
The world’s biggest Eurovision celebration outside of the official Switzerland live shows week, known as MancHagen, is coming to Manchester. The global not-for-profit event, with concerts taking place to raise money for selected charities, is celebrating its 20th anniversary of the Manchester Eurovision Party in 2025.
Taking place from April 10 to 13 in “the UK’s epicentre of inclusive culture” that is Manchester, the city will be taken over by a mix of music, dance, fashion and LGBTQIA+ led events. For those who dream of participating in the global phenomenon that is Eurovision, MancHagen is your chance to be part of the fun at an affordable cost for all ahead of the 2025 live shows in Basel, Switzerland.
For the first time ever in Manchester, the festival will feature a spectacular array of performances with two major concerts on April 11 and 12 at a record breaking capacity of over 5,600. Plus, a Ukrainian Fashion Show is also set to take place, honouring the UK’s second biggest Ukrainian community of Manchester, and celebrating the creative leaders and fashion icons making waves in the city.
Kicking off the party on Thursday 10th April, MancHagen has partnered with the Manchester Gay Village district on Canal Street for all event goers to meet up. The ‘Eurovision Village’ venues include EVA Bar, Iconic Bar, New York New York Bar, Eagle Bar and Cruz 101, acting as special hosts with Eurovision programming and parties.
The opening party, Official Festival Euroclub, is set to take place at Cruz 101 with eclectic sets from DJ David Horton and friends, followed by a weekend of performances from the likes of Choriza May (RuPaul’s Drag Race) in collaboration Spanish with brand Lady Olé.
On Friday 11th April, the first half of the two-day All Stars Concert will take place at Manchester Arcade Arena, hosted by UK Entrant Lindsay Dracass and Mamma Bear. The night will showcase Manchester’s leading cultural icons, the thrilling history of Eurovision and show-stopping performances from the 2025 and previous competition contestants including Niamh Kavanagh, Tonya Kneez, Beverly Tight-Lipps and Hera Björk.
The celebration continues on Saturday 12th April, with an all-day programme at Depot Mayfield, the home of Europe’s largest indoor LGBTQIA+ celebration, Homobloc. An exclusive Artist Yellow Carpet Parade will spotlight the UK’s leading queer and creative pioneers including appearances from Manchester’s own Drag icon and MancHagen ambassador, Banksie.
As the day turns to night, Depot Mayfield will transform into a wonderland of fashion, music and performance. The cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will take over with the exclusively commissioned Drag-A-Vision 2025, a never seen before competition with the likes of Marmalade, Rilesea Slaves, Alexis Saint-Pete, Charra Tea, Actavia and Chanel O Connor taking to the stage.
World-renowned Eurovision alumni including the likes of winners from Ireland Linda Martin (ESC 1992) as well as Silvester Belt (2024), Aiko (2024) and Norwegian Televote winner Keiino (2019) and American Song Contest’s Grant Knoche will also make appearances at MancHagen. Many more acts will be added for the second edition of the Euro All Stars Concert, hosted by Ru Paul’s UK v The World Drag Race winner Blu Hydrangea, James Barr from Hits Radio Breakfast Show and Liverpool-born Manchester resident Danny Beard, winner of season four of Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK.
Donations from each ticket sold will be donated to a selection of critical charities including Ukrainian Children, George House Trust, Sahir House (in memoriam of Liverpool’s The Vivienne), Manchester Pride and FSTB Danish Children. Ticket packages for MancHagen start from £45, with VIP add-ons, affordable family tickets, and VVIP Backstage also available. For more information and tickets head to the MancHagen website here.