Manchester’s biggest day of the year gets a Catalan twist for 2026!
Manchester Day returns Sunday 26 July.
Switching for the first time to a Sunday instead of its usual Saturday, there promises to be a distinctly Catalan flavour to the day as performers from Barcelona head to Manchester to join in the festivities, marking the first time also that Manchester has welcomed international performers to join in with the Manchester Day festivities.
It follows Manchester’s guest city role during Barcelona’s iconic La Mercè Festival in September last year, that saw Manchester artists and performers invited to take part in the world-renowned Catalan festival.
Manchester’s very own favourite day of the year also this year sees the return of the much-loved mini Manchester Day Parade – which for 2026 will have a decidedly bookish theme, taking inspiration from the current year-long national celebration of books and reading.
Outdoor arts organisation Walk the Plank will be working with groups across the city in the run-up to the day to create what is set to be a spectacular parade filled with music, dance, colour, community, and Catalan vibes.
With music, dance, and a whole host of performances and walkabout shows from some of the UK and Spain’s leading outdoor arts companies, curated by Walk the Plank working with Xtrax Arts, the day will see the city’s streets and squares filled with Catalan feels, along with some surprising and full of fun links to books and reading along the way.
More details on timings and activities during the day will be announced in the coming weeks.
