from 22 March to 19 April 2027, and he’ll be free to pop in and say hello to.
Featured Image – Stephen Gidley (via Flickr)
What's On
Full list of road closures for Manchester Village Pride 2026
Emily Sergeant
The full list of road closures set to be in place for Manchester Village Pride this weekend have been released.
Manchester Village Pride is a beloved celebration of LGBTQ+ life in Manchester, known for bringing thousands of people into city centre every August bank holiday weekend for four fun-filled, glitter-covered, disco-driven days… and although 2026 may look a little different to usual, you can always count on the city to welcome everyone in.
Every year, the lineup offers a wide range of activities for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to join together and celebrate, as well as provide opportunities to advocate for equality, engage families and young people, and celebrate queer arts and culture.
This year’s event is set to kick off this Friday 28 August and round out on bank holiday Monday (31 August).
🏳️🌈 On Saturday [29 August], it's the #PrideParade so you'll see plenty of rainbows in the city centre.
To allow the parade to take place: – There will be road closures in place – Some buses may operate on diversion – Trams in the city centre may experience minor delays
And of course, for the celebrations to all take place as safely and seamlessly as possible, a number of road closures and restrictions will need to be put in place, and Manchester City Council has now published a list of everything you need to know.
It’s advised that anyone making their way into and around the city centre this weekend use other modes of transport – such as buses, trams, and trains.
But for those who need to drive, you’ll want to pay attention to this list before setting out on any journeys.
The full list of road closures for Manchester Village Pride 2026 has been released / Credit: The Manc Group | Supplied
Saturday 29 August
All roads in this list will be closed from 6am to 7pm:
Liverpool Road (Water Street to Deansgate)
Wollam Place (30m south of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road)
Potato Wharf (Castlefield Hotel entrance to Liverpool Road)
Old Medlock Street
Lower Byrom Street (40m north of Liverpool Road to Liverpool Road)
Duke Street (Rice Street to Liverpool Road)
Stone Street (Liverpool Road to Bridgewater Street)
Barton Street (Bridgewater Street to Tonman Street)
Southern Street (Bridgewater Street to Liverpool Road)
Bridgewater Street (Collier Street to Deansgate)
Tonman Street (Liverpool Road to Longworth Street)
Saturday 29 August
All roads in this list will be closed from 9am to 7pm:
Deansgate (Trafford Street to Peter Street)
Quay Street (Little Quay Street to Deansgate)
Peter Street (Deansgate to Oxford Street)
Camp Street (Deansgate to Longworth Street)
St James Street (Deansgate to Longworth Street)
Jerusalem Place (Jacksons Row to Deansgate)
Marron Place (Jacksons Row to Deansgate)
Watson Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Museum Street (Windmill Street to Peter Street)
Mount Street (Windmill Street to Bootle Street)
Southmill Street (Windmill Street to Bootle Street)
Lower Mosley Street (Windmill Street to Oxford Street)
Oxford Street (Peter Street to Whitworth Street)
Chepstow Street (Great Bridgewater Street to Oxford Street)
Portland Street (Oxford Street to Abingdon Street)
Princess Street (Faulkner Street to Whitworth Street)
Whitworth Street (Beaver Street to Fairfield Street)
Samuel Ogden Street (Bombay Street to Whitworth Street)
Sackville Street (Bombay Street to Whitworth Street)
Fairfield Street (Whitworth Street to London Road)
Minshull Street (Fairfield Street to Aytoun Street)
Back Acton Street (Fairfield Street to Ebden Street)
Minshull Street (Fairfield Street to Ebden Street)
Bus lanes will also be suspended on Bridge Street from Gartside to New Bailey Street, Whitworth Street West from Deansgate to Albion Street, and Portland Street from Princess Street to Newton Street, on the Saturday (29 August) too – running from 6am to 7pm.
Emily Sergeant -
8th September 2021 
